The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1902-11-07
MADE SUBJECT OF A GOVERN
MENT PUBLICATION.
where THEIR VALUE LIES
Useful for Clearing Land of Brush and
Valuable for FIeeces
Produced.

The department of agriculture at
Washington has issued a publication
entitled '".The Angora Goat Industry"
which will no doubt interest a good
many persons in Montana, as the
breeding of Angoras as an industry
has proved profitable in many local
tiles and it's adoption in this state
in place OF the raising of sheep has
been seriously considered by not a
few. Much space is devoted to the
proper methods of caring for the an
finals and the use to which their
fleece is put. The work contains a
number of illustrations, three of them
Montana scenes. One shows the
goats grazing, another shows a range
and the third is a scene on the Bran
county, near Silver.
After telling of the growth of the
industry in the United States during
the year 1901 and telling something
about the common goats and their
number, the book tells Of the cause
of the spread of the particular indus
try of raising Angoras. OF this it
says:
Some parties have gone into the
industry primarily for the production
of mohair, but a much larger number
have purchased the goats for the
main purpose of clearing up brush
wood. The Angoras, however, have
been preferred for clearing brush
wood on account of the additional
profit which they give over any other
breed. They will do their work thor
oughly and at the same time produce
a fleece which is valuable in proper
ton to the quality of the animal. If
they die or are slaughtered the pelt
may be converted in a rug or robe,
worth from 81 to 81, while the best
about so cents. Their flesh is con
sidered equal to mutton, and it has
not been a difficult matter to find a
ready sale for it wherever it has been
tested.
Prices of Goats and Mohair.
"The one question which has been
asked of this bureau more than any
other concerning this industry is,
What are the prices of Angora goats?
1t is a question which can not be an
swered definitely, owing to the many
grades If Angoras as we'll as to the
individual differences among the ami
mails of the same cross. The greater
the distance from the source of sup
ply the more is their value increased.
The great demand for these goats
which has ruled for more than a year
has caused the prices of good animals
to range very high; and, as those who
are purchasing recognize the fact that
the future profits are in the animals
of good quality, prices are likely to
remain high.
l1SSo - 6oo" "o>o oIoS
$40 to $25 at this time. One breeder
in the east sold so head at $25 each.
Twenty-four sold at auction at Kan
sas City in October at SIT each.
Bucks, like the males of all domestic
animals, bring varying prices, which
have ranged during 1901 from 500 for
a fairly good kid to 500 for animals
two or three years old. 1t is n a
rare occurrence, however for a buck
to sell for several hundred dollars.
For instance, the sweepstakes prize
buck at the Kansas City show sold for
$1,O5O, and the buck, which took the
second prize in that contest brought
$50.
ut is possible to go into the south
west, the principal source of pres
ent supply, and purchase goats at
lower figures than those named above;
but many of them are not high grades,
and those which are high grade be-
come expensive when eXpressage or
freight is paid to distant points,"
Fifty Dollars Reward.
Above reward will he maid for in