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Forty-third Year Chicago, June, 1905 New Series-No. 4THE MILCH GOAT IN AMERICARECORDS of Europe or Asia are ancient enough to inform us when the goat was first utilized by man; but all available information goes to show that this little animal has always been of service to mankind in providing meat and milk for food and hair and skin for clothing. In brief, the goat industry, whether for mohair or for milk, is not a thing of recent discovery and is not an experiment, and I am not therefore, in my advocacy of the milch goat, bringing before the people of the United States a visionary scheme.It is true that we have no milch goat industry, but the proposition is to secure and utilize goats in this country for the same purposes for which they have for ages demonstrated their usefulness in the Old World. It may be said, however, that the milch goat industry in the United States is in its incip-iency, but there is abundant evidence at hand to show that it will grow as rapidly as conditions will permit. For instance, people who have traveled abroad and observed the importance of these animals in connection with the households there recognize that similar households here would do well to possess them; we have thousands of citizens of foreign birth who in their childhood subsisted largely upon goat’s milk from choice, and regret the fact that there are in this country so few goats; the medical fraternity have read of the value of this milk in the treatment of certain ailments and diseases, and they desire to prescribe it in their practice.These statements are not based upon supposition, for, since the matter has been brought to the attention of the people by the publication by the Department of Agriculture of a bulletin on milch goats by myself, scores of people representing the classes mentioned have expressed a desire to import the best goats, to establish dairies, to furnish certified milk for infants, and to prescribe the milk whenever a supply could be obtained. Indeed, the sentiment in favor of this industry is far in excess of the supply of suitable animals.The great majority- of our people never haveBy George Fayette ThompsonEditor Bureau of Animal Husbandrygiven this matter a moment’s thought, and it is natural and proper that they should ask what are the points in favor of a milch goat industry. Therefore, the balance of the space allotted to this subject will be devoted to answering that question.In European countries most people who keep goats regard them as more economical than cows. Stated otherwise, the goat will thrive on many things that a cow will not touch, especially on leaves and twigs of trees and on weeds; it requires only about one-eighth of the feed that is provided for one cow (it probably requires more than this amount, but the balance is picked up here and there); it may be handled entirely by the women and children of a household. Thus in those countries the goat is a boon to thousands who can not afford to purchase a cow and could not afford the cost of her feed if they could own one. The same need exists in the suburbs of our large cities, in the manufacturing villages and in many mining districts. Many homes in such districts never havetion than no milk whatever. Suppose such a home has a goat that gives two quarts of milk per day for six months and another one that gives the same amount for the next six months. This will not only displace the cow’s milk of poor quality, but will be a sufficiency for an ordinary family. It will take the place of eggs largely in cooking, and in a score of ways reduce the grocery bill.The milk of the goat is highly endorsed because of its health giving Qualities, and it will nrobahlvbe more largely used in this country on account of this feature than any other, at least for many years. In this respect it may be as much the heritage of the poor as the rich. There are scores, possibly hundreds, of homes in the large cities where there are babes that lack proper nourishment, a condition due to various causes, and this is where the milk of the goat will prove a veritable boon. Many of these homes are of the wealthy and well-to-do classes, who are not only willing but very anxious to adopt any means whatever to insure the health of the child. In some cases the mothers can not or will not nurse their babes, and the little ones are forced to live upon cow’s milk or condensed milk. The cow’s milk is good if it agrees with the child and is clean and free from tuberculosis germs; but we may with propriety inquire how much of the milk that is served to city customers is free from dirt and from disease germs. So far as condensed milk is concerned, physicians tell us that it is exceedingly deleterious as an infant food. Indeed,only a few weeks ago the press was publishing a statement that half a million infants die annually from the effects of poor and poisoned milk of cows. I do not know anything about the truthfulness of this statement, but everyone knows that the number must necessarily be very large. Of course, the same opportunities are afforded for adulterating goat’s milk as that of cows, and preservatives will be used by those who dare to defy the law; but the high prices which this milk is certain to command will tend against all forms of adulteration, and, besides, it will be very closely under the scrutiny of physicians.Goats are practically immune from tuberculosis, or consumption, and for this reason it is regarded as desirable for infants. It is impossible to state how many children contract this disease from infected cow’s milk, but they are numerous. The milk is specially desirable, however, for those of maturer years who have the disease in varying degrees ofseverity. This is so because such patients caneasily digest and assimilate it and thus acquire strength to withstand the inroads of the disease. Because of this ease of digestion of the milk, it is largely used in the sanitariums, or “kurorte,” of Switzerland, where those who are troubled with weak stomachs gather in large numbers. Is there a more common ailment in this country than a weak stomach? If the milk treatment for it is successful in Europe, is there any reason why it should not be emiallv successful here? Indeed, the exne-YOUNG AMERICAN GOAT OF THE TOGGENBURG TYPEOwned by Mrs. Edward Robymilk;' many more purchase the poorest quality ofcow’s milk, which probably produces a worse condi-
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Chicago Farmers Voice
Chicago, Illinois, US
Thu, Jun 01, 1905
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