There are several plants which will poison goats, but very little is
known about them. Some of the laurel family are responsible for the
death of a good many goats yearly, and some milk-weeds will kill if
taken in sufficient amount at certain times of the year. These plants
should be avoided as much as possible. Treatment has been rather
unsatisfactory. If the poisoned animal is treated at once, an active
purgative may rid the system of the irritant. Epsom salts and crotin oil
have given relief.
Mr. Schreiner describes an epidemic of pleuro-pneumonia which destroyed
many flocks of Angora goats in South Africa. The disease was effectually
stamped out in that country, and it has never appeared in American
flocks. Mr. Thompson has described a disease called Takosis, which was
supposed to have caused the death of many goats in the Eastern States,
and along the Missouri River Valley. Some claimed that this trouble was
caused by change of climate, others thought that it was starvation or
lack of proper care. There is very little evidence of it now in the
United States. All in all, the Angora goat is the healthiest of domestic
animals.
[Illustration]
Our Own Flocks.
In 1865, Mr. C. P. Bailey started in the Angora goat industry. There
were then very few Angora goats in the United States, and those in
California had originated from two thoroughbred bucks secured from Col.
Peters of Atlanta, Georgia.
In 1866, Mr. Bailey secured a pair of Angoras from W. W. Chenery of
Boston, Mass. There were two other pairs secured at this time for other
parties, and these three does were the _first thoroughbred does_ brought
to California. The first two goats cost Mr. Bailey $1000. _The first
thoroughbred Angora kid_ dropped in California was by Mr. Bailey's doe.
In 1869, Mr. Bailey furnished money to bring the Brown & Diehl
importation to California, with the understanding that he was to have
first choice. The Angoras secured from this lot were _the best goats_
which had been brought to California up to that time.
In 1876, Mr. Bailey selected the best buck of the Hall & Harris
importation, and paid seventy-five dollars service fee for three of his
Brown & Diehl does. Later he purchased forty-one head from Hall &
Harris. Some of these were the Brown & Diehl goats, and some from the
Hall & Harris importation of 1876.
Twelve years after Mr. Bailey commenced breeding Angoras, he moved his
entire grade-flock, consisting of about 1000 animals, to Nevada, and
maintained his thoroughbred flocks in California. By careful selection,
rigid culling, and strict attention given his flocks, Mr. Bailey had
brought them by 1892, to an excellence beyond any of the imported stock.
In 1893, Mr. Bailey imported two fine bucks from South Africa. An
account of the buck Pasha will be found in this book.
In 1899, another direct importation from South Africa was made, and the
great sire Capetown was secured.
In 1901, Dr. W. C. Bailey secured four of the best Angoras obtainable in
Asia Minor, by personal selection, and added them to the Bailey flocks.
This was the first importation made in America from Asia Minor for
twenty-five years.
During all these years, since 1865, Mr. Bailey had been constantly at
work with his Angora flocks. There were many hardships to overcome, and
most of the original Angora breeders gave up the struggle. We honestly
believe that if it had not been for his perseverance the Angora industry
would not be in its present prosperous condition.
Register.
We have been keeping a register of our stock, and this register is the
oldest in the United States, or the world. Animals registered in the
Bailey Angora Goat Record have a universal standing.
Manufacturers of Gloves, Robes and Trimmings.
The Angora Robe and Glove Company was established in 1875, with C. P.
Bailey as president. Later Mr. Bailey secured sole control of this
company. We have been using goat skins and mohair in large quantities
for the last thirty years, and to-day