170 MODERN MILK GOATS 



seem to require. But that is in a " state of nature"! 

 For heavy production every effort must be made to in- 

 duce the doe to drink, and the fact is well established 

 among goat keepers that the doe will consume large 

 amounts of warm, even hot, water, when she would en- 

 tirely refuse it cold. The water and the bucket must be 

 perfectly clean. 



The "Self -sucker." — The fresh doe, especially if it 

 is her first kidding, must be watched for any indication 

 that she is sucking herself. This disastrous habit may be 

 started by a feeling of discomfort from too much milk in 

 the newly formed udder. In such cases the doe should 

 be milked three times a day until her udder capacity has 

 developed to correspond with her flow of milk. What- 

 ever the cause of the habit, it can be broken up most 

 humanely and efficiently by the use of the coat described 

 on page 200. After she has worn this coat a few weeks, 

 if it is removed the doe will probably never revert to the 

 habit of self sucking, especially if the udder is watched 

 and undue discomfort is prevented. 



These are the general points to be observed in the 

 care of a milking doe: moderate exercise, varied diet, 

 warm, dry housing, care of her udder, regularity in hand- 

 ling her, and a regular supply of warm water. 



Learning to Milk. — It may happen that someone 

 will find himself in possession of a goat when he has had 

 no experience in milking, and has no one to teach him. 



