18 PROFIT AND PLEASURE 



case if the doe had to be sent away. Breeders who have stud 

 bucks usually hold does over one term of three weeks. 



When in season (or heat) the doe becomes very restless, wags 

 her tail rapidly and bleats in a peculiar plaintive way (which is 

 quickly answered by the buck if within hearing) her milk supply 

 slackens and the vulva shows signs of excitement. 



If breeding is desired she should be placed in the pen with the 

 buck and they will quickly make friends ; after one or two serv- 

 ices, she should be removed ; if breeding is not desired she should 

 be kept as far away as possible until she becomes normal again. 



REGARDING EARLY BREEDING. 



Much has been written regarding the proper age for breeding 

 does and there is a wide difference of opinion upon the subject. To 

 my mind much depends upon the individual animal and breed. It 

 is well kiiown that human beings reach maturity much younger 

 in warm climates and it is not surprising to find that goats from 

 warm Oriental countries mature more rapidly than those from the 

 snow-clad mountains of Switzerland. It is true that Swiss does 

 born in the Spring can usually be bred the following Pall or Win- 

 ter, although much smaller than Nubians of the same age. Breed- 

 ers of experience with Nubians claim that early breeding makes no 

 difference so far as quantity of milk is concerned and only about 

 20 per cent, in the weight of the matured animal. As an example 

 of early breeding, I would mention Wigmore Brownie No. 464, a 

 pure breed Anglo-Nubian, who kidded for the first time when 

 thirteen months of age and before she was five years old, had 

 kidded six times, in the months of May, April, January, Septem- 

 ber, March and January. Another case is that of a Nubian-Swiss 

 doe (3-4 Nubian) that was born Feb. 15th, mated July 28th, (right 

 in the middle of Summer) and kidded Dec. 24th, when only 10 

 months and 9 days old. She was almpst as large as the average 

 goat at maturity and produced an extra fine kid. While not es- 

 pecially advocating such a course, these cases are mentioned to 

 show that breeding can be regulated to suit the wishes or require- 

 ments of the individual breeder. 



Mr. Pegler in replying to the question as to what he consid- 

 ered the proper age for breeding does (as published in "The Case 

 For The Goat" London, 1908) says: 



"This greatly depends on whether the goat is to be reared for 

 exhibition or only as a milker. In the former case, it should not 

 be allowed to have kids until two years old. In the latter case, I 

 see no objection in putting a kid born, say, in February or March 

 to the male in the succeeding December, so that she brings forth 

 when about fourteen or fifteen months old. Her growth may be 

 somewhat sacrificed and she may not attain the size she would in 

 the former case, but her milking qualities are certainly not likely 

 to be impaired." 



From the "Barbados Advocate" giving an account of the an- 



