Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1899-09-01

Lie useful ODJeClS OL goat - are
three, viz, for the production of the
skins, so extensively known tt the CON-
merce Of manufacturing countries; for
the production Of fleeces of hair or wool,
used also in increasing quantity in man.
ufacturing clothing fabrics, and for the
production of milk, mostly for home
consumption, and of cheese for home
use and market. In some sections the
meat is also relished for food in place of
mutton. Often these objects of produce
ton are combined to some extent and
with varying prominence; for goats
best suited economically for skins for
leather or for hair or wool products
may also be bred as serviceable dairy
animals, while those bred particularly
for dairy purposes are secondarily val
liable, at least, for the final products
skins, meat, etc., especially where
kept in considerable numbers.
Common goats are, Of course, the
most numerous class wherever skins are
the principal object sought, and they
furnish, besides, the milk and meat re-
quired by their n or keepers. Next
to these in aggregate numbers are the
goats kept primarily for dairy products,
select common stock, just as numbers of
American dairy herds are made up
wholly or in part Of select cows from
particular it includes certain strains
naturally possessing high milking quail
tiles, as the Nubian, and kindred or
similar breeds Of Bengal and China, to
which must be added classes bred with
continuous care to the same end, as the
goats of Malta, France, Switzerland,
and, in recent years, Of England.
The Nubian and Bengalese goats are
said to be much alike, and make excel
lent dairy breeds, but unfit to stand ex-
posture in cold countries. Some have a
record of nearly a gallon Of milk per
day while in full milk.
The third class includes goats kept
primarily for their valuable fleece prod
ucts, such as the Angora and the Cash
mere, the first producing a moderate
fleece of fine, long, silky hair, generally
about S pounds per year.
The Angora is supposed to have origi-
mated in Thibet, although now unknown
there. All the stock outside Of Asiatic
Turkey having been drawn therefrom,
the species takes its name from Angora,
in Asia Minor, where it is kept pure and
in considerable numbers. Importations
from there have been made from time
to time, at a great cost, into Europe,
the United States, and more recently
into Africa, in which latter country the
production of mohair for the English
market has become a prominent indus
try.
There are probably about 200,0 900 An
CORA goats that could be reasonably
classed as such in the United States.
They can be raised almost anywhere In
the states except in swampy districts;
but seem to do best where the climate
is dry and the altitude not less than 500
feet. On the Pacific coast, notably In
California and Oregon, Angora goats
are raised very successfully and in large
numbers, and farther south, in New
Mexico and Texas, in which latter state
are some of the finest and oldest estab-
lished flocks in America. Much interest
has of late been taken in the industry in
Iowa, where many farmers are han
ding some flocks in connection with
other stock on their bushy lands. Good
foundation herds al be purchased for
about 81 per head and upward, and
males from SO to $25 each. A thousand
head can be run in a flock, where the
nature and size of the range permit, but
these should be divided up at kidding
time.
The statistics now show that half of
the goats in the country are kept in
the state of Texas, where there is a
complete demonstration Of suitable con-
ditions for raising them.
The only impetus given to the goat
raising industry in this country which
has resulted in organization up to the
present time seems to have shown itself
in Oregon and California. In the for
mer the Oregon Angora goat breeders
association was organized in 1896. The
California association has a similar
name.
The handling Of Angora goats is
somewhat similar to that of sheep, but
they are more active and travel more
than sheep; the kids have to be left be-
hind in the pens when the goats 60 out
until they are about six weeks old.
Hilly, bushy lands are best suited to
the needs of the Angora goat. In a pas
ture of this kind they can be kept in
reasonable number without interfering
with other stock, as they will live on
what other stock do not eat.
Goatskins, from which is derived the
greatest amount Of the profits Of goat
keeping in regions where the largest