IN GOAT-KEEPING 17 



building for them) especially after the first season, when their 

 odor becomes much more pronounced. With the Nubians the 

 odor is almost entirely absent, and with proper care they can be 

 kept in the same building with the does, although this is not de- 

 sirable if it can be avoided. If kept in the same building he 

 should be removed as far as possible from the does and given a 

 good sized box stall and separate run, as exercise is very essen- 

 tial ; if broken to drive to wagon the light exercise will keep him 

 in good condition. Be careful not to overfeed, especially when not 

 in heavy demand for breeding purposes. An occasional bath, 

 when not too cold, and thorough grooming is good for all goats, 

 but especially the buck. Bucks mature early and kids born in 

 the Spring can be used for light service in the Pall. 



Most breeders of thoroughbred stock, advocate the use of 

 thoroughbred bucks only, and while this is desirable, it is not 

 essential; a good grade buck kid can be purchased for much 

 less and it is a good plan to purchase such an one in the "Spring or 

 Suminer and after breeding him to your does in the Pall, dispose 

 of him and purchase another the following year, getting a pure 

 breed as soon as you can aSord it. Another good plan is to pur- 

 chase a doe that has been bred to a pure breed buck and if she 

 should produce a promising kid, raise him for your own use. The 

 expense of keeping a good buck is more than compensated for in 

 the increased value of the kids produced. 



MATING OR BREEDING. 



This is a question that should receive careful consideration, 

 especially if several goats are kept with an idea of a continuous 

 milk supply. Probably ninety per cent, of all female goats come in 

 season for breeding in the Fall and Winter, say between Sept. 1st 

 and Peb. 1st., and will not mate at other times. A good plan for 

 the beginner is to purchase a doe that is due to kid in the Spring 

 and later on purchase another due to kid in the Pall. Those that 

 freshen in the Pall are hardest to obtain and command the high- 

 est price, but it is necessary to have at least one such if the milk 

 supply is to be maintained. My first purchase was two young does 

 and a buck; both does had kidded about March 1st, and one had 

 been bred for the second time and kidded Oct. 26th, and this doe 

 has regularly come in season three months after kidding, without 

 regard to time of year and kidded every eight months, producing 

 first, one kid, then two, then three, and then three more. She is 

 not a heavy milker but as a breeder she is a wonder. 



If not mated when first coming in season, a doe usually re- 

 peats every three weeks until successfully mated, especially dur- 

 ing the Pall and Winter; at other times it is more uncertain and 

 may not continue more than 24 hours, while during the Fall and 

 Winter it usually lasts about three days. If one has a buck on 

 the premises, mating is often possible, which would not be the 



