GOAT-RAISING IN BRITISH COLUMBIA. 15 



Further, all sheep and goats have to be inspected on arrival, and may be 

 detained, isolated, dipped, or otherwise treated if the Inspector has reason to believe 

 or suspect that the animals are affected with or have been exposed to contagious or 

 infectious disease. 



TELLING THE AGE BY THE TEETH. 



Goats, like sheep and cattle, have no front teeth on the upper jaw simply a 

 hard pad of gristle. They have eight front teeth on the lower jaw, and under one 

 year of age these are " sucking-teeth," small and sharp. At about one year the 

 centre pair drop out, and are replaced by two larger permanent teeth. Between the 

 twentieth and twenty-fourth month two more large teeth appear, one on each side 

 of the first pair. In the third year two more come in, and in the fourth year the 



Telling the age by the teeth. 



last pair one at each corner. At seven or eight years some of these teeth may 

 become broken or fall out, or may be knocked out by accident before that time. 



Frequently, however, goats' teeth develop much more quickly than shown above, 

 and many have their full mouth between the third and fourth year. 



HOUSING. 



Goats do not require anything elaborate in the way of housing, but the buildings 

 should be snug and comfortable, free from draughts and rain-proof, yet light and 

 well ventilated. During the spring, summer, and fall, in the Coast District at least, 

 the goats will probably prefer to remain outdoors altogether, but in winter they 

 should be kept indoors at night, and during the day also unless the weather is fine. 

 The goats should be able to get into their house or under shelter during rain. For a 

 few goats the simplest style of building is a plain shed-roof house, something like a 

 poultry colony house. There should be ample room for the attendant to move around. 

 Too many people think they can jam goats into small houses fit only for rabbits. A 

 house 10 x 8 feet, with a height of 6 feet at the back and 7 or 8 feet in front, is ample 

 for four or five goats, and will allow room also for a loose-box or feed storage. 

 Three goats can be comfortably kept in a house 6x8 feet. 



There are several different methods of fixing the goats in the house all of which 

 have their good and bad points. The main thing is to give the goat all possible 

 comfort and yet avoid waste in feeding hay, etc. Stalls with a manger and feed- 

 rack above are largely used. These stalls need be no more than 20 to 24 inches wide, 

 and the goat should be tied by a short chain to the manger, the chain being free to 

 slip up and down an iron rod or strong wire fixed vertically. Instead of the manger 

 and rack some breeders have boxes about 30 inches high by about 20 inches square 



