Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-06-13
Possibilities OF GOAT rHpvsrpv.

OF GOAT INDUSTRY.
Hundreds of Inquiries regarding the
possibilities in the United States of a
great goat Industry arc now reaching the
department Of Commerce and Labor
These inquiries are the result of n recent
statement by the Bureau of Statistics
OF that Department. that 30 million dol
lars mad been sent out Of the country
In the last decade to purchase goat skins
for use in this country. and that the
commercial value OF the 800 million goats
which these skins represented would, had
they been grown in the United States.
have approximated billion dollars.
These suggestions coupled with the fur.
Their fact that goats of the class supply
ing the skins in question could be grown
upon semi-arid and semi-mountainoua
lands in the United States now prac-
tically unutilizcd nave added TO the in
tercst indicated ~ the inquiries now
being '.dd..
Vie statement OF tho Bureau OF sta
,lsttcs as 70 the number ami value of
goat skins now being imported, was
coupled with extracts from a statement
by tire United States Consul, Canada at
Vera Cruz, Mexico. originally published
by the bureau of Manufacturers of the
Department of Commerce and Labor. In
this report Consul Canada says: Goats
are raised In every state of the republic
Of Mexico The industry Is largely con-
fined to the central table lands though
the animals thrive everywhere and an
be raised a good profit over p wider
range OF territory than that on which
cattle may he successfully raised The
dry plains OF Nuevo Leon. with scant
growth Of brush, are able 10 supqor-
large flocks of goats. though these saui.
plains will not produce corn, cane or
grass, unless water Is supplied Tor irr-
cation. The extent of territory which
could he given TO the raising Of goats.
without in any way Interfering WITH AZ
riculture. is very large. Vera Cruz has
tens Of thousands of acres Of land so
steep and rugged that it canno' he firm
81 profitahly, but these rugged noun
tain sides furnish ideal feeding -rounds
for goats. The value Of the goat depends
upon three things. meat. tallow. and the
skin The matter of fresh meat in he
farming districts of the hot country IS
greatly simplified by the breeding %
goats. In small. Isolated communities IL
is risky to slaughter an OK or COW. ~
the flesh Is liable to spoil before it il
consumed. The small carcass of a goa.
makes it entirely practicable to XIII
! frequently without risk or loss In the
safe of Tobasco the inhabitants ara
never at loss for fresh meat on plan
tattons where goats are raised. and where
formerly meat was almost unknown. TIT.
flesh alone would make it a profita hls
industry, for the carcass of each animal
Will bring from 81 to $50 Fats of all
kinds are high priced in all parts OF the
country. At two years a fat goat will
yield 6 TO 10 pounds OF clear tallow,
which Will be worth from 75c TO $3.50
The most valuable part of the goat is
| the skin worth $3.50. and the constant
| trend of prices is upward" These figures
of values are presumably in Mexican cur
rencY. in which the dollar is equivalent
to about half dollar in United States cur.
rency.
The Consul adds that the increase IN
the number Of goats is very rapid, since
they begin breeding from to $ mon,hs
/ of age ard breed twice year, hringina
forth and no, infrequently 3 kids ~
each breeding season. \ single shepherd
il is said viii look after at least l.oel
goats He adds. "A careful inves men:
of 81 900 we'll looked after can certainly
be counted upon to double itself inside OF
2la years, and to give at 'eas, 800
profit annum from the end of the second
year" The report of Consul Canada
closes ny presenting the result Of
three years experiment in scat raising On
n farm in the STATE of Guerrero. Mexico.
as follows
In 1904 the manager o. the farm re-
ceived $1,000 goats, including large and
small. At = valuation Of sl5o ga ii, equal
to $1,000. From the produce of these he
sold, during months Of 1904 ana the
years lso5 and iG-i. 5o,pr head at 81 each.
equal to $4,000. and had. at the close
! OF 1905. ss,ooo head on the farm. being
2eon6 more than he started with. The re-
! suit was. counting the value OF the o.
go increase al $50 each with the force
eoin, sales. the nvestmen, Of 500 go
produced in less than years s9>9Go, he-
sides the original stock Of 66,oce goan
was intact" Figures in Mexican cur
rencyD
TIE above facts as 10 the possibilities
In the increase of the meat supply q
the United States. while retaining al
home the hundreds Of millions Of dol.
lars POW sent abroad for the purchase
If goat skins and producing this sup
ply of valuable material on lands now
practically unu.i'lzed, are cited as the
| cause of the numerous inquiries upon
this subject now reaching the DEPART
ment OF Commerce and Labor. The num-