CHAPTER XV 



STOCK SHOWS AND MILK RECORDS 



In an earlier chapter of this book, speaking of the 

 sale of stock, the following statement is made: ". 

 A breeder . . . must regularly exhibit his animals 

 in live stock shows, and must be prepared to offer orderly 

 and well authenticated records for the milk yield of his 

 does." At this point, when we have completed the dis- 

 cussion of the general care of goats, it may be well to 

 add some detailed discussion on these two points, ex- 

 hibiting and record keej^ing. 



Conditioning Goats for Showing. — Breeding. — The 

 dates for live stock shows are generally announced so far 

 ahead that no goat breeder need be caught with his stock 

 unprepared. The first point, then, to bear in mind is that 

 a doe which is to be exhibited ought not to be in kid, or 

 at most not more than a month advanced in her preg- 

 nancy. The goat suffers more than most animals from 

 the excitement of travel, confinement, crowds, and bad 

 air, and the risk of abortion, if she is in kid, is serious. In 

 the case of bucks it would seem advisable not to trj' to 

 exhibit them during the breeding season. Even with the 

 best of care their smell and their habits at this time are 



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