Rules at Goat show??

[Mason&lily]

This will be my first year showing, so I wanna know as much as possible. Also with the health certificate all have to do is take them to my vet and have them Checked right ?

 

[frustratedearthmother]

Again, my experience is with NPGA...but if you couldn't bring a pregnant goat to a show there would hardly be any does there at all.

As far as health certificates - yep, just get your vet to check 'em out. The most my vet ever did when I would bring a trailer full of goats is to check temps on a couple of 'em ... I'd fill out the certificate - he'd sign it and away we'd go.

Some vets are more particular about it and may want to do more, but my vet was pretty easy going.

 

[Mason&lily]

Ok what if the doe is really pregnant, like they have a big belly, because ik a judge can take points away for them being to "fleshy". Is there a point where you don't want to bring them to a show

 

[frustratedearthmother]

I once saw a person bring a goat into the ring, her water broke, feet were sticking out, and they had to pick her up and carry her back to the pen.....not really recommended to try and show one that far along...

A big ol' baby belly doesn't mean the goat is overweight or too fleshy. A judge can tell the difference. In most cases a big baby belly adds to the does 'body capacity' and that's a good thing.

Best thing you can do is go observe some shows! You'll learn so much just watching and listening to the judges explanations of the placings.

 

[OneFineAcre]

I wouldn't take a goat to a show that close myself

 

[frustratedearthmother]

Me either! Definitely not recommended for sure! Several time a year there'd be some who brought heavy bred does - but not because they wanted to show them. They'd bring them because they didn't want to leave the doe home alone when she was due. I can understand that at a 'stand alone' show - but not so much at a big fair. Too many folks who want to stick their hands in every pen and touch every goat...or throw something in the pen for them to eat - like a cigarette. Some people are just stupid.

I pulled kids at the Texas State Fair one year for some folks that were new to pygmy goats. Couldn't get the show vet and somebody had to do it. Kinda nerve wracking when there's a couple hundred people watching you stick your hand inside a goat and pull a baby. Thankfully, it was a fairly easy fix and I didn't even get dirty, lol. Five minutes later I was in the show ring.

Somebody oughta start a thread for some of the strangest things ever seen at a goat show!

 

[Fullhousefarm]

We show lots of does pregnant, but generally don't take them the last 6-8 weeks of their pregnancy unless it's unavoidable. Of coarse, our gots are also used to shows- so it's not overly stressful for them. The judge often asks if they are bred in dairy goat shows.

Last year we had one due the day before we had to leave for the show. Our Lamanchas never go overdue. She did. We had to bring her because the show was 3 hours away and our house sitter was not a goat person. Lol. She kidded as soon as we got there and put her in the pen. I think she was waiting for her private 10x10 pen. At that fair there is tons of room and it's not a big deal. I don't have anyone kidding even close to our State Fair since it's super crowded, busy, and stressful.

I've seen lots of births at fairs in dairy goats. There are always one or two at the state fair who have does due to kid and no clue what to do and aren't prepared. Sigh. Like no towels, no kidding supplies, and such.