Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1901-12-12
The Angora as a 6enefactor.

ston is well qualified to speak intelli-
gently on the subject, as he has been
breeding and handling Angoras extern
sively for years, and has sublime faith
in their ability to adapt themselves to
the varied conditions. He said in
part:
''The Angora grows to the same
size as sheep, but does not mature SO
rapidly. A siX-months' ole lamb will
weigh more than a kid of the same
age, with equal care; therefore the
! goat is not as good to raise for the
early market; but this is more than
| Offset by the fact that it carries its
| lamb Or soft joint longer than a lamb
does, and it's life is SO much longer
than that Of sheep. 1t is a prolific
breeder and a productive shearer I'M
til twelve and fourteen years old. 1t
lives and thrives in any climate or
country where sheep live and prosper,
no matter Tow hot or cold. 1t readily
adapts Itself to the surrounding condi-
tons, from the rich valley to rugged
mountain wastes. All the shelter it
facing the south, which it can go I'M
der to protect itself from the cold
rains and snow of our winters. The
rain or snow freezes on it's long, silky
hair, and forms mass of ice, which
chills the goat. Keep it dry, especially
after shearing, and it will stand any
amount of cold weather. They feed
and do we'll during the winter on corn
fodder, straw, and coarse hay, with
little grain during March and the first
of April, to strengthen them for the
kidding season of May. A goat abhors
filth and dirt. While they eat every
kind of food, it must be sweet and
clean, with fresh, pure water to drink.
They will only drink dirty, stagnant
water when compelled to by extreme
thirst.
1T is best not to have your does kid
too early in the spring, as the kids
are liable to chill and die during cold,
wet weather. and the does do not milk
SO well, and are more liable to disOwn
their kids. Better wait until May,
warm weather and plenty Of grass.
They require the same care and at
tentiOn during the kidding season as
heep during the lambing season. The
Ugh grades and pure breds are more
prolific than sheep, raising 80 to 10
per cent. increase. They are very
hardy, having lots of sense, are good
rustlerS, and will not sJarve if there is
anything in the neighborhOOd to eat.
They seem just as happy gnawing the
bark off dogwoOd sapling as barking
your choicest apple tree. They feed
in fOcks, and do not scatter over the
pasture like sheep. When alarmed,
they will bunch together to defend
themselves. They are browsers, not
grazers, and prefer weeds and brush
to grass. They eat the leaves off ev-
cry lree and brush that grows in Kan
sas, and, not content with the leaves,
they want the bark also. They eat
every weed that | know of, except null
len and burdOck. They seem 'tickled
to death when they strike a patch of
jImsOn weed, and are perfectly happy
in a bunch of smartWeed. They watch
put forth it's bloom, so that they can
enjoy that rare morsel. Buckbrush,
which is destroying so many of our
fine pastures, is their delight; in fact,
goats are ideal brush exterminators
they do it at a cash profit instead of a
costly outlay. One writer speaks of
them as picking gold off the bushes
They are always sure of a good
living, for no matter how dry or wet
d season may be, it always produces
weeds. They will condescend to eat
grass when there are no weeds or
brush in sight. After the frost has
killed the weeds and leaves, they feed
during the winter, as long as it is not
covered with snow, on the bluegrass,
which grew undisturbed under their
feet during the summer. Horses, cat
tie and sheep will feed after goats in
The same pasture, while goats Will feed
on that which other animals will not
touch. One need not sell any of the
stock already owned to make room
for The AngOra goat; the farm is able
to take care of that much more stock,
and render that much greater income.
They are vegetable scavenger; hence
their value in farm economy, in con-
verting into money the weeds and
brush which the farmer every year
spends time, labor and money to get
rid Of at the season of the year when
time is most valuable. This makes
the cost of raising the Angora almost
nothing.
They make the richest fertilizer
from the foliage and deposit it on the
highest and poorest spots on the farm,
while horses and catIle fertiliZe the
richest part, where the grass grows.
Thus, We find the Angora goat re
claiming thousands of acres of waste
land in every state in the union and
converting them into tillable fields or
productive pastures, at the same time
making millions of pounds of whole
some meat to feed and millions of
pounds of fine mohair to clothe the
people. Being a very hardy, self-re
liant animal and a brOwser, one will
soon find his billy and rough districts
which are today Of no value whatever
to any other industry, filled with this
useful animal. They are comparative
will hold them.
They are shorn in the spring, at
| the same time and in the same manner
as sheep, but be careful to keep them
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