IN GOAT-KEEPING 15 



few prize winners must afford unlimited satisfaction. On the oth- 

 er hand pure breeds of any variety are scarce and high priced, ex- 

 tra good animals exceedingly so, and the production of prize win- 

 ners is a slow process. Every breeder, however, is interested in 

 pure breed stock and will naturally aim to build up the quality 

 of his herd, and in doing this nothing is more necessary than a 

 pure breed buck or one as nearly so as circumstances will permit. 



UTILITY STOCK. 



The great majority of people, when purchasing a goat, con- 

 sider first the milk pail; what they want is milk and then more 

 milk and from their standpoint this is the natural and correct at- 

 titude. It makes no real difference to them whether the goat is 

 registered or not, whether she is Toggenburg, Saanen, Nubian or 

 Cross-breed, so long as she produces the fluid. It costs no more to 

 feed a goat giving two or three quarts than one that gives only one 

 quart, and the buyer is quick to see that such a goat is well worth 

 the additional price charged. Many of the best milkers are cross 

 breed or grade does and when Mr. Pegler speaks so highly of this 

 class of stock, he is but voicing the opinion of our English cousins 

 in general, who are generations ahead of us in the industry and 

 who with every opportunity to select the best, built up the cross- 

 breed Anglo-Nubian strain, which for many years has captured 

 practically all the prizes for best milkers in their goat shows. 



To the beginner, two courses are open. First: to start in 

 with pure breed stock and stick closely to it. 



Second: to purchase utility stock and improve it as rapidly 

 as circumstances will permit. Each must decide for himself ; most 

 of us adopt the second plan. 



THE DOE. 



"Whether pure breed, cross breed or common native stock, 

 there are certain characteristics which distinguish the female cap- 

 able of good milk production and which the purchaser will do well 

 to consider when making a selection. The head should be neat and 

 feminine (not coarse and rough looking) with forehead broad and 

 tapering toward the muzzle. The body should be long and deep 

 with ample room for a large stomach. Authorities seem to agree 

 that a heavy milker is generally wedge-shaped, that is, much 

 deeper at the hind quarters than at the chest. Thinness is no fault 

 if the goat is a good feeder; the skin should be loose, with hair 

 rather soft and fine. Regarding the udder, Pegler says : 



"A goat may have an immense udder and yet give a compara- 

 tively small yield, for the simple reason that it is composed mostly 

 of flesh instead of milk. It should not only be large but thin in 

 substance and soft to the touch. When quite full, it will be great- 

 ly distended, but after milking should shrink to a very much small- 

 er size. Such an udder when the goat is dry would appear very 

 small. 



