140 MODERN MILK GOATS 



then hay, a different kind from the morning feed. Oat 

 hay and alfalfa oi- clover hay are the two hest varieties. 

 At four greens again (here, too, a variety is desirahle), 

 at six grain, at eight the last feed of milk, and after- 

 wards fresh hay to nibble during the night. One will be 

 astonished at the rush of tremendous eagerness tliat 

 greets each new offering of feed, and a moderate allow- 

 ance is rapidly consimied. If, however, all of these feeds 

 stand always at hand in large quantities the kids soon 

 lose interest in them and save their appetite for the three 

 milk feeds. 



When to Wean. — Under the system described the 

 kids soon begin to lose their eagerness for the evening 

 milk, being by that time pretty substantially full of solid 

 food. The noon milk feed can be discontinued at two 

 and one-half months old, the CAening feed at three and 

 one-half months, and by four months old the vigorous 

 kid, with his well developed appetite for solid food, will 

 have weaned himself voluntarily in many instances. Un- 

 less a kid is very backward in de\-elopment this program 

 for weaning will j:)robably coincide with his own gradual 

 loss of interest in milk, and it is doubtful if there is any 

 profit in deferring the time of weaning beyond four 

 months, providing the ca})acity for solid food is 

 well develo])ed. 



After weaning some trouble must still be taken to 



