i>8 BULLETIN *49, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGKICULTUEE. 



set wide apart. Such dual-purpose Angoras make possible a sub- 

 stantial double revenue from two sources, mohair and the sale of 

 animals for meat. Heavier and earlier maturing animals are pro- 

 duced, which have a more ready sale and a greater value for meat, 

 because there is less waste and a greater proportion of valuable cuts 

 mi the animal. This makes it possible to sell at a profit poor pro- 

 ducers of mohair when about 6 months of age, and all surplus can 

 be sold advantageously when 18 months or 2 years old. 



In weight, grown Angoras vary from GO to 150 pounds for both 

 bucks and does, though the average is approximately from 100 to 

 125 pounds for bucks and 75 pounds for does. In the fall, kids of 

 fine-mohair goats weigh, in good condition, from 30 to 75 pounds, 

 with an average of about 35 to 40 pounds, and yearlings from 50 

 to 100 pounds or more, with an average of 60 to 65 pounds. Better 

 selection of breeding animals from the present range Angoras to 

 approximate the dual-purpose Angora as herein suggested, together 

 with better care and management, will result in the production of 

 kids averaging 50 pounds and yearlings averaging 80 pounds in the 

 fall of the year. This is an increase of from 25 to 30 per cent over 

 the averages to-day. These weights can be increased still further. 



The disposal of surplus animals has always been one of the draw- 

 backs of the goat industry. Though several hundred thousand are 

 annually slaughtered, goats are usually placed on the market in 

 small numbers of all ages and sizes and in all conditions of flesh. 

 This has often made it impossible to establish a market classifica- 

 tion and has generally caused slaughterers to pay only such prices as 

 would insure a profit on the poorer animals. The production of the 

 dual-purpose type of Angora under good management and the dis- 

 posal of the surplus when 2 years old or under would make pos- 

 sible the placing of large numbers of well-built, fat goats on the 

 market. With a steady supply of large, fat goats of even size and 

 condition a better market for goats and goat meat might be estab- 

 lished. 



The type and grade of goat, then, that should be raised on the 

 ranges is a large, well-built, early maturing Angora, producing a 

 large quantity of fine mohair. The herd should be as uniform as 

 possible. Uniformity of the mohair in the fleece and from the herd, 

 reducing the work of grading, increases the value of the mohair. 

 Also uniformity in size and conformation of the surplus stock sold 

 for meat causes it to bring a higher price. 



'Selection of does. — The does making up the herd should be care- 

 fully selected for uniformity, and as nearly as possible to approxi- 

 mate the ideal range goat. In general, high-class does produce high- 

 class offspring. Considering present prices, each doe should produce 



