Improving my dairy herd

When it comes to breeding goats, my dairy herd is where I’ve really worked to gain more knowledge. Most of my background and training in college was in market animals, so my decision to get into dairy goats was a leap of faith head first into an industry I knew little about.

I’m no longer as naive, and I’ve developed a much keener eye in knowing what to look for. However, there is a program that the American Dairy Goat Association offers that I knew I needed to participate in to really know how to improve my herd, and that is the Linear Appraisal (LA) program.

LA allows producers to have all of their animals evaluated by an expect and given a score, based on their quality. Each part of the animal is evaluated separately, then in categories, and then as a total package. It offers incredibly value insight into the strengths and weaknesses of your herd. It’s an investment, both in time and financially, but it was worth every penny.

The LA program really opened up my eyes to what I have. Many wise breeders have told me, breed for what you like, and that’s advice I try to follow. However, I really didn’t understand what I liked until this program.

I have a few does who are great show does, and place well. I have others that I love for their soundness and milking ability, but they never seem to place well in shows. Now I understand why, and I’m ok with what these goats offer. I have an alpine doe that I adore, but the judges never do. The inspector helped me see the good in her, and told me that any dairy in the country would love to have her in their herd, and that he expected she would have better longevity than some show animals. That definitely makes you feel good.

The whole process took more than an hour, but I know that it will help me better my herd, and be more competitive.

The LA scores are as follows:
Alpine
Tall & Small Vanilla Latte – +VV+83
Mamm-Key Glitter’s Sparkle – AV+A79
Mamm-Key Hope Diamond – VV+V
Champion Livestock Vienna – VV+V
Dawnwind Clever Matador – +ECVV

LaMancha
Rancho-Snowfall Texas Tornado – VEV+85
Champion Livestock Duchess – VVVV

Nigerian Dwarf
Tall & Small Abu – VVV87

Nubian
NCD Farm Hesed’s Lilly – +V+A82
Champion Livestock Isis – A+AA77
Rae’s Majestic S&N’s Captain – +++82
Champion Livestock Nala – V+V+
Mega-Milkers Moon’s Teagon – ++A+

Recorded Grade
Champion Livestock Leala – VEV+84
Champion Livestock Cleopatra – VV++83