THE ANGORA GOAT 



459 



brush land have been pastured to flocks of goats, which have 

 materially reduced the cost of clearing the land for farm purposes. 



The distribution of Angora goats is very widespread. They 

 are found in various parts of the world, but especially in Asia 

 Minor, South Africa, and the United States. With reasonable 

 care they seem adapted to a wide range of climatic conditions, 

 and do well in the dryer southwestern states and in Wisconsin 

 and the colder, moister north. A dry climate, however, seems to 

 offer the best condition of health. At the present day Angora 

 goats are found in nearly every state in the country, with very 

 large flocks in New Mexico, Texas, and the southwest. 



The prolificacy of the Angora goat is not marked. Rarely more 

 than one kid is dropped a year, though twins occur. Thompson 

 states that on the southwestern ranches the average percentage of 

 kids is about 70, with instances of flocks attaining 120 per cent. 



The price for Angora goats varies greatly. Many have changed 

 hands on western ranches at two or three dollars a head, but very 

 high prices have been paid. Pure-bred, fair specimens have sold 

 at prices comparable with sheep of average breeding character. 

 In 1 90 1, at the Kansas City Goat Show, the buck Columbia 

 Pasha changed hands for $1050, while the next year Mr. A. 

 Kemble of Iowa paid $1400 at the same show for the buck 

 Aztec. Still later, in 1903, at the Kansas City Show, the buck 

 Dick Junior, sweepstake of the show, sold for $1300. Lazarus, 

 that sold in 1900 for $700, was a famous show buck and proved 

 to be a breeder of much merit. The highest price ever paid for 

 a doe in America was $900 for Oregon Beauty, champion year- 

 ling at Kansas City in 1905. 



The American Angora Goat Breeders' Association promotes the 

 interest of the breed. This is a young organization with its mem- 

 bership mainly distributed in the far West. Goats are registered 

 much as in other pure-bred live-stock associations. 



