6 PROFIT AND PLEASUEE 



VARIOUS REASONS FOR KEEPING GOATS. 



Those who keep goats are frequently asked why they keep 

 them, and the following are among the answers given: 



To obtain a regular supply of pure, rich milk, free from all 

 danger of tuberculosis, at minimum cost. 



To save the life or benefit the health of my child, myself, or 

 some member of my family. 



To provide myself a pleasant and interesting occupation for 

 spare time. 



To add to my regular income by selling the milk or by breed- 

 ing and selling good stock. 



To ride an attractive hobby, same as breeding fancy poultry, 

 dogs, etc. 



WHY MORE DESIRABLE THAN COWS? 



This is another question frequently asked, and in reply I 

 would say : 



First — Because of their freedom from tuberculosis. Goats 

 are practically immune from tuberculosis, while a very large per- 

 centage of all cows are affected. The U. S. Department of Agricul- 

 ture in Bulletin No. 68, states as follows: 



"It will probably never be known, just how many people 

 contract tuberculosis by drinking tlie milk of tuberculous cows, 

 but it is well known tliat the number is considerable. 



" 'Doctor Schwartz, medical counsellor from Cologne, in an 

 address at Frankfurt (1896) before the Association of German 

 Naturalists and Physicians, directed the attention of the Conven- 

 tion toward goat's milk as a food for children, because goars rare- 

 ly have a tendency to tuberculosis, and even when they have it, 

 become infected by coming in contact with tuberculous cattle'." 



According to the Annual Reports of the Bureau of Animal Indus- 

 try (U. S.), covering federal inspection of animals slaughtered 

 for food, there ^vere inspected during the eight years of 1907 to 

 1914 inclusive, 579,617 goats, of which not a single animal was 

 condemned for tuberculosis. On the other hand, it is a well known 

 fact that the condemnation of cows on this account is astonishing- 

 ly large, 29,738 having been condemned during the single -^-ear of 

 1914. 



Second — Because more available and more desirable to the 

 average family. 



In figuring the comparative costs and benefits of cow's milk 

 and goat's milk it is safe to assume that on the average, one cow 

 would equal eight goats, in both expense and production. In 

 either case, the unit is one animal. He who would provide his own 

 source of cow's milk, must keep at least one cow ,and if the sup- 

 ply is to be continuous, he must keep two (as nature demands a 

 rest between lactation periods), or trade in his dry cow at a great- 

 ly reduced price for a fresh one. If he adopts the former plan and 

 keeps two, he will find at certain times he will have more milk 

 than his family can use economically, while if he adopts the latter 



