How to tell if Nubian is quality?

[PattiXmas]

Becky's Nubian, Snowy, took Best of Breed and Best Junior Doe Kid at our local county fair. The judge announced that if Becky & Snowy had gone to the International, that he would have placed her in the top 5.

My friends are Boer people, they aren't too fond of the dairy breed. They are telling me that Snowy and Daisy aren't correct for the breed and told me that the Judge was just trying to sound big.

Anyone professional show people with dairy, can I get your input of our two girls please. We are going to the State Fair in Detroit at the end of the month with the girls. I'm just wondering because if they are "quality", I think we'll start looking around for the sanctioned shows.

Snowy and Becky (the first one)

Snowy & Becky (in the middle)

Becky, Snowy & her dad

Becky & Snowy

Becky & Daisy (I might need to get different pics of her)

 

[cmjust0]

Becky, Snowy & her dad

I'm not a judge or anything, but snowy's dad doesn't even look like a goat. Weird.



Seriously, though...she looks like a fine goat to me. Again, I'm no judge, but she's got nice long ears, nice long neck, a good strong roman nose, good height.. She could stand to be a little longer, maybe... Her topline could be a little more level at the withers, but it's not like she drops off sharp past the hipbones.. She's not super deep bodied, either, but she's young yet.

I wouldn't knock her for any of that, though, personally.. I'm just nitpicking, trying to see what your 'friends' saw. She's a goat I'd give good money for, if I were looking to buy.

So...I'm curious...what did your so-called friends say was wrong with the goat?

 

[onedozenphyllises]

I'm curious too. I'm no judge either, but she looks good to me.

 

[PattiXmas]

My friends are meat goat showers. They are a bit mad at her for going dairy. This is only her second year showing goats, first year was with market wethers. I have noticed that my "friends" are know-it-alls, or at least they pretend to be. Becky picked Snowy herself and she was very proud of her and their accomplishments. I wonder if they were a bit jealous. It seems like my "friends" even nitpick my son with his boston, who scored highest in obedience. Maybe it's time to re-consider their friendship, as it seems to cost me a lot emotionally and financially.

I have entered the kids for the state fair, Billy will be showing his market wether, Fat Tony (boer). They even told Billy that since Tony is almost 100 pounds, that he needs to back down on the food even though Fat Tony is all muscle. They are also the ones that we discovered used a supplement right before their market wether went in for the County fair that increases water intake and defines the muscle more somehow. I don't really feel this was fair, as the judge really liked Sammy the Sammich except their goat had more depth of loin, although he said it felt fatty (which I think was water retention).

I think next year at the fair, we will enter Snowy and Daisy in open class and let Becky see what she can do against other dairy goats that are not a 4H project only.

Thanks for the feedback!

 

[onedozenphyllises]

They're just jealous! (and who wouldn't be?)

 

[cmjust0]

Sounds like they're just a little overly-competitive. I try not to willingly hand over too much energy to people like that...those who are always trying to take the wind out of your sails to give themselves a boost.

Just knock the dust of your boots and keep walking.

Like I said...I think it's a fine looking little doeling, myself. Plus, she clearly makes your kid happy, is a source of pride for her, and gives her something positive and constructive to put her energy into. With all the craziness in the world today, that alone makes the little doeling priceless.

 

[lupinfarm]

I think they're just jealous cause you have gorgeous kids who care for their animals and who did well in the show ring!

Bahh to them!

 

[lupinfarm]

Might I also add that since your "friends" are meat goat people, it sounds like they're making it their interests to dislike dairy goat breeds in hopes that perhaps you'll purchase from them. They see themselves as mentors, which they clearly are not.

Edited: Holy spelling mistakes

 

[Roll farms]

I actually like Snowy's depth, I think maybe the tan band on her belly hides how deep she is.
I like how she's lower in the rear than the shoulders...hard, hard, HARD to do w/ Nubs.
LOVE her head. I'm no judge but she's a darn fine lookin' goat, imho.

You don't need friends who don't encourage you/your kids no matter what breed you choose.

 

[Laney]

I'm going to put my energy here into saying what an amazing daughter you have. In her mid teens she went her own way and went with a dairy goat when the crowd was going meat.

She's still active as a senior in 4H. She's taking amazing care of her animal, working it and keeping it fit, tame and clean. She is fresh faced and happy and I can tell that the smile is a regular feature on that face.

When my daughter finishes a competition we ask her two questions "Did you do your best?" and "Did you have fun?" if the answer to both is YES, then we tell her how proud we are of her. I can see in your daughter the answer to both of those questions is undoubtedly YES.... so forget the friends and go be proud. She did her best, she had fun and the bonus is she won on top of it all!!!! You can't get better than that.

You've done a great job as a parent, if she wants to do a sanctioned show sign her up, if she wins great, if she doesn't I'm sure she'll handle it just fine. If you're worried about the friends "I told you so" that tells you right there what kind of friends they are.

Laney