BREEDING AND MANAGEMENT 



IN the breeding of milch goats, as with any other breed of domestic ani- 

 mals, it is very essential that the best buck possible should be employed. 



There is nothing so important in breeding up good stock as positive 

 evidence that the buck is from a strain of stock having well known milking 

 records of amount of milk given by the dam, granddams, and other female 

 relatives of the buck should be known and are valuable facts. Never breed 

 your does to a poor buck. He is absolutely the foundation of the flock and 

 the best is never "too good." 



The bucks of all breeds of milch goats are in heat at all times and the 

 does come in heat about every three weeks, excepting possibly the extreme 

 hot weather of July and August. To prevent the kids coming at undesirable 

 times the bucks should never be allowed to run with the does. It is neces- 

 sary that breeding be done according to a schedule, so that a supply of 

 milk might be had when wanted, either for family or dairy uses. One good 

 buck, if properly managed, will look after as many as 50 or 75 does in a 

 year, but it must be remembered that the does should not be bred oftener 

 than every 7 or 8 months. If bred oftener too much strain is placed upon 

 the does and the best results cannot be expected by the practice. 



The presence of the buck about the barn where does are kept is very 

 objectionable. The odor which he emits is readily absorbed by the milk and 

 is the principle source of bad flavored milk. His place is in a separate 

 barn and separate yard altogether. The odor emitted by the bucks is due 

 to certain glands in the skin of the animal which secrete capric acid or 

 hircine. 



At the time of the terrible epizootic epidemic among horses in the 

 eighties, when large numbers of horses died, it was claimed that the stables 

 in Boston which had male goats were free, or nearly so, from the plague's 

 ravages, and the presence of the goats is given credit for it. Some of these 

 stables keep goats today. It is an old English idea. 



The Does To a certain degree the same characteristics required in the 

 buck should be present in the doe. She should be from as good milking stock 

 as can be secured, but if she should be only a fair milker, the offsprings 

 might become better if the buck is a superior animal. Thus it is possible to 

 "breed up" if only the best bucks are used. 



In order that a constant supply of milk may be maintained the does 

 should be bred so as to drop kids at regular intervals, both summer and 

 winter. This is quite an advantage in milch goat dairying as with the house- 

 hold. Two or three goats properly managed, will furnish a bountiful supply 

 of excellent milk the year round for an average family. 



The Kids Owing to the high price of goats' milk, it is often custo- 

 mary to raise the kids on cows' milk, which is a very easy matter to do. An 

 ordinary nursing bottle is very good to use until the kids learn to drink. 

 Care should be exercised to see that the bottle and the milk is always sweet 

 and clean. 



An excellent substitute for milk is to be had in "Blatchford's Lamb 

 Meal." (See the advertisement in the back of this book). This meal is very 

 easy to prepare, can be fixed with either water or skim-milk. Kids and 



27 



