Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1900-03-22
BIG PROFIT In GOATS
Raising Of Augoras Is An Agreeable
AS Well AS Profitable o.
cupation.
GREAT VALUE Of MOHAlR
Sierra County Ranohers Are Making suc-
cess of Goat Breeding Angora Goats
Thrive On New Mexico Noun
tains and Mesas.

The raising of goats Is at the present
day one of the most profitable occupa-
tions in Sierra county, whose hills. me-
sas and valleys are we'll adapted to that
industry The Angora goat is given es-
pecial attention, and it is the opinion Of
Sierra county goat breeders that this
fills long-felt want in New Mexico.
The territory has practically unlimited
facilities for the raising Of Augora
goats, because many of its vast noun
tain ranges which are generally covered
with growth that will give sustenance
only to goats or deer The Importance
of the goat and the mohair industry has
just dawned upon the American stock
man and farmer, and the supply of An
CORA goats is not equal to one-twentieth
of the demand, and the home supply of
mohair Is much less than one-half of
the total home consumption. Were mo-
hair as well protected by the tariff as
wool Is to-day 1t would be worth twice
as much. Goat raisers hope that con-
gress will soon put a duty on mohair
that will enable them to obtain as much
for the home product as manufacturers
pay for the imported mohair Another
great feature Of Angora goat raising is
the great number Of different kinds of
fur-bearing animals that their skins can
be made to represent, which is done by
taking the skins at certain stages of
the growth of hair and special dyeing
process.
$4,000 HEAD OF GOATS.
There are about $4,000 head of goats
In Sierra county at present To these
will be added about 5000 kids after the
kidding season in April. The principal
owners of goats in the county are E. H.
Jobson and James w. Gray, 1,4OO head;
D. c. Taylor, 1000; J. r. Latham and
w. E. Taylor, 1900 each; c. NJ Beals
1000 head; E. D. Ludlow and Gavin g.
Hammell, 1900 each; G. M. Resner. 700:
J. W. Jones, 900; Edward Allen, GOO:
George Feagles, 300. Over half Of the
flocks are nannies. The mohair from
these locks last year brought q to So
cents per pound, according to grade.
the average being q cents. AS each
goat is good for about pounds of mo-
hair annually, it can readily be seen
that goat raising Is profitable for the
mohair alone, not to speak of the other
sources Of income from a goat ranch.
GOOD STOCK.
The kidding seasons occurs in April.
and the increase will probably be 20 per
cent for all the nannies in the several
herds. The Sierra county breeders take
great pride in the blood of their herds.
and the very best bucks are used for
breeding purposes. The best mohair in
the world brings As cents per pound, but
its supply is very limited, and as Sierra
county mohair brings as high as 35
cents per pound 1t will be seen that the
quality must be very good. D. c. Tay-
lor Of Lake Valley, Is breeding now
with the expectation Of taking pre-
MUM at the st. Louis Worlds Exposi-
ton in 1903
SIERRA COUNTY RANCHES.
The goat ranches Of Sierra county are
mostly in the southwestern part Of the
county, around Lake Valley and King
ston. The goat raisers have formed an
association, of which E. H. Johson, Of
Lake Valley, is the efficient and polite
secretary. He Is kept busy answering
inquiries from intending purchasers Of
goats. During the first week of March
he received applications for 10000 head
Of goats, more than there are in the
county, but there are no goats for sale
at present, as the kidding season is just
coming on and the owners do not care
to sell.
A BIG INDUSTRY.
There Is plenty Of room for the in.
vestment of capital in goats and
ranches in New Mexico. 1t Is an occu-
patton which is especially adapted to
healthseekers who come to the territory
and should engage in an outdoor life to
regain their health 1t does not take
prophet to foretell that the goat indus-
try will In time be very extensive In
New Mexico, and one OF its most impor-
tant resources.