The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1903-01-14
AGRICULTURAL.
ANGOR1 GOATS.


rapidly. A six months old 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 points longer than lamb
does, and its life is so much longer
than that of sheep. 1t is prolific
breeder and a productive shearer un-
til twelve or fourteen years old. 1t
lives and thrives in any country where
sheep live and prosper, no matter how
hot or cold 1t readily adapts itself
to the surrounding conditions, from
the rch valley to rugged mountain
wastes. All the shelter it needs in
this climate is an open shed. facing
to the south, which it can go under
for protection from the cold rains or
SHOWS of our winters The rain or
snow freezes on it's long, silky hair
and forms mass of ice, which chills
the goat. If kept dry, especially after
shearing it will stand any amount of
weather. Angora goats feed and do
well during the winter on corn fodder,
straw and coarse hay, with a little
grain during March and the first of
April to strengthen them for the kid
ding season of May. A goat abhors
filth and dirt. While it eats every
kind of food, it must be sweet and
clean, with pure, fresh water to drink.
1t will only drink dirty, stagnant
water when compelled to by extreme
thirst 1t is not best to have the does
kid too early in the season, as the kids
are liable to chill and die during the
cold, wet weather, and the does do
not milk so we'll and are more liable
to disown their Rids. The warm
weather of May with plenty of grass
is a better time. They require the
same care and attention during the kid
ding season that sheep do during the
lambiug season. The high-grades and
sheep, raising 80 to 40 per cent in
crease. They are very hardy, have
lots of sense, are good rustlers, and
will not starve if there is anything
in the neighborhood to eat. They
feed in flocks, and do not scatter
over the pasture like sheep. When
alarmed they will bunch together to
defend themselves They are brows-
ers, not grazers, and prefer weeds
and brush to grass. Buckbrush, which
is destroying SO many of our fine pas
lures, is their delight; in fact, goats
are ideal brush exterminators. They
are always sure of good living, for no
matter how dry or wet season may
be it always produces brush and
weeds. They will eat grass when
there are no weeds Or brush in sight
After the frost has killed the weeds
and leaves, they feed during the win
ter, as long as it is not covered with
snow, Oh the bluegrass which grows
undisturbed under their feet during
the summer. Horses. cattle and sheep
will feed after goats in the same pas
ture, while goats will feed on that
which other ANIMALS will not touch.
Goats are vegetable scavengers hence
their economical value in converting
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. Angora goats make the rich
est fertilizer from the foligae and de-
post it on the highest and poorest
spots of the farm, while horses and
cattle fertilize the richest part where
the grass grows. Thus in January,
1908, we find the Angora goat reclaim
ing thousands of acres of waste land
in every State ofshe Union and con-
verting them into tillable fields or
productive pastures, at the same time
making millions of pounds of whole
some meat for food, and in 1909 over
million pounds of fine mohair with
which to clothe the people. They are
comparatively free from diseases. A
sheep fence will hold them. They are
shorn in the spring at the same time
and in the same manner as sheep, but
must be carefully kept out of a cold
rain for week or two after shearing
The fleece of mohair weighs from two
and one-half to four pounds on averge
good goats, while extra fine pure bred
goats will often shear eight or ten
pounds, worth from thirty to forty
five cents pound on the market, ac-
cording to the grade and care in
handling. The skins of high grade
Angoras have double the value of
sleeps pelts, because of the furs, rugs
and kid leather robes manufactured
from them, while the skins of the
lower grades sell at about the same
prices as pelts. The Angora does are
not as good mixers as the Maltese and
Swiss does, but they have plenty for