In mountainous countries, where it is not practical to fence the range,
the flocks should be watched by herders. The Angora has a natural
tendency to return home, or to a known camping ground at night, and in
some places this tendency is relied upon to bring the flock home, and
they are not herded. Of course, in countries where there is no danger
from loss by depredations of wild animals, and where food is so
plentiful that the goats must find a sufficient amount, the flock may be
turned loose.
One shepherd should tend from one to two thousand head, as goats flock
together well. Of course, during kidding season the flocks will have to
be more closely watched. Goats travel rapidly and cover a considerable
amount of territory in a day. A flock may travel from ten to twelve
miles from the time they leave camp in the morning until they return to
camp in the evening. The herder should walk ahead of the leaders of the
flock, so that they will not travel too fast, or he may walk upon a
nearby elevation, so that he can see that the flock does not separate. A
flock will sometimes string out over a mile. The goats should be given
freedom. Too often a zealous herder overworks himself and keeps his
flock poor by crowding them together. A good sheep herder soon learns
the nature of the goat, and when he understands the animal he would
rather herd goats than sheep.
[Illustration: Prize winners at the St. Louis World's Fair, 1904.]