IN GOAT-KEEPING 29 



ileges of their young ; he also discovered that by continually ex- 

 hausting the milk stored in the udder, a demand was created for 

 further supply, which Nature endeavored to furnish, until all 

 tired out, she went on strike and shut down to recuperate the 

 exhausted organs. After a rest, a second birth produces a 

 second lactation period and so on to the end. Man, ever anxious 

 to get the most from nature, found that certain animals in each 

 species, excelled in the quantity of milk produced and in the 

 length of lactation period and by carefully breeding from these 

 individuals, has gradually evolved the Modern Milch Cow, which 

 is so different in all essentials from the original stock as to con- 

 stitute almost a distinct species. All this applies with equal 

 force to the Modern Milch Goat. 



ARRANGE FOR AN EVEN SUPPLY. 



The gestation period of the cow is nine months and the lac- 

 tation period from eight to eleven months; the next gestation is 

 usually begun about three months after the birth of the calf, so 

 as to avoid too long a "dry spell" between lactation periods. 

 The gestation period of the goat is a little less than five months 

 and the lactation period from six to ten months, the succeeding 

 gestation being started about six or seven months after the birth 

 of the kids, although with some goats it is possible to breed them 

 about three months after kidding, getting three sets of kids in 

 two years; however, as a rule it will be found more satisfactory 

 to have them kid once every twelve months. Each breeder must 

 regulate this according to his own requirements, but when an 

 even supply of milk is desired, care must be taken to see that the 

 does are bred at proper intervals, so far as possible. I know a 

 man who had seven does and concluded to take chances and let 

 them run with the buck. The result was, that during the first 

 nine days of the following March, every doe kidded; he had a 

 surplus of milk during the Summer and none in the Pall. This 

 season I had ten does coming fresh as follows: one each in De- 

 cember, January and February, three in March, two in April and 

 two in May, yet all except the first were bred during the regular 

 breeding season, but of course some were held over and not allow- 

 ed to breed at the first opportunity. Those that freshened first will 

 be bred early, to freshen in the Pall. 



MILKING. 



As the production of milk is a maternal function, so also is 

 the giving up of the supply produced. Remembering this, we 

 should treat the does with the greatest kindness and considera- 

 tion, not only while milking but at all times. This is not only 

 humanitarian, it is profitable also. 



The young does should occasionally be fed in the milking 



