86 MODERN MILK GOATS 



will fail to eliminate. If does of a fairly even brown or 

 tan coloring can be obtained, the first cross will usually 

 show the Toggenburg markings, and the type will be 

 rapidly established. If only vari-colored does of all de- 

 scriptions can be obtained, a Nubian buck is the best 

 recourse, as in breeding to that type color plays no im- 

 portant part. Moreover, a Nubian buck will more 

 quickly impress a herd founded on common goats with 

 the " points " of his breed, and with a generally improved 

 appearance of size and type than will a Swiss buck. The 

 grade offspring of the Swiss bucks, however, seem to 

 approach the high milk yield of their breed more rapidly 

 than do Nubian grades. 



In spite of these minor practical considerations, we 

 return to the statement made at the beginning of this 

 chapter, that all the breeds are so good that one cannot 

 make a mistake in choosing. Personal preference is the 

 safest guide, and here, too, so valuable and so appealing 

 are the little friendly animals of all the breeds, one is 

 tempted to conclude, in the paraphrased words of the 

 popular song: 



" Any little goat that's a nice little goat 

 Is the right little goat for me! " 



