226 MODERN MILK GOATS 



Staking Apparatus and Collars. — For the doe that 

 is to he staked out for feed or for exercise the following 

 apparatus will be found useful. A staking pin should 

 be about two feet in length, with a large head fitted with 

 an eyelet that turns freely on the stake. AVhen in use the 

 stake should be driven into the ground close to the head, 

 and the stake rope should be attached to the revolving 

 eyelet by a swivel snap. The other end of the rope is 

 attached to the goat's halter by another swivel snap, and 

 if the rope is fitted in the center with a third swivel the 

 inconvenience of snarled and knotted ropes will be 

 avoided. A stout rope is better than a chain. A goat if 

 frightened is hkely to hurl herself the length of her 

 tether, and if it is a chain the danger of cutting her legs 

 or her udder is considerable. A strong lialter carefully 

 fitted to the head is better for staking purposes than a 

 collar. It is the practice in most herds to use for collars 

 wide, heavy strips of leather, overlapping and laced 

 securely in place with raw hide thongs or belt lacings. 

 This is better than buckles, as the collar cannot come un- 

 fastened. Moreover, goats love to rub themselves 

 against the wire of their yard fences, and a buckle is 

 likely to catch in the wire with inconvenient results both 

 to the doe and the fence. 



It is the usual practice to clamp into this heavy laced 

 collar the goat's registration tag, and this is an additional 



