Goat Whisperer
Herd Master
Lil' Joe, a Nigerian Dwarf buck, has been a great herdsire for us. We picked Lil' Joe back in early 2014. We didn't know much about conformation, let alone showing. But there were about 7 other bucklings available, and @Southern by choice & I looked over each kid and their dam. We picked Lil' Joe, who had what we felt the most potential. He has the best width between hocks and leg set, we also loved his long body.
Lil' Joe grew long, but not very tall. With the ADGA height maximum being 23.5 inches for Nigerian Dwarf bucks, this was a good thing for us.
Lil' Joe pictured as a yearling
We had our first Lil' Joe kids in January 2016. I believe he sired 12 kids total (we sold some of our unregistered Nigerian dwarf does bred). Every one of kids kids had that same width between hocks, and a wide, high escutcheon. We loved what we were seeing. You could have 20 kids lined up at a feed trough, and tell what kids were by Lil' Joe just be looking at the rear & rump structure.
Fall 2016 we attended our first show ever with our own goats. NC's biggest show. We took Lil' Joe's 4 daughters that we retained. All four placed very well, including Clover who was first in her class. The judge mentioned she was "an easy first place".
We were a little shocked, and completely hooked!
That following spring two of his daughters went GCH and earned their dry leg.
(Carolina & Clover pictured)
The two remaining does, "Ariat Boots" & "Foxy Lady" were also shown and placed very well. It was difficult though- all four were the same age, so were in the same class. 1 handler cannot show 4 goats in the same class.... I don't know that they got a fair chance to really shine.
But that being said both does had several 1sts and 2nds.
In spring 2017 Lil' Joe gave us a set of quads, 3 were doelings (we used him over one doe, our Jr herdsire got the rest). These does were full siblings to Foxy & Boots. I need to find some pics, but they were much like Boots. I took one doeling, "Dot" to a show before I sold her. She was first place several times as a very young kid.
Lil' Joe's first daughters freshened fall 2017. I was thrilled with these yearling milker udders!
Both does have been very competitive in the show ring as milking does.
~CarolinaGirl~ ~ Clover~
Last fall we used Lil' Joe over 3 does (the others were all closely related to him!).
His first kids this year arrived in March. Triplets! 2 does and 1 buck. This was a repeat breeding, Ruth being the dam. These kids are full sisters to CarolinaGirl & Clover.
His next kids arrived in June. A single buck, and a set of quads; 3 bucks and 1 doe!
The Ruth x Lil' Joe buck was sold and went to live with @Sweet horizon Nigerians in SC. I kept the two does, who are named "Paris" & "Berlin". I am keeping the only doeling from the set of quads. She is an itty bitty!
Berlin:
Shown once at a two ring show, placing 2nd & 4th (wouldn't walk LOL)
Paris:
Shown once at a two ring show, placed 1st in both rings
Unfortunately, we lost Lil' Joe early this spring, we suspect a bad snake bite
Nothing could be done. Just heartbreaking.
He was a good boy. It's been months and I am still in shock that he is gone. I had wanted to retain a buck from him & Ruth, but never did. I am thankful to have had the opportunity to use this buck.
He didn't have a fancy pedigree, no milk stars or champions in his immediate pedigree. The genetics were still from good herds however.
I say all the time, there are champions sitting in peoples back yard. He was a true "diamond in the rough". We were blessed! We are on milktest and will continue in the following years. I am hoping to get Lil' Joe his +B through his daughters.
Lil' Joe grew long, but not very tall. With the ADGA height maximum being 23.5 inches for Nigerian Dwarf bucks, this was a good thing for us.
Lil' Joe pictured as a yearling
We had our first Lil' Joe kids in January 2016. I believe he sired 12 kids total (we sold some of our unregistered Nigerian dwarf does bred). Every one of kids kids had that same width between hocks, and a wide, high escutcheon. We loved what we were seeing. You could have 20 kids lined up at a feed trough, and tell what kids were by Lil' Joe just be looking at the rear & rump structure.
Fall 2016 we attended our first show ever with our own goats. NC's biggest show. We took Lil' Joe's 4 daughters that we retained. All four placed very well, including Clover who was first in her class. The judge mentioned she was "an easy first place".
We were a little shocked, and completely hooked!
That following spring two of his daughters went GCH and earned their dry leg.
(Carolina & Clover pictured)
The two remaining does, "Ariat Boots" & "Foxy Lady" were also shown and placed very well. It was difficult though- all four were the same age, so were in the same class. 1 handler cannot show 4 goats in the same class.... I don't know that they got a fair chance to really shine.
But that being said both does had several 1sts and 2nds.
In spring 2017 Lil' Joe gave us a set of quads, 3 were doelings (we used him over one doe, our Jr herdsire got the rest). These does were full siblings to Foxy & Boots. I need to find some pics, but they were much like Boots. I took one doeling, "Dot" to a show before I sold her. She was first place several times as a very young kid.
Lil' Joe's first daughters freshened fall 2017. I was thrilled with these yearling milker udders!
Both does have been very competitive in the show ring as milking does.
~CarolinaGirl~ ~ Clover~
Last fall we used Lil' Joe over 3 does (the others were all closely related to him!).
His first kids this year arrived in March. Triplets! 2 does and 1 buck. This was a repeat breeding, Ruth being the dam. These kids are full sisters to CarolinaGirl & Clover.
His next kids arrived in June. A single buck, and a set of quads; 3 bucks and 1 doe!
The Ruth x Lil' Joe buck was sold and went to live with @Sweet horizon Nigerians in SC. I kept the two does, who are named "Paris" & "Berlin". I am keeping the only doeling from the set of quads. She is an itty bitty!
Berlin:
Shown once at a two ring show, placing 2nd & 4th (wouldn't walk LOL)
Paris:
Shown once at a two ring show, placed 1st in both rings
Unfortunately, we lost Lil' Joe early this spring, we suspect a bad snake bite
Nothing could be done. Just heartbreaking.
He was a good boy. It's been months and I am still in shock that he is gone. I had wanted to retain a buck from him & Ruth, but never did. I am thankful to have had the opportunity to use this buck.
He didn't have a fancy pedigree, no milk stars or champions in his immediate pedigree. The genetics were still from good herds however.
I say all the time, there are champions sitting in peoples back yard. He was a true "diamond in the rough". We were blessed! We are on milktest and will continue in the following years. I am hoping to get Lil' Joe his +B through his daughters.
! I love her deep body.
