Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1901-05-09
GOAT RAISING PAYS.
A New Tip from Uncle Sam to the
American Farmer.
An Industry That Returns Good
Profit and l. Adaptable to All
Parts of the United States
some Interesting Points.

ooAN Iusuts.
Uncle Samuel's department Of agri.
culture, in seeking out new fields OF
husbandry for the American farmer,
has completed a curious and interesting
investigation into the possibilities OF
an industry highly profitable abroad
but ignored in this country-that Of
goat-raising for skins, fleece, milk
cheese and by-products. In a repor;
the department offers this sighted n.
dustry as a means by which the farmer
can increase his prosperity and Incl
dentally enrich his soil without cost
The department says that the condi
items of climate land and labor ia most
OF the states of the union afford al
most unlimited natural facilities for
the successful prosecution Of this il.
dustry, says the St. Louis Republic.
We use in our manufactures a con.
stantly increasing amount Of goat
skins. but we produce comparatively
none ourselves. Last year over $4,000
tons, or 65,0oo,00o pounds. Of goat skins
were brought in, chiefly al New York
and the average price in New York was
40 cents a pound, or a total value Of
S26 1000 900, says the New York Press
At four pounds TO the skin. the average
weight Of dry skins. il requires the
slaughter Of 16.226,7oo goats and kids
10 yield the skins imported last year
This represents live flocks Of foreign
goats aggregating from 25,000,oo0 TO
30.O00O00 for our present supply Of
marketable goat skins alone. If all the
goats in this country were kept solely
TO supply skins for market they would
fail 70 supply even an Insignificant
fraction Of the present demand.
In Bookkeeping on a large scale il
rs not alone the skins and feeces that
enter into the profit account. II the
skins imported last year represented
native stock there would have been
taken additionally into our home mar
ket and profit account nearly the
whole animals-the flesh, tallow, bones
hoofs. horns, etc, which together
would constitute more than half OF the
entire marketable value. Besides, there
is 10 be derived from the mature fe-
males during much of their lives bic
value in milk for market or household
uses or for conversion into the most
salable varieties of cheese, such as the
Roouefort. Mont Dor, lie Sassenage
and LelrouN Of France and Switzerland.
So fully is the goat available as dairy
animal when bred 70 that object that
In Europe IL is sententiously called
"the poor mans cow" because OF the
combination OF value with economy OF
keeping.
The total number Of goats in the
United States is only about 500, 600 and
one-half OF these are in Texas. One
half OF the total number also are OF
Angora feece-beariug stock, confined
chiefly 10 Texas. Oregon, New Mexico.
California. Colorado and Nevada. Few
II any. goats in the United States are
raised for their skins.
The cost Of keeping goats is less than
for any other animal. They Craze upon
coarse herbs that are not eaten by any
other stock. such as ironweed. dock
MULLEN, briars, buds and broken
sprouts. The wool of the Angora va
riety possesses the highest felting quail
tiles. The average fieeces from mature
| Americanized Angora bucks weigh
from six TO seven pounds, and those
from the ewes from three TO four
hounds. The flesh Of the crosses is &C
counted superior to most mutton.
The ease with which all breeds OF
roats can be kept fits them for many
mountainous portions Of our country
where sheep cannot be sustained to adj
vantage. while their ability and dispo.
sision to defend themselves agains;
dogs give to them another great advan'
age over sheep. They are free from
all diseases to which sheep are liable.
are hardy and prolific, and experience
as proven that they are adaptable TO
I'll parts of the United States. The
saod Of one COW will keep II goats,
'8ws must have certain food or they
viii not thrive Goats will eat any,
thing. almost. and still do well, and
I knew nave ANtN EANAN siNNti44t 49,
that their milk is not in any way Affect
ID by their diet.
The goat is a reliable and lifelong
botanical scavenger. and can be de-
pended upon to destroy the many I'M
desirable products Of cultivated and
fallow Landslide abundant and per-
sistent weedy vegetation which so in
~essantly besets the cultivated crops.
Other Eliminating domestic animals
refer the cereals and grasses that de-
end upon the labor Of the farmer.
hat these reject goats prefer, AMI
cheerfuIly pass by growing grass and
grain for a constant dessert Of wild
carrot. burdock. MULLEN, thistle or
cactNs. Goats thus voluntarily clean
fields OF their vegetative refuse before
II ripens and scatters its seed, and so
thoroughly is this done that the latent
.ee5s 81 valuable grasses. improving