Post by Deleted on Jan 27, 2018 14:26:45 GMT
I came across this article this morning, www.thebullvine.com/genetic-evaluation-system/aint-pretty-milks-way/# about show cows not being that good of producers overall in spite if that supposedly being the point. I have to say I've noticed the same thing about show goats vs actual productive homestead goats. I started with the usual BS, a pedigreed goat with the best show/milk test history I could afford. Those didn't turn out well. They milked a mediocre amount, a gallon a day was exceptional, and they weren't a very hardy animal. They were susceptible to worms and respiratory disease and took a lot of concentrated feeds to make what milk they did. Now, granted, this was only two different breeds/breeders, but it was my experience.
Finally, at one point I ended up with a cross bred 'scrub' goat. She was saanen, alpine, oberhasli and nubian. Her conformation was mediocre, her udder was a bit too pendulous, but didn't actually interfere with her life at all. She milked 2 gallons a day on pasture (and non irrigated pasture out here is not very good!) with a wee bit of alfalfa every morning. The alfalfa is usually doled out at one flake for every 2-3 goats, depending on size and lactation stage. She had large babies unassisted every year and raised every single one. She'd milk for at least two years, probably more. I bred her every other year trying for doelings but she was always hard to dry up. I had to worm her twice. My herd now is based off of her, once she finally condescended to have a couple doelings. I started looking for bucks with that sort of history. While they have all been mixed breed, if they tested clean, I bought them.
I now have a small herd of this sort of goat. They are a bit smaller than most, although not anywhere near dwarf size. They are not 'pretty' in the usual show sense, although they are all better conformation and udder than the original. I rarely have to worm, haven't had pneumonia or anything else non injury related in years and they are easy keepers.
Now my experience is limited and I am NOT saying that all show goats are this sort. I was actually just wondering if anybody else has noticed this sort of effect?
Finally, at one point I ended up with a cross bred 'scrub' goat. She was saanen, alpine, oberhasli and nubian. Her conformation was mediocre, her udder was a bit too pendulous, but didn't actually interfere with her life at all. She milked 2 gallons a day on pasture (and non irrigated pasture out here is not very good!) with a wee bit of alfalfa every morning. The alfalfa is usually doled out at one flake for every 2-3 goats, depending on size and lactation stage. She had large babies unassisted every year and raised every single one. She'd milk for at least two years, probably more. I bred her every other year trying for doelings but she was always hard to dry up. I had to worm her twice. My herd now is based off of her, once she finally condescended to have a couple doelings. I started looking for bucks with that sort of history. While they have all been mixed breed, if they tested clean, I bought them.
I now have a small herd of this sort of goat. They are a bit smaller than most, although not anywhere near dwarf size. They are not 'pretty' in the usual show sense, although they are all better conformation and udder than the original. I rarely have to worm, haven't had pneumonia or anything else non injury related in years and they are easy keepers.
Now my experience is limited and I am NOT saying that all show goats are this sort. I was actually just wondering if anybody else has noticed this sort of effect?
