90 PRACTICAL ANGORA GOAT RAISING. 



RIDCLINCS. 



While castrating the kids the operator will dis- 

 cover that some of the kids have but one descended tes- 

 ticle. When these animals are found the descended 

 testicle should be removed, and they should be recog- 

 nized by some distinctive ear mark or brand. These 

 animals will develop like bucks. It is a disputed ques- 

 tion as to whether they are able to exercise regenerative 

 power, but they will cover the does, and in some cases 

 they probably get kids. The undescended testicle 

 can be removed, but as the testicle usually lies close 

 to the kidney, and is hard to distinguish from that 

 organ in the young animal, it is best to delay the 

 operation until the ridgling is at least six months old. 

 The instruments necessary for this operation are a 

 stout rope to suspend the animal, a clean sharp knife, 

 scissors to remove the mohair from the place to be 

 incised, and sharp needles threaded with silk. The 

 knife, scissors and silk should be immersed in a hot 

 5% carbolic acid solution, and they should be kept in 

 this solution except when actually in use. 



The rope is fastened to the hind legs of the ani- 

 mal and he is suspended in midair. An assistant 

 steadies the body of the goat. The operator selects a 

 place on the loin of the goat, about two or three 

 inches away from the backbone, below the ribs and 

 above the hip bone, on the side opposite to that which 

 the descended testicle occupied. He then shears the 



