The weather has been spectacular this past week. March went by to fast and a couple of weekends ago, we were in Dade City, Fla at the Pasco County Fair Grounds. We showed our Nigerian Dwarf Goats, 3 shows in two days.
My cousin Michelle lives near the show and stopped by to help show and see what this goat showing stuff was all about. She enjoyed herself and I enjoyed seeing her and my Aunt Lauraine came up to say hi as well. Fortunately UDiamond was showing like the Diva she is and won two Grand Champion SR Doe awards and even won Best of Breed over a lovely Champion Challenge doe in the third show. UDiamond is a GCH (the grand comes from her having her milking stars). Now the only thing she has left to earn is her SG (superior genetics award, which is a combination of milk production and linear appraisal) and her AR (advanced registry for milk production).
To the right is UDiamond enjoying the lush spring pasture in Alabama. She is milked out and ready to fill up again, giving us the wonderful Nigerian Milk we so love!
The Diamond babies are growing up beautifully! The buck is to the far right, Oldesouth ZV Marquise Diamond, The black doe is Oldesouth Black Diamond, and the red doe up front is Oldesouth Diva Diamond. These kids are sired by NC Promisedland S Zyvox *S and we see a great future for them. They have straight toplines, are wide and have their mother's class about them, the DIVA factor! I prefer to bottle the special kids and milk mom from the beginning. Udiamond milks so much milk, the babies would not be able to handle it and the excess can break down the udder. So we pull the babies and make sure mom's udder is taken care of and the kids are tame, healthy and mom's darlings. Mom has her girlish figure with no worries of ligament breakdown.
The Photo to the right are some of our milking does. Post milking, I let them graze the wonderful spring grass and rye I planted last fall. The does shaved have been or are being prepared for the show ring. We will be having our Linear Appraisals done shortly and hope to have everyone shaved in preparation for that. Life moves along quickly and the girls are doing so well this year.
This body belongs to Oldesouth Babette 1*M,+Dar. She has been a bit of a handful, but is taming down nicely. I want to show her once she will lead without having a total BF. She does like her Animal Crackers. She really does clean up quite well and looks even better then her sister Oldesouth Blue Alexa 1*M, *D, +DAR. She is a larger doe, more capacity and I really like her. We will see how she does in her Diva training and see if she will go to a show or two.
I also want to take the opportunity to thank everyone, our Clients, who have purchased a buck or a doe from us this year. Sales has been off the charts and all the effort to milk test and the shows has proved the value of our stock. Thank you everyone and if you have a question, I am here for you. I personally take pride in my stock and wish everyone the best.
I want to give everyone a heart felt sincere wish of a Special Easter Weekend. Remember Jesus and his suffering for our salvation. It is a special time and we are grateful we could spend it with you and our Lord Jesus.
Have a Happy Easter all and God Bless you...
We have been busy as ever, showing, milking and appraisals this weekend. Yes, we are having a Special Session to get this done. My does all freshened in Jan and feb and by Sept of this year, would not appraise worth a hoot. The lovely doe to the left is LTE Pervskia. Took her almost a year to get pregnant and finally kid to The General, but worth the wait. Look how lovely she is!
The photo to the right is Perovskia udder from the side and oh yes, she is on DHIR. Probably not a world record holder for milk, but doing well for a seven year old doe.
This is Perovskia's udder from the rear, not to bad for a middle aged goat! I clipped her up to see what she looked like and was going to take her to Florida, but tatoos faded and did not have time to retatoo. Beautiful doe and beautiful kids. We have decided to retain them for now and see how they grow out.
Faith is pictured to the right, Sugar Moon Faith. Nice topline and growing into her body, which is a mile long. She is a mix of Cou Clair and Tog coloring, which is interesting. She comes from Vermont from SGCH all around. She will be shown this year and bred this fall to a Diamond son.
This pixie faced little gal is out of LTE Silene 1*M, *D, *DAR E90, sired by Oldesouth Shell Foop, a General son. She is very pregnant, bred back to the General. We hope to show her as a first freshener or a yearling, depending on when she kids.
