How to show Dairy Goats

[SarahFair]

I dont know ANYTHING about showing goats. Any and all information would help
I will post answers under my questions for future references with your name attached in thanks
I am personally looking for Oberhaslis but if you would like to include information on your breed as well I will include it!



How to pick a good dairy goat from kid stage?

What questions should you ask a breeder when buying a kid/adult goat

What they youngest a goat can show?

Looking on the ADGA site at shows and Im seeing listing like (2 Jr Doe/2 Sr Doe/2 Buck), what do they mean?

Does a female dairy goat always need her bag full at a show?

What do they look at while showing a dairy goat?

How do you handle a dairy goat?

How and when do you start teaching the goat to stack?

Can shows from County fairs, 4H, etc be included in its show records?
Why show at places like these?

Can being a inexperienced handler harm the goats chances at winning?

If your goat starts doing not so great in shows, what do you do with it then?
Ex. Just good for milking, breeding, etc..

 

[()relics]

Wow...thats alot of information to try to cram into 1 post....
From the start I will tell you I have never been in the arena with a dairy goat. I breed and show Boer goats, both wethers and breeding stock. Alot of the answers will be interchangable with boers and dairy breeds. I do have several show bills and class breakdowns from shows that I will be showing at this spring/summer as well as our county and state classes. Some of these shows are for both meat and dairy goats so there is useful information to be had as far as age and fresh/open classifications.
So before I try; Answer a question for me...From your questions it seems that you have little experience showing goats....So are you thinking you want to start showing at a 4H level or at a higher level, an ADGA sanctioned show for example? Reason being the answers to some of your questions are different for 4Hers than they might be for "more experienced"showman/women...

 

[miron28]

i thought about getting in to show goats and was asking around someone told me the best way to answer your questions is to go to a goat show before the show and watch people prepare there goats and ask questions . they say that they are always willing to answer question and are very helpful. hope this helps

 

[SarahFair]

Im 22 so I think 4H is out of the question for me...
I reckon I can go to the County Fair and see it done? I just feel weird going up to people who seem busy and ask so why do you do this? Why do you do that?

 

[michickenwrangler]

Im 22 so I think 4H is out of the question for me...
I reckon I can go to the County Fair and see it done? I just feel weird going up to people who seem busy and ask so why do you do this? Why do you do that?

I would get a hold of the goat superintendant or steward or whatever they're called in your state (person in charge of said species at county fair) and maybe ask what the judges look for and for hints or maybe they can put you in touch with someone who can help.

 

[()relics]

OK well then the next best thing to 4H would be to find a breeder/showman in your area and ask if you can work or at least watch what they do in their show preparations....If you lived near me you would be welcome to ride with or even handle a goat at some of the shows...A good set of extra hands are always welcome...Best way to learn is hands on...once you've spent some time around show animals and the show arena alot of your questions will be answered...
If you can't find a showman that will help you....Buy a goat...the best 1 you can afford from a show breeder....they will help you pick out a good animal and will point out each animals strengths and weakness'...then its off to the show ring for you to learn on the fly...Again the LIST...don't know where to start...kind of hit the picking out a young kid question...Let a show breeder pick out the kid...tell him what you want and they should point you in the right direction, as long as you have some basic goat knowledge...There are many people out there that know less than you that buy show goats for their 4H kids every day simply by finding a good honest breeder and asking his opinion.

 

[Roll farms]

There are many people out there that know less than you that buy show goats for their 4H kids every day simply by finding a good honest breeder and asking his opinion.

Or hers....

A female dairy goat *should* be in milk by the age of 2, at every show I've attended (and that really IS the best way to learn about it, I went, I asked, and I decided showing wasn't for me...), any doe past 2 yrs old not in milk was placed dead last....DAIRY goats are judged based on their ability to be dairy animals...can't judge that if they're not in milk. The judges even say something to that effect, "This animal might have placed higher had I been able to evaluate her udder."

Whatever happens, if you do decide to show and don't get a big win on your first outing, don't get discouraged. I've seen goats get judged dead last at one show, and end up GCH at another...every judge is different and has different tastes....another reason why I got soured on showing...it can be political (who you know) more than based on quality of the animals.

I've got some really nice does that I feel would do well in show rings...and who's daughters have done well at shows...and I've also got some clunkers that I wouldn't dare take into a ring.
I breed the better does for 4-H / show goats and the clunkers for family milkers at more affordable prices.

Not every kid who looks great will mature into a 'show goat'...a lot is based on feed, handling, etc. but even wonderful genetics can throw the odd tiny udder...There's just no way to definitively judge a dairy kid and say they'll definitely make a great show doe...however, if the parents show / place well, the odds are the offspring should.

Ask if the parents have been LA'd (Linear appraisal), ask if their herd is CAE / CL / Johnes free or if not, if the kids are raised in a way to prevent transmission of the diseases.

4-H and open shows won't 'count' to get champion legs for ADGA but some will count for various breed and local goat assoc....ea. has different rules.
To get ADGA points, you have to be at an ADGA sanctioned show.

A friend of mine started showing in open / 4-H shows on purpose, to get practice and learn to relax before she hit the 'big time'...

Some dairy goat folks would love to have an extra handler / helper at shows and would probably gladly take you on to show you the ropes in exchange for helping them get their goats ready at a show or holding them in line while they're showing in another class.

Some more good links, this one to Dairy Goat Journal, to an article explaining "dairy character"... http://www.dairygoatjournal.com/goats/dairy_character_defined.html

In that article is a link to a dairy goat score card, that will show you what they look for.

Learn the terms....escutcheon, first freshener, ribbing, etc.

I'll shut up now, hope I helped more than harmed. Good luck!

 

[SarahFair]

Thanks RF! You helped!

I think what I may do is join the ADGA of Ga and maybe find a guide through there
They dont have any show results for Oberhaslis so Im wondering if there arent any showing :/

 

[()relics]

here is a quick over veiw of a show bill that I have for this spring. It will be both a dairy and meat goat show....I'll just list the dairy goat classes:

class 1: Junior does- jan1-july30 2010
class 2: Junior does-July 1- december 31 2009
class 3: Junior does -Jan 1-june 30 2009- never kidded
class 4: junior does-july1-december 31 2008- never kidded
class 5: senior does 1-2 years- july 1 2008-june 30 2009
class 6: senior does 2-3 years-july1 2007-june 30 2008
class 7: senior does 3 and older-before june 2007

every show is different but will generally follow these classes.....I would search for any dairy goat shows in your area. Contact the superintendant for a class list and registration form. Spend the whole day at the show and load up your class list with notes. Then start working with your goat or trying to locate 1 that will fit into the class that you think best suits you.
I always think a wether class is the best place for a beginer to start...They are relatively cheap to buy and will give a junior showman alot of useful hands on experience...Then if you don't do so well its off to market with the wether to recoup most of your initial investment money...The above list doesn't include a wether class because there is a meat goat show that runs concurrent to this one and all wethers are shown in the meat goat division regardless of breed.

 

[SarahFair]

What age is Jr and what age is Senior?