SBC/GW's Journal- Spring shows DONE! & Update

[Southern by choice]

Now that it's over we can get on with fall preparations.
We have only bred a few does and several of those are being sold bred.
We are way behind the breeding curve. We also had fencing issues so have a whole round of goats to get luted just in case. We are fixing fencing from the 2 hurricanes.

I need to draw bllod and send out, do a few bio-pryn preg checks too.
I have been behind on registering some goats so that is priority!

One of my goals this end of year- new year is slowly start DNA'ing my goats (Lamanchas and miniature Lamanchas) for Casein.

We are still on milktest so that will continue. Not sure if I will keep a few on for the whole 305 or not. It will really affect breeding plans and show possibilities next year.
On some we will do extended lactations and not breed this year.

Why is it my absolute favorite goats are not always the ones we need to retain? I have a mini doe out there that I just adore. I love her so much. She is like a puppy, always following me or GW around, always ready to say "Hi, mommy. Whatcha doing?" I can't even think about it, just makes me so sad.

I am working on my list, hopefully GW will work on hers too.

 

[Southern by choice]

Busy busy here.

First, our tester arranged for her tester to come and be the other party to do our verification test. We hadn't planned on it for two reasons.
1st- at first we didn't think we would need one because we aren't on owner sample we are on Std 20 which means we have a tester to come each month and you only need the VT (Verification Test if you think you will have a top doe or Elite or whatever it is called)
2nd- even though we have had a bad test year when looking at Raina's #'s which aren't reflective of what she actually milks it ends up they keep adjusting upping her #'s. As she is not in a downfall yet. So it was recommended to do the VT because she could be a leader or something or other. She is a first freshening 2YO. We are pretty happy with her all things given.
So YAY! For the extra tester.

Down side... WE of course went to get more hay, they didn't have our "good stuff" so, once again- after a show and hay they don't care for. I can see at milking time how that is reflected. I wish we could just buy 50 tons at a time but we have no place to store it.

We need to look at who we really want to keep on test or just stop so we can prep for breeding etc. Most goats will reduce after being bred and depending on where they are on lactation they can drop substantially or a little bit. Some we are thinking of going the full 305, some maybe extended, some dry off early. WE have a few that are on once a day now.


Fencing repairs done! Al but one place so we will finish that this week.

So we had the fences damaged... that is why we are fixing them. BUT in the time of the first hurricane and the second... yeah, bucks got through to the baby field.
Fortunately half the kids were at a show when it happened. I saw who he bred but thought well, bucks are fast and I don't want any surprises especially with baby goats in there. Of course the does were enticing the boys all the way! So we marked who was in and dates.... then..... it happened after 2nd hurricane. We had moved all the bucks except from one field ( we have 2 that line the baby doe field) so.... marked that. We had to Lute a bunch. We have another round to do in 2 days.

Meanwhile we have several animals we are prepping to leave.
After they leave we will need to change accommodations somewhat for the bucks. The does are fine.
A friend of mine has a few bucks she is holding onto til we get the fence finished. They will be coming back and I think I may switch up "buddies".

Oh the fun today- yeah we had Prynne in raging heat and because we need several lines for our minis we decided to breed her for minis!
We have two main lines so this season we had Jane/isaac so we could have out of line offspring but we still don't have enough out of line to continue a good program so Prynne/Kiegh will be another.
I plan on doing a few 50/50's and some 75/25's. Genes will all be 1st or 2nd because of the standards. I don't care about gen. I am going for confirmation, udders, production. My hope is high escutcheons as minis have issues with that like Nigerians do. Same with teat placement. I want good udders.
It was funny as he is so short. We helped them get it done!

One of our F-2 50/50 gopher eared boys is being sold. I really have too much related so go will go in a few weeks. Meantime we have 3 reservations for bucks. We need to retain 2 ourselves so... we will see. It could work out well as we really don't want to breed too many lamanchas this year for lamanchas because we just can't keep them. And you know I will. So many of them may just be bred for minis. That works out well I think.

I did the hardest blood draw I have EVER done today. Olaf is POWERFUL. He has lost from being in rut but he still has his 200lbs of power and a THICK rut neck. The needle bent on one attempt he was terrible. I was gonna win though. DH and GW held. He (Olaf) was a jerk. Yes, our baby boy was a complete idiot. I got it though!
Taipan- Boom he never even knew what I was doing, he was all over too but I got it!

We all left the pens smelling horrid. I think we still smell horrid.

Tai is leaving so we like to give latest results to client. I figured they are together so I may as well do both. We are late this year on draws. I never do fall draws on bucks. I still have to do the others but I will wait til they are all back. I will does soon. I need to order more tubes. WE also gave more selenium. Gave copper to 3 goats we missed when we did copper.
We had to deworm our old boy Will. Not sure what that is about - his eye membranes were pale. No one elses were though. Strange. I will run a fecal in 10 days and see how it looks.
I think he is more anemic from never eating minerals really. He looks good otherwise.
I swear it is always something. I can't figure out why our goats are such jerks about minerals. It's like kids that hate veggies and think anything green will kill them. We have weird goats.

This time of year it gets so costly. Testing, tubes, Association Fees, we also have to start ordering stuff for kidding to avoid the rush and out of stock issues, of course hay and feed and bedding cost more because no forage.

I love my goats. Just love them to bits!

So
Prynne X Kiegh for F-1 50/50 minis we also bred Charlotte with Kiegh last week. We are hoping to get at least one buck out of the two does. GW suggested it because we need a buck. Better our odds. We kept Jane/Isaac's Buck and doe.
Oh and don't laugh - I hate beards but we were in process of clipping when I got this shot- she wasn't done. (That's for you @B&B Happy goats)

We have bred Lil Princess to George for 75/25 1st gen

We did a repeat of Black Tie X Mariah... Pics are from spring. We will retain any does from this breeding.

