10()H CYCLOPEDIA OF LIVE STOCK AND COMPLETE STOCK DOCTOR. 



food in summer consists of grass and shrubs, but in winter, if the milk 

 is to continue rich in quality, a small quantity of grain and hay must be 

 given, and the temperature of the stall should be kept at from 57 to 60 

 degrees Fahrenheit. 



In regard to the amount of pasture land required for the support of 

 this animal, it is computed that six to eight goats will need as much as 

 one cow, and that one man can manage from forty to fifty goats. Gen- 

 erally speaking the milk of the cow is more popular, but for children 

 the goat's milk is in greater demand, as tuberculosis is hardly ever 

 found in these hardy animals. The milk of the goat makes an excellent 

 cheese and fairly good butter, but as to the latter the milk of the cow 

 retains its pre-eminence. The meat of the young goats, from five to 

 twelve weeks old, is considered a great luxury. Indeed, it is often 

 mistaken for venison, and sells for from 29 cents to 39 cents for 2.1 

 pounds. This compares very favorably with the average price received 

 in Switzerland for beef, which is 33 cents to 37 cents for 2.2 pounds. 



The average clip on long-haired goats is about 4.4 pounds. The hair 

 is not very marketable, but is used in some instances for ropes, which 

 are very strong and defy the action of water. The skins are worth 

 from 29 cents to 58 cents each, but the finest and best bring as much as 

 $1.35 each. 



If well cared for, these animals will give milk from their first to their 

 tenth year, when they decrease in flow and finally dry up. Ordinarily 

 they will produce milk for eight months in a year. The price of these 

 animals is higher in the spring than in the fall, but average for a good 

 one, from one to three years old (male) in the fall, is $9.65 to $19.30. 

 Females of the same age bring $7.72 to $9.65; four-year-olds bring as 

 high as $13.51. 



