272 The 'Book of the Coat. 



abandoned, giving place to " horned" and "hornless" 

 goats, which is a well-defined distinction, though meaning 

 nothing in the way of breed. 



It has also been found necessary for some years to 

 make a separate class for " Toggenburgs and other Swiss 

 breeds," and in the larger shows to separate goats that 

 have won ' ' two or more " or " three or more ' ' first prizes 

 from those which have been less successful in the prize 

 ring, in order to give these latter a better chance. 



In providing a class for kids it is a mistake to require 

 that they should be " in pairs," which, strictly speaking, 

 implies male and female. The objection to this is that 

 an exhibitor who may possess a very good doe kid has 

 an inferior buck, or perhaps none at all, to send with it, 

 and consequently he either does not show his "one good 

 animal, or by sending both spoils his chance with the 

 indifferent specimen. If the class comprises male and 

 female kids it is generally unsatisfactory both to the ex- 

 hibitor and to the judge. It is far better, therefore, to 

 provide separate classes for each sex amongst kids as well 

 as goats. 



A class for goatlings i.e., she-goats over one year old 

 and under two years should be provided if possible, with 

 a condition of entry that any exhibit that has borne a kid 

 will be disqualified. Since the establishment of such 

 classes the effect has been most marked in obtaining goats 

 of increased size and bulk, in consequence of breeding 

 being deferred until a perfect development of the frame 

 had been secured. The condition at one time was not 

 only that the goatling should never have bred, but that it 

 should never have been mated. In consequence, however, 

 of the difficulty of proving whether the animal is in young 

 or not, supposing it to have been served within a month or 

 so of the show, with the objection also that the mating 

 may be thus unduly protracted, the maiden condition is not 



