News from the Udder Side

Anyone wanting to participate in the Milk Tests please use the newly updated forms, Milk Test Application and Doe Data Sheet. The forms can be found on our web-site at:    http://www.tmgronline.org/milk.html
If you're thinking about milk test..it's not too late.

Questions??  Contact me at backpacker2@outlook.com

Thank you and may your milk pail overflow
Norm Geiser

Accessorizing to Accentuate

Recently, while perusing show result web sites, virtual show pages and breeder’s pages in general, it became obvious that what the goat wears around its neck really affects HOW that goat looks, so the topic this time around will be collars.

While not the highest score on the score card, “dairy character” certainly does play a part in the final score.  The long, lean, smoothly blended neck should also display a clean throat latch.   What you chose as a show collar may be killing your score in this category before you even get your goat set up for the judge the first time.

Our model was pulled in out of the pasture and had not been clipped or bathed, but you can clearly see the difference that a collar can make!

 

In this first photo, our lovely, aged Mini LaMancha doe is being shown in a nylon “barn” collar.  The collar is new, unfaded and clean and is in the proper position for controlling the animal.  The color of the collar, however, shows in sharp  contrast to the coloring of the doe.  It also creates a visual line, which causes the eye to see the neck in two short, choppy pieces.



In this second photo, our model is being shown in a collar made from plastic dairy chain.  The chain fits into the doe’s throatlatch neater than the nylon collar does and we can see more of her neck – see how much longer it looks?  But, the chain is still “clunky” and the color is distracting.



In this photo, our model is wearing a narrow dog show lead made of nylon cord.  We do see this in the show ring quite a bit – But I would prefer to see the cord match the color of the goat as closely as possible.  Also remember – dairy goats are NOT to be shown with any type of lead or leash, so any extra  “lead” should removed or held discretely in the hand.

The most commonly accepted collar for show ring use is a metal chain collar.  Most exhibitors use a dog “choke chain” collar.  They come in various lengths and the chain links even come in various sizes.  It is important to note that the collar should NOT be used at choke chain!  Oval quick link fasteners are inexpensive, discreet and work very well.

The photographer had the models attention in this “win” photo.  Aaron had a very fine “herringbone” choke chain on her that we’d purchased off eBay.  It fit right in the groove of her throat latch and the Judge and onlookers barely noticed it!

 

I truly believe that most of our animals know that when the show chain goes on, it is time to be serious and settle down to work.  We work with them at home in a show collar a few times before a show to get them used to the feel  - it does feel different to them than a worn barn collar or frayed piece of baling twine.

 

The same care should be taken when posing goats for photos – you are selling that goat to the public and the goat should look its absolute best.

 

Feel free to contact us with any questions or comments at cherrybutte@msn.com

Good luck in the show ring and may your spring be filled with many bouncing baby kids!



Cari and Aaron Zisk own Cherry Butte Dairy Goats in Southern Idaho.  They breed and show ADGA/AGS Nigerian Dwarves as well as miniature Alpines, Lamanchas, Oberhasli and Toggenburg goats.

Shedding Light on Breeding Livestock

With breeding season rapidly approaching, there are a few things breeders have to keep in mind. The ongoing issue of In-Breeding, Line-Breeding & Out-Crossing our livestock can boggle the mind. I’ve had many new breeders tell me they would never breed a buck to a doe that is related. Please, let me put some light on this subject. I will go over each kind of breeding practice to shed some light.

 

First and foremost: Don’t put the human aspect into breeding livestock. They are not humans, they are not our babies, they are the animals that we care for and give us food or others things, such as wool, in return. Do we love them, yes.

 

There are 3 different ways to breed when it comes to their genetics. First is In-Breeding which for most people, is a no-no and I do agree with this. This is when a sire breeds his daughter, son breeds his dam, uncle breeds a niece, nephew breeds an aunt, or a full brother to a full sister. As an example: if the sire of a doe has a twin brother, or the dam of a buck has a twin sister. For me, they are just too closely related and I won’t take the chance of getting kids that won’t sell. They aren’t worth a flip at the auction either. That is from my own experience for “oops’’ that have happened over the years. And they do happen when your favorite buck decides that a 7ft fence is not high enough to keep him from breeding that sexy little doe that he knows is in her cycle. He doesn’t know she’s his daughter and could care less.

 

The 2nd way, and in my opinion the best way, to breed your girls is Line-Breeding. This is done several ways and I can’t list all of them. The closest is a half brother to a half sister.They carry 50% of the same bloodlines. The other 50% are 25% from the buck and 25% from the doe, say they have the same sire, they have different dams. Using 50% of a common bloodline, for the most part, will give you the best qualities in their kids. It can also go the other way. Line-Breeding is also when they are cousins and may be a generation or more back. A grandson breeding his grandmother is close but I’ve had some very good dairy goats come from this breeding as I was adding her genetics for a wonderfully attached udder into the offspring. For me, this is the way I like to breed my herd.

 

There is also Out-Crossing and this can add genetics that are good and awful. This is adding in the human thinking of breeding, when the animals are not related at all. Over the years I have Line-Bred but this year I am adding 2 young bucks that are not related to my herd. In time it will be an interesting kidding season but these boys will be too young for this years breeding season so their job for a year is to grow.

 

All this is an investment and no matter how you breed your livestock, it’s all a gamble anyway.  

 

Suzy Minck

milkmaid@embarqmail.com

www.milkmaidranch.com