THE HOPE OF THE HERD— THE KIDS 139 



mind that goats, and especially kids, are very " capri- 

 cious " creatiu-es. Cin-iosity and variety play a far 

 larger part in developing their food capacity than appe- 

 tite. Therefore to ohtain the best results it is necessary 

 to change their food completely at brief intervals. This 

 is a great deal of trouble, but it pays in the end. For 

 one thing, it saves milk, the most expensive food one can 

 give the kid. For anotlier, it develops a more vigorous 

 and larger animal witli a larger digestive capacity, re- 

 sulting in more vitality and potency for a buck, and 

 heavier milk production for the doe. 



A Tested Feed Schedule. — Here is a system of feed- 

 ing that has been well tested and has given splendid 

 results. In the morning, if weatlier permits, turn the 

 kids out for a romp before the first feed, which is milk. 

 Immediately after, fill tlie feed boxes with hay, the best 

 obtainable of its kind. As soon as they have eaten what 

 they want of the hay. drive out the kids, clean the rem- 

 nants of the hay into a canvas sheet to feed to other stock, 

 and refill the boxes with green stuff, freshly cut. For 

 this purpose green vetcli and oats, sown together, is an 

 excellent feed, easily raised, easily cut, greatly relished 

 by the kids, and very nutritious. About noon clean out 

 the remnants of the greens and put down a handful of 

 grain at each stanchion. (For tlie grain mixture to be 

 used, see Cliapter XIV.) At two o'clock milk again, 



