Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1904-01-22
AngOra Goats.

thing for publication about Angora
goats, | am not unmindful of the
Tact that my experience is limited.
and that am not, therefore. Quail.
fled to express an opinion on many
OF the features that enter into goat
keeping as an industry. My exper-
ience so far, however, has been sat
isfactory. Right here, perhaps,
would be good place for full
stop. | will proceed cautiously.
As brush destroyers, land cleaners.
| don't believe they have been over
rated. Any variety of small bushes.
-briers. alder, shumate, sasafras.
etc. forms an ideal goat pasture.
They subsist and grow fat in sum-
mer on foliage. In winter they eat
soft twigs and bark, and if given
sufficient range of this kind, will
cost the farmer practically nothing
Tor grazing in summer, or feeding in
in winter. Ny goats (7O) have up to
this time, the middle of January.
been fed one dozen bundles of oats.
| consider them in good condition.
"Wili they jumpf" Yes! Horses
and mules will jump; cattle will
jump; sheep will jump, and goats
will jump. They are not breachy.
1t is claimed that perpendicular
fence of any material three feet high
Will turn them. | think this would
hold good in the case of a woven
wire fence. A goat would not un-
dertake to clear n fence three feet
high at leap and land on the other
side. He is elm Der rather than a
Jumper-a climber by instinct, and
a rail fence three feet high would be
likely TO afford some projection.
some pannel aslant, or some adyan-
tage in tho conformation of the
ground would enable him to crafty
his ruling propensity TO get on top
of that fence and To walk the top
rail of it. He knows what be can do
in the way of climbing, and he does
If, not for any vicious purpose, but
TO exercise his gifts. He enjoys it!
The claim has been made in print,
aud many hold to the opinion, that
they will protect themselves against
dogs. That claim is without found
alton, in fact. have had three or
four killed by dogs. They are no
mora dog immune than sheep are.
Are they profitableP That is the
main question after all, the one in
which most people are interested,
and to which they would like n sat
isfactory answer. / would not be
justified in venturing an opinion as
to the probable amount of profits TO
be realized from the business. 1t
would depend largely upon the con-
dition of the farm Proposed to be
stocked with them; the number
kept; the market for the natural IN
crease in live animals for breeding
purposes, and the market for the
meat product. | think, however, I
am warranted In saying that high
grade Angoras will average three
pounds of Mohair per head, which at
present prices will net one dollar, or
more, per head. Now, if you can
buy an animal for from SIX TO eight
dollars that will live on what your
other farm stock refuses to eat, and
what you don't want growing on
your farm, and will do you one do
lars worth of work for the privilege
of thus living, and at the same time
will pay you from II to l6 per cent
interest, On Mohair) on your invest
ment, leaving out all other consider
ations, would you not consider him
a profitable animalq
In conclusion allow me say, the
Angora is a very interesting animal.
Handsome in appearance, majestic
In bearing, intelligent, gentle and
affectionate n disposition, and in
his playful moods, poetic In move
ment. When ia trouble or pain, he
Will utter cry for help so pathetic
IN Its distress that hearing, YOU will
heed; and when you haye relieved
him, he will in mute goat language
so express his gratitude, and so give
you to know that he trusts you as
his friend; that you will walk away
from that goat feeling that you are
better man and a better christian
for having rendered the service.
IL. &. Peery.