The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1918-04-25
MUCH INTEREST IN MILK COATS

In this country the goat is usually re-
garded simply as a plaything for the
children, but in some parts of Europe Il
is regarded as the poor mans COW.
well known American importer of live
stock states that '.the goat of Switzer-
land is the Swiss peasants COW. the Swiss
baby's foster mother, blessing to the
sanitariums for invalids. and Godsend
to the poor" In England and in many
other parts of Europe people who leave
the city during the summer months eth
er for their country homes or for travel
often take a goat with, them in order to
insure a supply of good milk of uniform
quality. In this country the fact that
the goat will supply sufficient milk for
the average family at low cost and can
be kept where it is impossible to keep
cow. is beginning to appeal to many
people, especially those in the small towns
and in suburbs of cities. In this way
the milk goat can be made to relieve
the milk shortage which is now felt in
many localities.
ADAPTED TO THIS COUNTRY
In farmers bulletin 800, milk Goats"
recently published by the United States
department of agriculture, specialists say
that the milk goat is adapted to this
country and that the industry Is likely
to become of greater Importance every
year The goat is especially useful to
those who desire a small quantity of
milk and do not have room for and can
not afford to keep cow. In fact,
goat can be kept where it is impossible
to keep COW, and will consume con-
siderable feed that otherwise would be
wasted. The fact that goats are rarely
affected with tuberculosis is another point
in their favor.
doe that produces three pints day
is considered only fair mixer, while
the production of two quarts is good, and
the production of three quarts is con-
sidered as excellent. Goats milk is
nearly always pure white. The small
size OF the fat globules is one of it's chief
characteristics. In consequence the
cream rises very slowly and never SO
thoroughly as in the case of cows milk.
If it is properly produced and handled,
it will keep sweet as long as cows
milk. and there should not be any goaty
odor. The milk can be utilized for the
same purposes as cows milk, but is less
satisfactory for making butter and per-
haps better for making cheese. Practical
ly all publications dealing with milk
goats attribute considerable Importance
to the use of milk for infants and in
valids.
During the last few years number Of
different parts of this country. If only
few goats are kept, it is not necessary to
have much equipment. if any Any clean,
dry quarters free from drafts may be used
for housing goats. The building should
have proper ventilation, plenty of light,
and arrangements made SO that each
goat can be properly fed and handled.
FEED FOR GOATS
Goats should receive liberal quantity
of succuient feed such as silage mangel-
wurzels. carrots, rutabagas, parsnips, or
turnips- The grain feeds best suited for
their rations are corn, oats. bran, bar
ley. and linseed oil meal Or oil cake. a
ration that has been used in the gov
eminent herd. and which has proved 10
be very satisfactory for milk goats dur
ing the winter season, consists of two
pounds of alfalfa or clover hay, one and
one-half pounds of silage or turnips,
and from one to two pounds of grain.