THE HALF OF THE HERD— THE BUCK 121 



that can happen will be the breeding of an ininiatui-e doe, 

 or too close a mating. Neither are necessarily a dis- 

 aster. But i'f there are two breeds represented, it is sure 

 to be your best jiure- bred doe that gets in kid to a buck 

 of the other breed — a whole season's profits lost in an in- 

 stant. This is the most potent argmnent, thougli there 

 are others, for the use of one breed only in any well 

 managed, 2:)rogTessive herd. 



The Use of the Buck. —How many does can a buck 

 served With our pi-esent scarcity of tine, j)ure bred 

 stock this is an im2:)ortant (piestion. 



A buck kid, born say in Fel)ruai'y oi- JMarch, can be 

 safely used in the fall for five or six does, if he is in good 

 condition, and if he is Ijeing cared for in accordance witli 

 the suggestions given above. He should not be used 

 until eight months old, and at intervals of two or three 

 weeks at least. 



A buck in liis secontl year can safely take twenty- 

 five does, in his third year fifty, and at niaturity one 

 hundred to one hundred fifty. These rather generous 

 figin-es rest on tlie l)asis that tlie Inick is in 2>erfeet cfindi • 

 tion, in good appetite, and is entirely separated from the 

 does except for the instant of service. They also assume 

 that eacli doe has one service only. In spite of the gen- 

 eral feeling that two services are safer, one is amply 

 sufficient, if it is successful. The breeder is aware that 



