An experience of years has taught the Turk that if he wishes to save
many kids, he must have them come late in the season. The changeable
weather of the Turkish spring, the frequent cold rains and the lack of
proper shed accommodations, have more than once not only destroyed the
increase, but also killed the grown goats. The Turkish methods of
handling kids are of little practical value. They know how delicate the
kids are when they are born, and they usually bring the kid and its
mother to the house as soon as it is dropped.
The Turkish Angora goat men usually range small flocks, and they also
have a surplus of help, so that this is a comparatively easy method. The
kids are allowed to go with the flocks as soon as they are old enough to
travel. The principal objection to letting young kids go with the flock
is that the kids go to sleep, and sleep so soundly that the flock feed
away from them. When the youngsters awake they are lost. If there be
wild animals about, the kids may be killed, or they may starve before
they are found. The Turk, however, has so many herders with one flock
that they usually discover the kids before the flock has strayed.
In America the kidding season is the most important time of the year for
the Angora breeder. If he would raise a large increase, he must be
properly prepared, and he must be constantly alert. If the weather be
fair, with bright sunshiny days and temperate nights, the kids will do
well without much care, but if it be cold, stormy and muddy, some of the
kids will be lost in spite of all care. After the kids are born the
mothers should have such food as will produce the greatest amount of
milk. Well-fed mothers make strong healthy kids. Green feed is
desirable.
The proper season, then, for the kids to come will depend upon the
climate and range conditions. Allowing for the period of gestation,
which is about five months, the bucks can run with the does as early or
as late as one wishes. One can be guided somewhat by the time sheep men
allow ewes to lamb. When the first warm weather comes the goats usually
commence to shed their mohair, and as it is too early in the season for
the kids to be dropped, the does must be shorn before kidding or the
mohair lost. Care should be exercised in handling the does heavy with
kid. For the first few days after shearing the doe should not be allowed
to chill, as she may abort. In some countries it is possible to kid
before shearing, but there is no practical objection to shearing before
kidding, provided proper care be exercised.