GOATS 395 



each doe is better, for the reason that the doe will own 

 the kid sooner, and there will be less danger of injury. 

 If kids are dropped on the' range or in the pasture, they 

 must be carried home and special care given to see that 

 the does are made to own them, for many times they will 

 refuse, especially if they have no milk. 



There are in use two methods of handling the does and 

 kids at kidding time, namely, the corral method and the 

 staking method. Each of these methods has its advan- 

 tages. 



(1) The corral method may be used with any number 

 of goats. When a large number of does are expected to 

 kid, it is necessary to have one or two large corrals and 

 several smaller ones. The does expected to kid, or those 

 that have kidded, are put in the small corrals, and after 

 a day or so are removed to one of the larger ones. This 

 procedure is repeated until all the does have kidded. 



(2) The other, the Mexican or " staking method," is 

 used largely in Texas and New Mexico. When a kid is 

 born, it is taken to a convenient place to " stake " and the 

 mother is coaxed to follow, and the kid is " staked " or 

 " toggled " with a string about twelve inches long. This 

 string is tied to one leg, being changed occasionally from 

 one leg to another to avoid lameness. The string should 

 have a swivel on it to prevent twisting. Kids are usually 

 staked for a week to ten days. 



Kids should not be weaned until they are about four 

 months old. The buck kids, not intended for breeding 

 purposes, should be castrated when about two weeks old. 

 The earlier it is done, the better will be the meat and 

 mohair. 



No amount of cold will prove injurious to goats if they 

 are kept dry. A shed of easy access is one of the essentials 



