Can I get your opinion on my does

[Southern by choice]

This is from the ADGA-
It is the blue book for LA
https://adga.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/LA_BOOKLET.pdf

It is a good read.

Personally I see LA as a tool and only a tool.
Sometimes you can have 2 spectacular goats appraising very high but their genetics end up not meshing and you have a trainwreck on your hands. Anyone that has been breeding for 20-30 years will tell you that yep- this happens and you lose a few years on your breeding program.
Sometimes you may have a doe that does not LA well, but is a great brood doe- putting the right buck over that doe is very important.
We have seen does LA at 80-81 but bred with a great buck and offspring appraise very high.
This tells me two things- One- that doe has some good stuff behind her but she somehow got the short end along the way... but she may be passing some good things on. Two- The buck needs to be really good to bring out the best for the offspring.

For me- I use my eyes. I either like the goat or I don't.

In a nutshell- show wins, LA's, Milktest are all different tools... but the key most important things IMO are not something that can be "measured".
I want the goat to be hardy, parasite resistant, easy keepers, great foragers, kid without issues, milk with ease and a desire to milk.

I have some "fru fru" goats that I am working on bringing more of that robust hardiness to.

It looks like you are building a good starter herd. As they develop and grow, kid, milk etc you will learn so much. You will start seeing the things you like, things you don't... what you want to improve on etc.
I am excited for you. Personally I think this is the fun part.

 

[Sweet horizon Nigerians]

Thank you I am trying to start with good quality to keep good quality and hopefully breed up.

 

[Bayleaf Meadows]

@Southern by choice - Where did the diagram of the udders come from? I didn't see it in the ADGA link. It has mention of the ideal and some defects which aren't commented about in the LA booklet. The booklet just has numbers and it would be nice to know which numbers are good, better, best, etc. like the udder diagram shows. I noticed that "teats too bulbous" is mentioned, but that wouldn't be an evident fault if you just go by the ADGA LA booklet.

 

[Southern by choice]

@Southern by choice - Where did the diagram of the udders come from? I didn't see it in the ADGA link. It has mention of the ideal and some defects which aren't commented about in the LA booklet. The booklet just has numbers and it would be nice to know which numbers are good, better, best, etc. like the udder diagram shows. I noticed that "teats too bulbous" is mentioned, but that wouldn't be an evident fault if you just go by the ADGA LA booklet.

Go to page 11 and it discusses the points system for the teat diameter. also look at page 14
The pic I put up- uhhhhhhhhhhh- I don't know sitting in one of my folders as an example.

 

[Sweet horizon Nigerians]

New pics of opera, they were taken and sent to me today. In the both photos Lillie is standing behind her making opera look like she has a big 'ol tan bump lol

 

[Southern by choice]

Totally different thing here but I love her little tail! We have a few Nigerians with teeny tiny short tails I think it is just the cutest.

What I recommend is you "hold" here. This makes 4 does right?
Two are bred?
This gives you the opportunity to retain. The only way to tell what you have and what bucks are doing over the does is to retain kids... then breed them when they are old enough. This way you get to see what you want to do with your program.

I will pm you a few things.

 

[Sweet horizon Nigerians]

I have a total of 4 adult does and one doeling. My one doe was confirmed bred by a vet, 2 of them were sent to the farm where I am purchasing Lillie and opera for breeding and opera is being put with gypsy moon Shogun shortly. But yes I told myself no more goats (at least buying goats)
Thank you for all of your help

 

[Sweet horizon Nigerians]

Oh I asked why the breeder choose Shogun for opera and this Is what she said "I picked Shogun because he has a high ratio of does and I like his daughters. They're well put together and freshen very nicely. He's also very wide which translates well to kidding."

 

[Southern by choice]

Great you are getting some feedback.

How is the lead training going?

 

[Sweet horizon Nigerians]

I bring Lillie and opera home Dec 9th. My other does walk pretty decently (not like show goats but decent) haven't had a chance to go out and train them better lately. I don't get home from work until after 6 and it gets dark here 5:30-5:45ish. I will be trying for Wednesday (I'm off from work) any ideas on how to get them to walk correctly? (Beside you like they are supposed to) I know how to train dogs to do it but not sure about goats lol
Would you suggest Everytime I stop walking to "set them up"? Like with dogs I always like to have them sit everytime I stop (makes for a little calmer of a dog lol)