I also want to do Strawberry with Charlie(can't find pics) 75/25 or Black Tie

Bingo may get skipped this year, if not she will be bred to Charlie(can't find pics)

@Goat Whisperer wants to repeat the breeding that we did with Raina. I am undecided as I WILL keep all the does and I cannot keep any more lamancha does.
SHe says no--- they can be sold. We already retained 2 and she will have her AR status as well as a great show record behind her as a 2YO. Yeah, I just know we will fall in love like we always do and I will find all kinds of excuses and the GW will try to act all brave and responsible ( I said act) and then she will say I know how much you love them so you should keep them.... mmm hmmm I know this deal. HOWEVER, I may breed one of the daughters this year. I am thinking to Henry. A beast of handsomeness and a great buck.
They would be 75/25

So, that's what I.m doing. I got some fun pics today- I'll have to post later.

I finally get my MINI YEAR!

I have a lot of goals for my miniature program but can't get there if I never retain them. Really excited.

Rose, Sass, Monster probably won't get bred this year.

 

[Mike CHS]

All great pictures but Henry looks like he might have a bit of attitude.

 

[Baymule]

Beautiful goats!

 

[Wehner Homestead]

Raina babies can come to Indiana before you get attached!!

 

[Southern by choice]

All great pictures but Henry looks like he might have a bit of attitude.

The day he was out with us getting pics he was peeing all over himself, in rut and stinky (notice the gloves). His nostrils are huge so it does give him that "look".
You want huge nostrils on goats.
He can be a butthead in rut, not with us but other goats. He is going in with the Nubian buck when he comes back.

Raina babies can come to Indiana before you get attached!!

Are you breeding either girl for minis this year? I bet they are getting big!
LOL I keep telling GW that when Raina is 5 she is getting shipped off to be a foundation doe for a new herd. Raina is a piece of work. I love her and also want to wring her neck at the same time.
She really is a DIVA! Raina has her own stanchion. She gets milked last. Don't let her run out of food when you are milking her. Don't let her smell beet pulp or she won't eat her feed and will stomp til she gets what she wants and trust me you cannot milk her if that happens. Yet she is endearing. She smiles and shows her pearly whites all the time. It is too cute. At the show her daughter Trudy has her moments where you know she is a Raina daughter lol... not as bad but she did have a moment where she was like... hmmm, not sure if I feel like being a showgoat right now.
GW works real good with her and Raina. GW is weird!
I'll take Tiffany and Mousse all day. They are ANGELS! Everyone that is around them love them. So sweet.
Plus Raina likes to "moon" us with her udder. It is hilarious.

I am going back and forth about her two does from this year... do I breed them for minis or not? I wouldn't breed til Dec. or do I just let them grow? Let them just be dry yearlings for the spring shows.
If I love their udders they will stay. Even though I say I will sell one I know what will happen. I will want to keep them both.

I should have stuck with Nigerians, so much easier to let go. Except my Nigerians.

 

[Wehner Homestead]

We are going to try to breed them. I think CeCe was in Friday morning but I didn’t have help to get a buck with her. Tried when DH got home and she wouldn’t stand then.

I’ll keep watching them.

I do think I’ll want to breed them to a Lamancha buck to get Standard does at some point. We will see.

 

[Southern by choice]

We are going to try to breed them. I think CeCe was in Friday morning but I didn’t have help to get a buck with her. Tried when DH got home and she wouldn’t stand then.

I’ll keep watching them.

I do think I’ll want to breed them to a Lamancha buck to get Standard does at some point. We will see.

How big are they? We aren't breeding ours yet, still too young imo and want to see a little more weight.... if we breed either for minis we will wait til Dec.... they will be 9-10 months
What's their weight?

 

[Southern by choice]

These are some pics we got yesterday when out with the babies.
My minis steal my heart.

Olivia (Also called Olive also called Monster 2) This is my baby girl. One of Trouble's triplet does. I had to keep 1 and because I like brown eyes I sold the 2 blue eyed girls. I love this baby so much.
She is a June baby.

Rose (Left) is a mini from one of my Mini does and my mini buck I sold... Isn't she lovely! She was born April I think.
She is from Star's (Raina is half sister to Star and Henry is Star's Son) line and Mariah is the dam to her sire (Percy). So we have so much awesomeness in this breeding!
Looking right at us is MONSTER! She got her name because she was such a cuddle squirt from the get go and wouldn't take her bottle unless we held her... the litter Bingo had the previous year, also trips, had one in the litter that was the same way. So Monster was called that because we realized very quickly we had created another monster. Spoiled rotten.
I love this girls personality so much. Her structure is great EXCEPT her rump. Don't know why but she has a steep rump, great escutcheon height, great legs, great width... just steep rump.
I should sell her because that doesn't fit in our breeding program, but come on- look at the adorableness. Plus she follows us everywhere asking "mommy whatcha doin'? I'm here with you mommy. Love you mommy"

This doe is Allure. She is a junior kid born in May. Can you see her ribbing? She has the best ribbing I have ever felt on any goat ever. This will be a powerful working doe!

Raina's doe Trudy in the feeder. Chocolate Mousse looking at the camera. Lemon Drop or Eclipse (I can't tell) ND, Totality ND, and Sass Mini (R-L) eating.

The bobsie twins! Yet the twins are actually from triplet litters.
Allure, Arpege, (Red Lamanchas born in May) and Paris & Berlin (Nigies, borm March)

Look at the width on the lamancha girls.

 

[Wehner Homestead]

CeCe definitely has that width too!