8 
difficulty at the present time is in meeting the demand for good animals. It 
should be borne in mind also that goats' meat is nearly equal to mutton. 
The production of goats' milk and the raising of goats for production and 
breeding purposes fits in well with the home-project plan. Many boys and girls 
living in towns or near the larger cities can keep a goat who could not keep a 
pig. Goats, if properly treated, make excellent pets, and inasmuch as they 
are not raised primarily to be killed for meat production no difficulties arise 
when the boys and girls develop them as pets. Although the caring for one 
goat for family milk production should be accepted as a suitable minor project 
in animal husbandry, the students should be encouraged to develop the work in 
a commercial way as far as their resources will permit. The production of 
milk for the feeding of infants and invalids will furnish an excellent ideal 
toward which to work, as it offers opportunity not only for the application of 
science and the development of good business training but also an opportunity 
for a much needed public service. Students who are desirous of working into 
the dairy business will be able to secure training in the care and handling of 
milk and in developing a trade which they may apply later to a dairy where 
cows' milk is handled. The experience gained in feeding and in breeding goats 
will also prove of value in handling cows and other animals. 
GETTING A START. 
As milk goats are abundant in very few sections, the student must take 
what he can get. Pure-bred animals may not be procurable in the district or 
their price may be beyond the reach of the student in getting a start. As a 
rule, it will not be worth while to make an effort toward milk production un- 
less there is a male of good breeding available for service in the district. If 
the services of a buck of a good milking strain are available, a start may be 
made with a common doe with a tendency toward good milk production or with 
grade kids. Public-spirited bankers and others have given financial aid in 
getting pigs of good breeding for the boys' and girls' projects. Perhaps some of 
these men or doctors who are interested in securing better milk for babies and 
invalids may aid in getting pure bred milk goats into the community. If the 
teacher of agriculture will make known the possibilities in milk goats of good 
breeding, an effective appeal may be made to both citizens and students to use 
them for what they are worth in helping to meet the present food situation 
and in developing economical production for the future. 
GOAT PROJECT STUDY OUTLINE. 
I. Shall I go into milk goats as a project? 
1. What possibilities are there for raising goats in this section? 
2. Is there a special demand for goats' milk? 
3. Is it not possible to develop a market for goats' milk for feeding 
invalids and infants? 
4. Will I be able to secure suitable stock with which to start? 
5. What are the prospects for securing and using vacant lots or 
waste land suitable for pastures? 
6. Will there be any opportunity to work into the raising of pure- 
bred goats for breeding purposes? 
7. What possibilities are there for renting goats? 
II. What type and breed of goats shall I select? 
1. Why should an effort be made to secure goats bred especially for 
milk production? 
2. What breeds of milk goats have been established in the United 
States? 
3. What are the distinguishing characteristics of the Swiss goats 
which have been brought to this country? 
4. What characteristics of the Nubian breed justifies its consid- 
eration? 
5. Is it possible to find individuals among common does in which 
milk production is developed? 
6. Will it be possible for me to obtain pure-bred does as a basis 
for a breeding herd? 
7. How may I go about to develop a good herd from common does? 
8. Do I know the characteristics of both does and bucks of the milk 
type? 
