GOAT-RAISING IN BRITISH COLUMBIA. 



Sheep are affected the same way here to a certain extent, but if there is feed enough 

 for either kind of stock when they get plenty of exercise in getting it, there will be little 

 trouble with the young. If your winter and spring time are rainy and little snow on 

 the Lower Mainland, the does should drop their kids just before the feed becomes plentiful. 

 We have no hesitation about offering this advice, as we have had lots of experience in 

 this line, and know just how it affects goats. However, in case of long-continued snow 

 on the ground where the goats have to be fed, we are unable to say when it would be 

 best to have them kid, though it would be hard to save them before the snow was off the 

 ground, and in either case it would be almost necessary to have sheds or barns to save 

 the kids, as they are generally easily chilled till they have suckled once ; after that most 

 of them will stand cold well, though rain and cold together is fatal to them if continued. 



We do not look for any big rise in the price of mohair on account of the war, 

 though it may come later if the war continues and the scarcity of wool helps to create a 

 demand for mohair. The relative cheapness of mohair in regard to wool will probably 

 create a demand through new uses that may be discovered for it. On account of its 

 durability it seems it would be a good thing for army goods in connection with wool. 



The following letter, clipped from a booklet issued by the American Angora 

 Goat-breeders' Association, Kansas City, Missouri, is printed because climatic con- 

 ditions in the Willamette Valley of Oregon are very similar to those of the Lower 

 Mainland of British Columbia : 



ANGORA GOATS IX OREGON. 

 FEED AND CARE IN WINTER. 



Angoras, like any other animals, like good feed, so that it is a good plan to fill the 

 barn or shed with as good hay as can be secured. In the Willamette Valley we have 

 clover or oats and vetch. It is well to start feeding hay early in the fall, so that the 

 animals will be as well prepared for the winter as possible, as it is in the winter months 

 that the most noticeable growth of mohair is produced. Oare should be used in feeding 

 the goats, so that the hay or seeds do not become mixed with the mohair. 



Goats should be dipped in the fall, also the flock should be culled and all small or 

 weak animals should be allowed to run and feed in a band by themselves. Trim the 

 h'oofs of all the goats in the herd, as this will tend to ward off " foot-rot," the most 

 common disease of the winter months. 



SHELTER. 



Select a well-drained spot on which to build the barn or shed. Provide a good roof 

 and plenty of ventilation space, so that the shed will not become damp or musty, as goats 

 like a dry place to camp. See that there is plenty of feeding space for all animals 

 without crowding. We use movable racks 10 to 12 feet long and 30 inches wide ; place 

 in the centre of the sheds, so that the animals can feed from both sides. They can be 

 taken outside when cleaning out the sheds. 



SHEARING AND GRADING. 



In shearing, use a machine if possible, as they do far better work than is possible 

 by hand, and are much easier on the animals. Grade your mohair as you shear ; have 

 your cotton sacks handy for each grade, and it is only the matter of a moment to sort it 

 on the shearing-platform. We usually grade in this way : First and second kid ; first 

 and second doe ; wether and buck and " tags." All coloured or stained and hair mixed 

 with dirt and straw should go with " tags." 



In Oregon we ship East or sell to the mill at Portland. Oregon. Mohair can be 

 shipped either in the bag or baled. If sending East it would be best to have it baled. 



CARE OF DOE AND KID. 



In Western Oregon, in order to have any success with Angoras at kidding-time, the 

 first thing necessary is a shed to keep the kid dry, as a kid will not stand any rain until 

 it is several days old. We arrange our sheds so that the old goats can go back and 

 forth as they wish, but nail a board across the doorway about a foot high, so that the 

 kids cannot follow until they are about two weeks old, or older. The doe will ge out 

 and feed and come back to her kid as soon as she is satisfied. 



It is a good idea not to have too many does in one flock, as they will sometimes 



lose track of their kids. Run the dry does in a separate band from those that have kids. 



: is well to have a: small pen for any doe that has twins until she gets acquainted with 



them, as she is apt to disown one of them. Do the same with any doe that does not 



own her kid. 



After kidding, the does run the brush pasture until the clover is large enough to 

 pasture, then they are confined on the clover until about the first of June, when it is 



