Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-06-27
COAT RAISING
SHOWS PROFIT
FARMERS SHOWN BY GOVERN
MENT HOW THEY MIGHT. BE-
COME ENRICHED.
GOOD MEAT YIELD.
Might Save the $4,000 900 Now Being
Paid Annually for the Imported
Skins That Enter Here.

/ Washington, D. G., June 26.--The
department of commerce End labor Is
receiving hundreds of Inquiries re
! garding the possibilities of a great
goat industry in the United States.
These inquiries are the result of a
statement by the bureau of statistics
of that department that $250,000, 0OO
had been sent out of the country In
the last decade to purchase goat skins
for use in this country, and that the
comm ercial value of the 100000, 900
goats which these skins, represented
would, had they been grown in the
United States, have Appropriated
81 200, 900, 900
| These sugges tons, coupled with the
further fact that goats of the class
supplying the skins in question could
be grown on semi-arid and semi
mountainous lands in the United
States now practically untitled, have
added to the interest indicated by the
inquiries being made.
The statement Of the bureau Of sta
tistics as to the number and value OF
goat skins being imported was coupled
with extracts from a statement by
United States Consul Canada at Vera
Cruz.
How Mexicans Raise Goats.
Goats are raised in every state OF
the republic of Mexico says Consul
Canada in his report "The industry is
largely confined to the central table
lands, though the animals thrive ev-
erywhere and can be raised at a good
profit over a wider range of territory
than that on which cattle may be sue
cessfully raised. The dry plains OF
Nuevo Leon, with scant growth OF
brush, are able to support large f1ocks
of goats, though these same plains
will not produce corn, cane or grass
unless water is supplied for irrigation.
"The extent of territory which |
could be given to the raising of goats, |
without In any way interfering with |
agriculture, is very large. Vera Cruz
has tens Of thousands Of acres OF
land so steep and rugged that it can
not be farmed profitably, but these
rugged mountain sides furnish ideal
feeding grounds for goats.
"The value Of the goat depends
upon three things. meat, tallow and
the skin. The matter of the fresh |
meat in the farming districts Of the
hot country is greatly simplifed by
the breeding Of goats. In small iso-
lated communities it is risky to
slaughter an OK or COW, as the flesh
IS liable to spoil before it is consum-
3D. The small carcass Of goat makes
t entirely practicable to kill frequent
y without risk or loss. i
"In the state Of Tobasco the inhab-
tants are never at a loss for fresh
meat on plantations where goats are
raised and where formerly meat was
almost unknown.
Gives Figures on Profits.
"The flesh alone would make pro-
ftable industry, for the carcass OF
each animal will bring from 81 to
S15O. Fats of all kinds are high priced
in all parts Of the country. At two
years fat goat will yield six to ten
pounds Of clear tallow, which will be
worth from Is cents to $3.50.
''The most valuable part of the
goat is the skin, worth $1.25 to $3.50,
and the constant trend Of prices Is
upward"
These figures Of value are presum-
ably in Mexican currency, to which
the dollar is equivalent to about so
cents in United States currency,
The consul adds that the increase
in the number Of goats is rapid, since
hey begin breeding at 6 to 8 months
If age and breed twice a year and
bring forth two and not infrequently
.hree kids at each breeding season.
One shepherd it is said. will look aft
er at least 1000 goats. He adds:
"A careful investment of $1,000
we'll looked after can certainly be
counted upon to double itself inside
;wo and half years. and to give at
east a so per cent profit per annum
rom the end OF the second year"
The report OF Consul Canada closes
" presenting the result of three
rear experience in goat raising on a
arm in the state Of Guerrero, Mexico,
Is follows:
'eIn 1904 the manager Of the farm
received $4,000 goats, including large
md small, at a valuation Of $3.50 each,
equal to $4,000 From the produce Of
hese he sold during nine months Of
9O4 and the years 1905 and 1906,
q, 900 head at S. each, equal to $780,
100. and had, at the close Of 1906, 49,
100 head on the farm, being $4,000
more than he started with. The result
vas. counting the value of the $4,000
Increase at $3.50 each with the fore
,oing sales, the investment Of $4,000
,roduced in less than three years
$4,000, besides the original stock of
(. 900 goats was intact"