GOATS 395 
each doe is better, for the reason that the doe will own 
the kid sooner, and there will be less danger of injury. 
If kids are dropped on the range or in the pasture, they 
must be carried home and special care given to see that 
the does are made to own them, for many times they will 
refuse, especially if they have no milk. 
There are in use two methods of handling the does and 
kids at kidding time, namely, the corral method and the 
staking method. Each of these methods has its advan- 
tages. 
(1) The corral method may be used with any number 
of goats. When a large number of does are expected to 
kid, it is necessary to have one or two large corrals and 
several smaller ones. The does expected to kid, or those 
that have kidded, are put in the small corrals, and after 
a day or so are removed to one of the larger ones. This 
procedure is repeated until all the does have kidded. 
(2) The other, the Mexican or ‘“ staking method,” is 
used largely in Texas and New Mexico. When a kid is 
born, it is taken to a convenient place to “ stake ” and the 
mother is coaxed to follow, and the kid is ‘‘ staked’ or 
“toggled” with a string about twelve inches long. This 
string is tied to one leg, being changed occasionally from 
one leg to another to avoid lameness. The string should 
have a swivel on it to prevent twisting. ids are usually 
staked for a week to ten days. 
Kids should not be weaned until they are about four 
months old. The buck kids, not intended for breeding 
purposes, should be castrated when about two weeks old. 
The earlier it is done, the better will be the meat and 
mohair. 
No amount of cold will prove injurious to goats if they 
are kept dry. A shed of easy access is one of the essentials 
