160] Animal Friends and Helpers 



These three kinds of goats have served people all over the 

 world, and today milk goats are found in every part of the United 

 States. Many belong to commercial dairies, but probably half of 

 our goat population is made up of "back yard" residents. A great 

 point in their favor is that they can eke out an existence even 

 when the food supply is at its scantiest. 



Goat milk is superior to cow's milk for two reasons: Goat milk 

 is digested more quickly and completely, and it is safe without 

 pasteurization. Its taste, slightly different from that of cow's milk, 

 is preferred by some people but is displeasing to others. Goats 

 do not get tuberculosis and they are as nearly disease-free as any 

 domestic animal. 



A goat becomes an affectionate pet if it is well treated. When 

 a goat is angry, it shows its feelings by shaking its head. It defends 

 itself by butting with its head and striking an adversary with its 

 sharp horns. 



Sheep They Came Down from Mountains 



Like goats, sheep are mountain animals. Even when they are 

 domesticated they thrive best in cool dry surroundings. In the 

 wild state they lived in less rugged localities than mountain goats 

 do, but on the other hand sheep were able to subsist on pasturage 

 that was too thin for cattle. 



The sheep's great wool coat, originally developed as a protec- 

 tion against cold, has been particularly exploited in the Merino 

 breed of Spain which produces exceptionally fine wool. In Eng- 

 land, where mutton is a staple food, such breeds as the Dorset 

 and Shropshire are valued for their flesh, although their wool i? 

 also used to good advantage. 



OBEDIENCE SAVES THE SHEEP 



Most children are familiar with the figure of speech that 

 puts people blindly following a leader on the same level with 

 "a lot of sheep." This scornful phrase implies that the unques- 

 tioning obedience indicates a lack of intelligence; yet in the case 

 of sheep the instinct for following has often saved their lives. 



