36 KOTES ON ANGORA GOAT FARMING. 



SO tliat the shorter clip is not detrimental to the value 

 of the fleece 



Shearing in South Africa is generally conducted in what, in 

 Australia, would be considered a most slovenly manner. It 

 is not unusual for a farmer to have the work done in the^ 

 "kraals," or yards, and even if under cover the floor is more 

 often than otherwise of earth. Goats are less troublesome 

 to shear than sheep, but owing to the decided " lay " of the- 

 hair, men who can use both hands equally well have a. 

 considerable advantage. Sorting is, as a rule, very inefficiently 

 carried out. 



About the 1st June is the usual date for commencing 

 operations, and in the Karoo, where a large proportion of the- 

 Angoras in the colony are kept, the nights at that time of 

 the year are often bitterly cold. Bad weather 

 immediately after shearing may cause terrible mortality 

 amongst a flock if proper precautions are not taken, but the 

 general conditions affecting stock farming are comparatively 

 so unfavourable in the country alluded to, that but little 

 harm need be anticipated in Tasmania. Cold alone does not. 

 appear to have a particularly bad effect, nor does a warm 

 shower of rain ; but cold and wet together are very 

 destructive and should be carefully guarded against by 

 providing shelter. In the Cape Colony all flocks are^ 

 "kraaled" or yarded at night for protecfion against wild 

 animals and depradatory natives, and slight shelter is often 

 contrived for newly shorn goats, but in the Karoo there is no- 

 scrub or timber to afford a friendly lee should the flock be 

 caught in a storm during the daytime, and thus the mortality 

 is often great. 



Goats are much more prolific than sheep, but Angoras less so- 

 than the common species, still a very large percentage of the 

 ewes bear twin kids. The young are at birth very helpless, 

 in marked contrast to lambs, and remain so for ten or twelve 

 days, and as the ewes display maternal instinct in a very 

 modified form, some trouble may be anticipated at this time, 

 which is usually between August and October. Here, again, 

 experience gained in South Africa is of little value when 

 applied to Tasmania, but the advantages are all in favour of 

 the latter, as the ewes would here be disturbed as. 

 little as possible until their kids gained strength and 

 intelligence. 



Mr, Swan states that : — " The trouble and exjoense of 

 managing a flock would be less than that required for sheep. 

 Goats are much more intelligent and are less liable to- 

 destruction by dogs." He adds : — "No ordinary fence will 

 restrain them, and as they are restless, energetic, and 

 destructive, cultivation is not profitable in their vicinity. 

 Hawthorn hedges and ornamental shrubs possess peculiar 



