SHEEP 



627 



City, Mo., and the National Angora 

 Eecord Association, with headquarters 

 at Salem, Oregon. 



Relative profits with Angoras and 

 sheep — Under the agricultural condi- 

 tions in eastern and northern United 

 States, it is very doubtful whether An- 

 gora goats can compare favorably as an 

 investment with sheep. A good two or 

 three-year-old ewe will cost $3.50 to 

 $4.50. She will produce one, two or 

 tbree lambs yearly, besides a fleece worth 

 $1 to $1.50. The lambs if allowed to 



Fig. 392 — SCHWARZWALD MILCH GOAT 



run with the ewe and not given grain, 

 will sell for $1.50 to $2 apiece in the 

 fall, and if fed grain and fattened will 

 sell for $3 to $5 apiece. A goat on the 

 other hand will cost $8 to $12 apiece, 

 will drop but one kid and the fleece is 

 worth no more than that of the sheep. 

 The cost of production is about the 

 same in both cases. The investment 

 and the risk in the goats is a little larger 

 than in sheep. 



It is only in exceptional circumstan- 

 ces that Angoras will equal sheep in 

 profitableness; certainly, not under gen- 

 eral farm conditions. 



Care of Angoras_As before noted, 

 Angoras are great travelers and will run 

 all over the farm inside of half a 

 day unless fenced in. A wire fence 4 

 feet high, with the wires spaced close 

 enough so that they cannot get their 

 heads between them, will confine them 

 satisfactorily. If the fence is made of 

 rail and slants the least bit outward, 

 they will readily climb it. They should 

 not be closely herded and do best when 

 given absolute freedom, except as con- 

 fined by fences. 



They require shelter from rain and 

 storm. This is much more necessary 

 for Angoras than for sheep. Dry cold 



does not injure them in the least, but 

 when their heavy fleece becomes soaked 

 with cold water or heavy with sleet, 

 many deaths are sure to follow. If 

 given access to shelter, goats will seek 

 it to avoid the coming rains. It is 

 claimed that they are good barometers 

 and can foretell stormy weather. Dur- 

 ing the night time goats should be kept 

 in confinement, whether pastured or on 

 the range. They require a dry place in 

 which to sleep and eat, and this is also 

 necessary on account of the fleece which 

 would otherwise become filthy with dirt. 

 Considerably more shed room should be 

 allowed than for sheep. 



Where the winters are open, goats 

 will browse all winter. In winter feed- 

 ing they require much the same man- 

 agement and care as sheep, and may be 

 given straw and fodder of any kind. 

 Oats constitute one of the best grains 

 and may be fed whole. In fattening 

 goats for market, they may be fed in 

 exactly the same manner as recom- 

 mended for sheep and lambs. With clo- 

 ver or alfalfa roughage, little or no 

 grain need be fed. No other animal is 

 so particular in regard to cleanliness in 

 feeding. Salt is required in even greater 

 abundance than for sheep and is best 

 given as rock salt in the form of lumps 

 under shelter. 



Kidding_The first two or three days 

 after the kid is dropped it is exceedingly 

 weak and delicate and will die from very 





Fig. 393 GERMAN FORM MILCH GOAT 



little exposure and neglect. They are 

 much more delicate than lambs. Later 

 on when they are able to follow the does, 

 they are stronger than lambs. If the 

 kids come in cold weather, especially 

 warm stables must be provided, as well 



