GOATS OlST FAB WESTBRH RANGES. 19 



kidding start in this region not later than April 15 and last approxi- 

 mately 30 days. 



On farms of the Northwest kidding usually starts in March or 

 early April, just before the feed becomes plentiful. If there is an 

 overabundance of fresh, green feed, the does overeat and exercise 

 too little prior to kidding, and this, it is thought by growers, causes 

 goitre among the kids. There is little danger of range does obtain- 

 ing too much feed without exercising sufficiently in obtaining it; 

 still, if the does are kidded in pasture this should be guarded against. 



THE KIDDING CAMP. 



Kids are generally very delicate when first born, and for several 

 days can not stand much cold or rain. Furthermore, it is the gen- 

 eral belief that they can not be grazed along with thej.r mothers until 

 several weeks old. Therefore, to facilitate the handling of the does 

 during kidding, and to care for the kids until old enough for the 

 range, a permanent camp should be established near water. The 

 pens constructed at this camp should be kid tight ; for the larger pens 

 34 or 3G inch woven wire, with the lower meshes small enough to 

 prevent a kid getting its head caught, is preferable, but for small 

 pens boards are best. A shed should be provided to give protection 

 during storms. It may be made either with a permanent roof or 

 with a framework of poles over which heavy canvas is temporarily 

 stretched. 



HERDING AT KIDDING TIME. 



As most kids are born during the middle of the day, the drop band 

 should be taken out to graze about 7 a. m, and brought in about 11 

 a. m., or before that if many kids are being dropped. By 3 p. m. 

 most of the does to kid during the day have kidded or have shown 

 signs of kidding, and may be separated from the herd. Then the 

 drop band should be taken out again and kei:>t out until sundown. 

 Kids dropped on the range should be carried in and their mothers 

 marked and brought in with the herd ; or, if there are about 8 or 10 

 that kid on the range, the mothers may be brought in as a separate 

 bunch from the main drop band. 



The does which have kidded should be formed into a band each 

 day and quietly grazed from about 9 a. m. to 4 p. m., the kids being 

 left at the camp. A herder should be continually with the wet band 

 (does that have kidded) to prevent its mixing with the drop band 

 and to protect it from predatory animals. Grazing the wet band at 

 some distance from the camp saves the feed close about camp for the 

 drop band. 



A crew of at least three or four men is necessary to attend the goats 

 properly ^luring the kidding period. One or two men should herd 



