24 FARMERS' BULLETIN 920. 



In 1916, in the Bureau's herd, with 10 half-blood Toggenburg and 

 half and three-quarter blood Saanen does, during their lactation 

 period it required 1.21 pounds of grain to produce a quart of milk. 



During the fall and early winter the pregnant does should be 

 allowed all the roughage they will consume, together with 1 pound of 

 silage or roots and 1 to 1J pounds of grain of the same mixture as 

 mentioned for does in milk. Care should always be taken to see 

 that the silage is of good quality; it should not be fed if frozen or 

 moldy. Silage and turnips should always be fed after milking, and 

 if any silage remains in the trough uneaten it should be removed. 

 Pregnant does require plenty of exercise to produce strong, healthy 

 kids. 



It is safe to figure on 300 pounds of hay and 450 pounds of grain 

 a year for a mature doe; that is, of course, assuming that good pasture 

 is afforded as much of the year as possible. The New York Experi- 

 ment Station at Geneva reports in Bulletin 429 that the average cost 

 of feed per goat for the year 1912 was $11.05. The California station 

 reported in Bulletin 285 that the average cost per year for each of 5 

 pure-bred and grade does kept at the station in 1914 was $11.24. 

 This agrees very closely with the cost at the Geneva station. The 

 average cost of the feed needed to produce 1 gallon of milk in this 

 experiment was 6.4 cents. 



Young does should be kept growing, and the quantity of feed needed 

 will depend upon certain conditions. In the spring, summer, and 

 fall, if they have plenty of browse and pasture, no grain is necessary. 

 If no browse is afforded and the pasture is short during certain 

 months it is best to give them a little grain. In winter they should be 

 fed about 1 pound of grain, 1 to 1 J pounds of silage or roots, and all 

 the hay or fodder they will consume. They should have a shed for 

 shelter and protection from the wind. Goats must be kept dry and 

 out of the cold winds. 



Some goat breeders, make it a practice to gather leaves in the fall 

 and store them for winter use. This is a very good practice, as the 

 leaves are not only readily eaten by the goats but can be used for 

 bedding. If only one or two goats are kept, refuse from the kitchen, 

 such as potato and turnip peelings, cabbage leaves, and waste bread 

 may be utilized for feeding. If necessary, does can be tethered out 

 as mentioned for the buck. 



All feed offered to goats should be clean. Rations should be made 

 up from the best feeds available and those most relished by the goats. 

 Plenty of rock salt should be kept before the goats, and a small 

 quantity of fine salt should occasionally be mixed with the grain fed. 

 A good supply of fresh water is necessary; goats should not be com- 

 pelled to drink from pools where the water has been standing. 



