FEEDING AND CARE OF SHEEP 335 



states to the southward, for here the ewes may be largely maintained 

 on pasture thruout the year, thus greatly lowering the feed bill. 



Goats. — The raising of Angora goats for their mohair is an im- 

 portant industry in certain districts of the United States, especially 

 Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Oregon, and California. In the west- 

 ern states the goats graze upon rough land, utilizing browse which 

 even sheep would refuse. In the cut-over districts of the North, An- 

 gora goats ar» useful in clearing land of brush at a low expense. 



In Europe the milch goat is of importance as a milk producing 

 animal. By their habits they are peculiarly adapted to the needs of 

 the peasants, or poorer classes of these countries, and have hence 

 been appropriately termed "the poor man's cow." While the quality 

 of the milk may be injured if the goat is maintained largely on weeds, 

 kitchen waste, and other refuse, they can profitably utilize much feed 

 which would otherwise be wasted about the household. A good milch 

 goat should .produce milk for 8 to 10 months, and yield 2 quarts or 

 more daily. The milch goat produces more milk, based upon body 

 weight, than the cow, often yielding 10 times her body weight an- 

 nually, and also requires less feed to produce 100 lbs. of milk, tho 

 the milk is higher in fat than average cow's milk. The milch goat 

 has not yet attained importance in this country, but it should have a 

 place in supplying fresh, pure milk for households in our cities. The 

 * general principles of feeding and care which have been presented for 

 sheep also apply to goats. 



QUESTIONS 



1. Discuss the place of sheep on the farm, the types of sheep, and the size of 

 the flock. 



2. Why are most sheep fattened as lambs? 



3. What are the requirements of sheep for shelter, exercise, water, -and salt? 



4. Discuss the preparation of feed for sheep and the use of self feeders. 



5. How would you feed and care for breeding ewes? 



6. State how rams should be fed. 



7. Tell briefly of the feed and care of lambs from birth. 



8. Describe the method of preventing trouble from stomach worms and of the 

 treatment. 



9. Outline the method of fattening lambs (a) in the fall, (b) in the winter. 



10. How are lambs fattened (a) in the corn belt, (b) in the eastern states, (c) 

 in the West? 



11. What is the shrinkage of sheep in transit and the usual dressing per- 

 centage ? 



12. Discuss the production of (a) hot house lambs; (b) spring lambs. 



13. What is the importance of the two types of goats in this country? 



