54 SCIENCE AND PRACTICE OF DAIRYING. 



peculiar to the skin of the goat (fig. 19), and is imparted to the 

 milk externally. 



In the year 1883, 2,600,000 goats were kept in Germany, that is to 

 say, they numbered 5 -8 for every 100 inhabitants. Between the years 

 1873 and 1883 the number of goats kept increased by 13'8 per cent. It 

 is a well-known fact that goats are characterized by a high milk yield. 

 If we take the live weight of a goat at 30 kilos. (66 Ibs.), and the annual 

 yield of milk at only 300 kilos. (660 Ibs.), it will appear that goats yield in 



Fig. 19. Pyrenean Milking Goat. 



milk ten times their live weight. Animals with large milk-yielding capa- 

 cities can, if well fed, yield annually 800 kilos. (1760 Ibs.), or even more. 

 Goats carry their young, on an average, about 154 days, and the lactation 

 period is four to five months. The time of their milk-yielding period 

 in the year is generally about six months, less frequently four months, 

 and on occasion it may extend to ten months. So far as investigations 

 have shown, goats' milk on an average has the following composition : 



Water, 85*5 



Fat, ... 4-8 



Caseous matter, ... ... ... ... 3'8 



Albumin, 1'2 



Milk-sugar, ... 4'0 



Mineral matter, '7 



Total solids, 



