1908.] Advantages of Goat-Keeping. 721 



four. The animals do not need assistance at parturition. The 

 signs of approaching parturition are a certain uneasiness in 

 the nanny's demeanour, a swelling of the vulva and an excre- 

 tion of mucus. A short time before the kids are born the 

 goat's body seems to drop a little. A healthy nanny stands 

 while having her kids. 



It is usual among many goat-keepers to send the nanny to 

 the billy when she reaches a year and a half. A wagging of 

 the tail, and a manifest uneasiness are the signs of wishing to 

 go to the billy. Oestrum lasts only three days. 



Milking. — Milking is easily managed. The goats of the 

 writer jump on a bench to be milked, and thrust their heads 

 through a guillotine arrangement so that they can be kept 

 still. He sits down on the edge of the bench facing the udder, 

 grasps the goat's far leg with his left hand and milks with 

 his right. Sometimes he holds the can instead of the nanny's 

 leg with his left hand. Gentleness in milking is absolutely 

 essential to a good yield. A massaging of the udder before 

 or in the middle of milking is desirable. The udder should be 

 washed with a sponge or cloth and warm water before milking. 

 Unless every drop of milk is drawn the animal's " drying off " 

 will be hastened. The last-drawn milk is the richest. 



The milk should be strained and set to cool in an open vessel 

 immediately after milking. 



Disease— There appears to be "a disease peculiar to goats,'* 

 of microbic origin, but where goats are kept under healthy 

 conditions they are not likely to have any ailments of 

 consequence, beyond " scours," which can be gradually 

 stopped by a timely change of diet. 



There are three books about goats : — " The Book of the 

 Goat," by H. S. Holmes Pegler (Upcott Gill, 4s. 6d., 1886), 

 " Milch Goats," by Bryan Hook (Vinton, 3s. 6d., 1896), and 

 " The Case for the Goat, with the Practical Experience of 

 Twenty-four Experts," by " Home Counties " (Routledge, 

 3s. 6d., 1908). The British Goat Society publishes a Monthly 

 Register and a Herd Book, and the secretary is Mr. H. S. 

 Holmes Pegler, Allerton House, Kingston-on-Thames. 



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