30 BULLETIN 749, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



BREEDING. 



The time of mating depends largely on the time when it is best for 

 the lads to come. The period of gestation is from 147 to 155 days, 

 and the time of mating is adjusted accordingly. 



BUCKS. 



Bucks to be used for breeding should be over 18 months of age. 

 The} r should be kept in a thrifty, growing condition throughout the 

 entire year, but particularly so during the mating season. Before 

 breeding, the mohair should be clipped from the underside of the 

 buck. 



The number of does a buck may serve depends largely on the 

 methods used. When the bucks are turned loose on the range with 

 the herd there should not be more than 40 does to each buck. When 

 the bucks are kept up in the daytime and fed grain in addition 

 to pasturage, and are placed with the does only for the night, a buck 

 can often serve more than 50 does, especially if it is desired to have 

 the kids come well distributed through about 30 or 35 days, as is 

 usually the range practice. By careful handling of the bucks some 

 growers have had good success using one buck for about 80 does. 

 In such cases the bucks are well fed and are placed with the here], 

 only at night. With the possible exception of a few nights during 

 the breeding season, only half the bucks are placed with the herd 

 one night and the other half the next night. They are mixed so that 

 if there is an exceptionally thrifty one and one that is not thrifty, 

 these are placed with the herd on the same night. No two bucks 

 that fight are placed with the herd on any one night. 



DOES. 



Does come in heat about .the latter part of August or the first of 

 September, and, unless mated, have periods of about three days in 

 heat at intervals until January. Before breeding the mohair should 

 be clipped from the hind parts of the doe well under the tail. 



The does should be in good condition at the time of breeding. 

 They should not be bred until they are 18 months of age. With 

 small does it will often prove best to allow them still another year's 

 growth before breeding. This gives them a chance to attain full 

 growth, and as dry young does the}' will furnish a greater amount 

 of valuable mohair than if they are nursing kids. When small does 

 are bred at 18 months of age and raise a kid during their third year, 

 they often fail to have a kid the next year and are usually per- 

 manently stunted, and their kids are generally small. 



