THE HALF OF THE HERD, THE BUCK 117 



tional " billy-goat " offenses, noisiness and snielliness. 

 He will, moreover, bring to his work a superb vitality 

 that will ensure the suecess of the kidding season. If for 

 convenience in breeding he must be kept during part of 

 the season nearer to headquarters, still his pen should be 

 entirely separated from the herd, though he should 

 have coinjianionship. 



Wasldng (iiul CHj^intig. — If he is a Swiss buck it 

 would l)e advisable early in August to run a pair of 

 clipi)ers over liim, denuding him more or less of his 

 shaggy coat, and to reduce his great beard to a neat 

 " goatee." Thus trimmed, it is no great task to gi^e him 

 at I'egular intei'\'als a warm bath with plenty of soap anci 

 a good disinfectant. The same care applied to liis sleep- 

 ing (juarters — cleanliness and disinfectants, together 

 with the suggestions previously offered as to his care — 

 will l)ring the buck through the season witliout liis be- 

 coming the ititolerable nuisance that is usually associated 

 with the woi-d " billy-goat." 



Temperament. — The traditional " billy-goat," more- 

 over, is a vicious, treacherous creature, to l)e a^jproached 

 only by a stout heart and a strong arm. Nothing could 

 be further from the facts if we have in mind a well bred 

 buck who has been properly reared. None of the herd 

 are so affectionate by nature as the bucks. If they are 

 occasionally rough in jostling their keeper, it is only be- 



