Page:Encyclopædia Britannica, Ninth Edition, v. 10.djvu/734

Rh 710 G O The G'u-inea Goal is a dwarf species originally from the l coast whence its name is derived. There are three varieties. Besides the commonest (Capra recm'z-(1, Linn.), there is a rarer breed (Capra depressa, Linn.), inhabiting the .[auritius and the islands of Bourbon and Madagascar. The other variety is met with along the White Nile, in Lower Egypt, and at various points on the African coast - of the llediterranean. Some of these dwarf goats may be seen at the J ardin d’Acclimatation in Paris. Habits and .l[:_magement.—Tl1e milch goat has been aptly described as the “poor man’s cow ”——a designation it well merits, for with a couple of these animals the cottager may at an almost nominal expense enjoy the same advantages in a domestic point of view as the rich man with his “ Alderney.” Comparatively few are kept in England, because the advantages of goat-keeping are but very im- perfectly known, and also on account of the large propor- tion of land under cultivation. The goat in a state of nature frequents hills and mountainous places, and in a domesticated condition it generally gives preference to elevated situations; but it is a mistake to suppose that it will not thrive 011 low ground. Being naturally adapted to rocks and dry soils, however, it should not be exposed in marshy places, as this brings on disease of the feet and general ill health; otherwise there is no animal more uni- formly hardy. The connnon varieties will stand heat and cold equally well, but have a decided objection to storms of wind and rain; when they are left to roam loose, therefore, a rough shed should be erected to shelter them from the weather. Under this arrangement a goat may be left out day and night the whole year round; but-, if it is kept for the sake of its milk, the yield is greater and it thrives better if housed during winter. Owing to the troublesome propensity of these animals to bark trees and destroy shrubs by nipping off all young and tender shoots, they should not be allowed to roam loose—except on a comn1on—unless proper protection is afforded by wire netting or some such arrangement. The goat breeds, generally speaking, but once a year. If well housed and under liberal treatment, it will bring forth young twice in twelve months; but this is not advisable. As a rule, at the ﬁrst birth one kid only is produced, but afterwards two and sometimes three. One has been known for three consecutive years to drop four at a birth ; but this is rare and by no means desirable, as the progeny are sure to be small and thrive badly,———the dam in most cases having insufﬁcient milk for so large a family. The goat propagates at a very early period of its life. The male is generally capable of engendering at seven months; and, in the case just referred to of fourrat a birth, the father on one occasion was barely six months old. One is sufﬁcient for a hundred females. The latter bring forth at twelve months, and sometimes earlier. For the sake of the future growth and productiveness of the animal, however, it is unwise to permit intercourse between the sexes earlier than at eighteen or at least sixteen months. It is owing to the baneful practice of letting them breed as soon as they will, under the mistaken idea that a more rapid return is obtained, that so many diminutive specimens are met with, both dam and progeny being spoiled in consequence. The best kind for milch purposes are those with long and deep bodies, not necessarily so broad at the chest as about the haunches, the belly ample, and the legs tolerably short; head ﬁne and tapering, with prominent eyes, ears long, thin, wide, and inclining horizontally, horns short and not corrugated, neck thick, and coat close and short. The udder above all must be not only large but soft and elastic, with nice pointed teats. Hornless specimens are often the best milkers. AT The goat has 32 teeth, and by these the age up to ﬁve years may be pretty accurately ascertained. The lower jaw possesses 12 molars and 8 incisors, and the upper 1:2 molars alone. The kid at its birth has 6 molars but no incisors 3 the latter, however, are generally all cut in about three weeks, the first cut molar being visible at three months. At a year or ﬁfteen months old the two front "milk teeth,” as the first set of incisors are called, fall, and are replaced by permanent ones: the next two at from two years to thirty months, the third pair from two and a half to three and a half years, and the fourth and last at from three and a half to four and a half years. When all are changed the mouth is said to be “full.” Between two and five years old the she—goat gives the best return in milk, continuing productive often for eight or nine years ; its length of life is on an average from ten to ﬁfteen. These animals vary very greatly in the quan- tity of milk they yield. An ordinary specimen gives from
 * 3 to 3 pints, a superior one 2 quarts, and occasionally

ﬁrst-rate individuals are found supplying 3 quarts a day. The Nubian breed surpasses the common goat in this respect, as the following table from the French work of M. du Plessis will show, in which the yield of a 1'ubian is compared 'witl1 that of a half—bred, itself a superior milker. Pure Nubian Breed. Ilulf-bred Nubian and Native .iilk Milk. Cream? . Cream. 3'57 litres. 1st day '22 litres. 1st day 439 litres. '3800 litres 2d .. 342 ,, ". ., ‘. ,, 4-4 ,, '35-43 . 3d ,, 3‘35 .. '20 ., 3d ,, 4'-3:3 ,. '38-50 ., -ith ,, 362 ., “.33 ,, -mi ., 4'67 ,, -3969 ,. -5th ,, 3'69 ., '24 . 51h ,, 4'9-1 ,, '-4030 ., 17-6-5 ,, 1 10 ,, 2:?'9~l ,, 1'9-iii.‘ The litre being as near as possible 1% pints, the return in English measure is accordingly—from the lialf—bre«_l 31 pints, or an average per day of 3 quarts, and from the pure Nubian 40 pints, or nearly 4 quarts daily, the rich- ness of the quality being proportionately greater. Milking should be performed at regular hours, morning and night; but with heavy milkers three times daily is better for the first two or three months, as the oftener the udder is emptied when once full the quicker it is replen- ished, a sufficient supply of food being of course provided. It is a good plan to accustom the animal to jump on a plat- form whilst being milked ; the teats are thus more easily manipulated, and more command is obtained over the goat and the pail. Feeding and milking should always be carried on at the same time. Many persons are under the wrong impression that the milk of the she-goat,-——whiel1 by the way has no strong lu'rcz'ne scent attaching to her like the male, another connnon error,—possesses a ﬂavour peculiar to itself ; but this is quite a mistake. Out of dozens kept by the present writer, only one has been found to yield milk differing from that of the cow in taste. The peculiarity in this case seemed natural to the animal, and the milk was decidedly unpalatable. The flesh of the common goat, although quite eat-able, is not to be recommended in comparison with mutton, being rather hard and indigestible. Kid, however, is a great delicacy, and tastes like lamb or veal, according to the manner of dressing. It is preferable cooked like veal, with layers of bacon tied round and stuffed, for with the exception of the suet there is very little fat-. A good rich gravy should accompany the joint when served, and there should be no lack of cooking. Hot or cold it is then equally‘ acceptable. Suckling kids are the best eating, as they have then their milk flesh, and are nice and plump. The skins dressed and sewed together make handsome rugs. For food and other remarks on goat-keeping see AGRICUL- TURE, vol. i. p. 399. (s. n. r.)