122 MODERN MILK GOATS 



the business is jjroperly completed when the doe after 

 the buck dismounts, draws her hindquarters up con- 

 spicuously. Some bucks will mount many times before 

 actually giving service, but this is the reliable indication 

 that no further use of the buck is necessary. The doe 

 should then be removed instantly to her own 

 distant quarters. 



It may seem to some breeders that the amoimt of 

 service we have suggested is excessive. In herds where 

 the bucks run loose with the band during the season it is 

 the custom to count upon not less than one mature buck 

 to every fifty does. For if a buck is left to himself with 

 the does he will serve the same animal over and over, so 

 considerably limiting his usefulness to the herd. Also, 

 where a buck is thus left with the herd, his life of useful- 

 ness is limited to two or three years. When, however, 

 " hand breeding " only is followed, and the buck is cared 

 for as we have outlined, a strong buck can serve one 

 hundred fifty does with impunity, if the services are well 

 distributed over the season of six months. Such a buck, 

 moreover, can be relied upon for unbroken usefulness to 

 the age of ten years or more. 



We can suitably close this discussion with a remark 

 made with great emphasis by a breeder of long experi- 

 ence, " If I had a valuable buck I would rather have him 

 used for one hundred fifty does that were hand bred 

 than to leave him loose with ten does only for the season." 



