GOAT. There is probably no other do mestic animal that is so widely distributed as the goat, yet there is none of them concerning which we have so little scientific information. There are 10 species of wild goats, all but one of which (the Rocky Mountain goat) are con fined to Europe and the Himalaya Mountains. These 10 species are divided into two groups the ibexes and the goats proper. The ibexes are composed of two sub-species — Capra fal coners and Capra egagrus. The C. egagrus is the Paseng, or Bezoar goat, or wild goat, of Persia, and is the progenitor of C. hircus, through which are descended all of the domes tic goats of all countries. These are numerous in kind and variable in characteristics. Of these only the Angora and the Cashmere breeds and the several breeds of mulch goats are of special economic importance, and these only will be treated here.
The Angora The history of the Angora goat is traced to a distinctive breed even in the days of Abraham. This breed is a .native of Angora, in Asia Minor. The geo graphical distribution of this breed is not ex tensive, their raising as an industry being con fined to Turkey in Asia, South Africa and the United States. They have been transplanted to many of the European countries, but with out successful result. Australia has had a small number for 50 years, but the industry there can hardly be regarded as important. A few Angoras are thriving in Canada and ex periments are being conducted with them in Porto Rico and Cuba. Approximately stated, there are 3,700,000 of these goats in Turkey, 5,000,000 in South Africa and 800,000 in the United States. At this time they may be found in every State and Territory, including Alaska.
Angoras were introduced into the United States from Asia Minor in 1849 by Dr. James B. Davis, of Columbia, S. C. The war scattered or destroyed nearly all that were in the Eastern and Southern States, but the few that had found their way to California and the South west increased rapidly in numbers by crossing upon the long-haired Mexican goats. The re
divivus of the industry came about thz year 1900, when it was discovered that this country not only had the mills to consume all of the mohair of domestic production, but was also importing over a million pounds annually. The organization in the same year of the breeders into a registry and fair association gave to the industry its first impetus; and then the govern ment assisted largely in exploiting the qualities of the animals. About this time, too, the ability of goats for destroying brushwood became widely known. These two leading features have tended to bring about a rapid growth of the industry.
The Angora goat is small, weighing gen erally from 60 to 100 pounds, although many may be found in the United States that weigh as much as 140 pounds, and occasionally one much heavier than this. Males and females alike have horns and beards, except that in rare instances one without horns may be seen. The horns of the male grow to a length of 18 to 20 inches and turn upward, outward and backward, while those of the female, which grow to a length of 8 to 10 inches, grow up ward and point backward with only a slight in clination to twist. The cars are usually medium long and pendant, but there are frequent speci mens having ears that are short, pointed and pricked. Except in rare instances, the fleece is pure white, growing to an annual length of 10 inches and covering the entire body down to the knees and hocks. There is no goat odor with this breed except with the bucks at rutting time. The Angora usually has one kid at a birth; two are not uncommon, and three are seldom dropped.
The uses of the Angora goat in the United States are three: (1) For the production of mohair (see Mortara); (2) for the production of meat; and (3) for the destruction of brush wood and weeds. It is used rarely as a milch animal, owing to the uncertain quantity of milk which it yields.