Our New Nubian Buckling :)

[frustratedearthmother]

@frustratedearthmother I'm looking at: http://www.whiteoakbenddairygoats.com/ and a couple others that are within my "reach" for this coming kidding season... http://forrestpride.com/ & http://www.lattedadairy.com/ What do all you Lamancha connoisseurs think of these breeders? So many breeds, so few dollars

Wish I could answer your question - but I don't have any LaManchas (yet). I'm going to start thinking about it next spring. But, browsing their website has me !

 

[Latestarter]

I was more trying to "enable" you FEM...

 

[frustratedearthmother]

I see, lol! That's what I get for answering before I read!

 

[Southern by choice]

And yet I know of three vets that do show their own goats; but one does house her herd in her trailer when showing. She won't use the provided pens. It only takes one time but I have many friends that show with no problems.

Personally I find goat shows dull and boring and I am just not interested or tempted in the least to spend hours and days waiting so I can walk my goat in circles for a few minutes. If I was truly wanting some teeth behind my claims that I have quality animals I would do LA and milk test and skip the shows. Ribbons don't milk.

Our vet shows goats and we know another vet that shows with us as well.

Most of my vets have shown in the past one form of livestock or another. I think they just know how fanatical I am.


I am coming around... @OneFineAcre & @babsbag and many of those we have gotten goats from are very encouraging about it all.
I just struggle with it. There are many I know that do milk test and LA but just won't show.

I guess to put it in perspective- it is like watching your first child head off to kindergarten that first day. Your happy and terrified all at the same time!

@OneFineAcre was a really great example of how he keeps his animals at the shows, it was VERY encouraging. AND the people so far (from the show world) have really been great.

Shows IMO are alot of fun to watch!

 

[babsbag]

My only experience with showing has been showing other people's goats and my own buckling once. The buck show was at 11:00 PM and I was totally wiped before it even started. I have also spent the day with an ill mannered buckling for a judges training. While I learned a lot about goats I also learned that showing is not for me. Too much leeway it what wins and what doesn't. Beauty is in the eye of the judge. If a goat is first in one ring and doesn't even place in the next are they good or not?

And then you have the home grown 4h or FFA goat trying to compete against the big guns that spend 1000s on a goat and it really takes all of the fun out of it. Many times it is all about money and what you can afford. I know someone that was raising Toggs and losing to the same breeder every time so she switched to Nubians, got daddy to buy her a $1000 goat and now she wins. Money ...

 

[OneFineAcre]

My only experience with showing has been showing other people's goats and my own buckling once. The buck show was at 11:00 PM and I was totally wiped before it even started. I have also spent the day with an ill mannered buckling for a judges training. While I learned a lot about goats I also learned that showing is not for me. Too much leeway it what wins and what doesn't. Beauty is in the eye of the judge. If a goat is first in one ring and doesn't even place in the next are they good or not?

And then you have the home grown 4h or FFA goat trying to compete against the big guns that spend 1000s on a goat and it really takes all of the fun out of it. Many times it is all about money and what you can afford. I know someone that was raising Toggs and losing to the same breeder every time so she switched to Nubians, got daddy to buy her a $1000 goat and now she wins. Money ...

I can't deny that is often the case. You definitely see the money .

 

[babsbag]

@OneFineAcre There is always the exception. But we see the same judges year after year at our local shows and they know the people and the names before they ever see the goat. I know it plays a part in who wins, even if it is subconsciously. And many of the breeders that are winning are also judging; just too inbred for my liking.

 

[Goat Whisperer]

@Latestarter

I do like some of the lamanchas on the websites you posted. Didn't spend a whole lot of time but briefly looked.

I don't know what does you are looking to reserve kids out of.

Something @OneFineAcre said on the forum a while back ago is something every goat owner needs to keep in mind, especially when you are a newbie and trying to go with the biggest name you can get...
"Their best doe may be better than my best doe but their worst doe isn't any better than my worst doe"

I have seen people spend big $ on kids from an unproven goat all for the name, only to be disappointed later. Sometimes that isn't best.
I almost did this years ago, when I was new to this kind of thing. It didn't work out (does were FF that had bucklings). I can honestly say that I think that was one of the best things that could have happened. The dams general appearance was great but her udder was even though the doe carried a "big" name.

Now with that being said- breeders with "big names" obviously have some big accomplishments under their belts! I am benefiting from breeders that have been breeding for 30+ years and have most everything dialed in.
Just remember the balance.

 

[OneFineAcre]

@OneFineAcre There is always the exception. But we see the same judges year after year at our local shows and they know the people and the names before they ever see the goat. I know it plays a part in who wins, even if it is subconsciously. And many of the breeders that are winning are also judging; just too inbred for my liking.

I was really more referencing the $$$$
But I think some have an advantage due to reputation
We try as best as we can to get new judges each year

 

[OneFineAcre]

@Southern by choice
There is a guy Jeremy has a post one the Piedmont FB page for a couple of Nubian does for sale
I don't know his farm name but I recognize him from Mtn Fair and Shelby
He has nice animals and usually places well
Frog Flat could probably give you the scoop