290 FARM ANIMALS 



in this country in milch goats and this interest 

 has been further stimulated by the importation 

 of a number of Maltese milch goats. The ad- 

 vantages of goats for milk production are that the 

 milk is claimed to be excellent for children and 

 invalids and for cookery, that it is comparatively 

 free from tuberculosis and that it can be produced 

 very cheaply. The milch goat yields from one to 

 four or five quarts a day, but three quarts is a 

 good average even under the best conditions. In 

 chemical composition goat's milk contains a little 

 more fat than average cow's milk. The odor 

 of goat's milk is not very disagreeable, except in 

 case some of the filth from the goat should fall 

 into the milk. The period of lactation of milch 

 goats is about seven months, but may occasionally 

 be somewhat longer. The milk of goats may be 

 carried to consumers by the same methods as are 

 adopted for cow's milk, or as is the case in some 

 countries the goats may be driven along the street 

 and milked as demands are made. Goat's milk 

 has also been used to some extent in the manu- 

 facture of cheese and butter. The price ordi- 

 narily obtained for goat's milk is twelve to twenty- 

 five cents a quart and this high price is partly 

 due to the scarcity of the article and partly to the 

 belief that goat's milk is practically sure to be free 

 from tuberculosis. 



The size of the Angora goats which were first 

 brought to this country was rather too small. At 

 present an attempt is being made to increase the 

 size and individual animals are found which weigh 

 from one hundred to one hundred and eighty pounds. 

 Some pains is also being taken in breeding to pro- 

 duce heavier fleeces of a long staple. In manag- 

 ing goats it has been found advisable to train dogs 



