88 PRACTICAL ANGORA GOAT RAISING. 



this characteristic which makes it unsafe to take kids 

 on to the range with a flock. The kids are liable to 

 hide behind some bush, go to sleep and be lost. 



CASTRATING. 



Before the kids are allowed to go out with the 

 flock the males should be castrated. The Turk does 

 not alter the males until they have developed sexual- 

 ity and the male horn, i. e., the heavy characteristic 

 buck horn. He then castrates by either removing 

 the testicles, or by twisting or destroying the sperm- 

 atic cord. When the latter method is used the testi- 

 cles and cord undergo an inflammatory process 

 which destroys the regenerative power of the animal- 

 The testicles remain in the scrotum apparently un- 

 changed. The animal thus treated presents to the 

 casual observer the physical characteristics of a buck. 

 The Turk claims that an animal treated in this man- 

 ner is less liable to die than one whose testicles are 

 removed. This is probably true, as the initial lesion 

 produced by the operation is very small, and there is 

 less liability of infection. 



The usual method employed in this country is to 

 remove the testicles before the regenerative power of 

 the animal is developed. This gives the wether a 

 feminine appearance, and there is comparatively little 

 danger of death if the operation is properly per- 

 formed. It will be easiest to castrate the kids be- 



