7i6 



Advantages of Goat-Keeping. 



[march, 



manure. If a number of goats is kept, housing in pairs in 

 stalls, four feet square, is a good plan ; but, needless to say, 

 this must be in an airy building. When there are only a few 

 goats, they can be left loose in their sleeping building and be 

 provided with a bench apiece to use as inclined. If the door of 

 the house is left open the animals can come out into the yard 

 early in the morning. In the summer time the animals will 

 probably prefer sleeping in the open if the yard be littered, 

 as it should be in order to save droppings and urine. 



Utilisation of the Milk. — With three goats, got to kid at 

 different times, a continuous milk supply can be obtained. In 

 many rural districts, owing to the farmer's milk being sent off by 

 rail, there is a dearth of milk among cottagers. In other 

 districts, where dairy farming is not followed, milk can only be 

 got from farmers as a favour, so that goats are a great boon. 

 In these areas there are often " week-enders " and other house- 

 holders who might be customers for goats' milk and in the 

 vicinity of residential districts and pleasure resorts a profitable 

 demand for goats' milk might be worked up by the recom- 

 mendation of the medical profession. 



Yield of Milk. — The maximum yield is not usually obtained 

 at the first kidding. Many common goats do not give two 

 quarts of milk daily, but unless food can be obtained cheaply, no 

 goat should be kept which gives less than this quantity at kidding. 

 Such an animal costs as much to keep as a better one. " Two 

 quarts at least, dropping gradually after a few months " is 

 the formula for the goat-buyer who has much food to buy. 

 The following table of the average yields obtained at the 

 milking competition at the 1906 Dairy Show may be taken 

 as an indication of the production of good goats : — 



Weight of Milk. 



Name of Goat, 



Days since 

 Kidding. 



Evening. 



Morning. 



Sedgmere Faith 

 ,, Melba 

 ,, Capella 

 „ Sunbeam 

 Louise 



Montbretia 



She 



Diamond Queen II 



257 



228 



174 

 195 

 196 



Lb. 

 3-80 

 i'75 

 i'75 

 1-70 



2- OO 

 I • IO 



Lb. 



3-80 



1-50 



1-55 



i-55 



1 -90 



193 

 209 



245 



1 -15 

 2; 00 



1 '40 



i-35 

 1 ' 80 



