Nigerian Dwarf Babies!

Posted by Helena Bowen in Goats and tagged with 4-H, ADGA, American Dairy Goat Association, Dairy Goat, FFA, Milking Goat, Miniature Goat, Nigerian Dwarf, Nigerian Dwarf Goat, West African Dwarf March 27, 2012

My final stop in Colorado was the Stutz Family in LaPorte, Colorado. Here are some of my favorite pics of the Nigerians, just after they were bottle-fed.

Click on each picture for a larger version!

Nigerian Dwarfs are one of two new breeds recently recognized by ADGA. Since their acceptance, they have risen to be the 2nd most popular breed in ADGA.

Nigerians are the smallest dairy breed and must be 22″ at the withers or shorter. They are the only miniature breed of goat recognized by ADGA.

Some Nigerian’s have blue eyes, a trait that is unique to their breed. Nigerian’s can come in any color known to goats and are frequently spotted

Nigerian Dwarfs originate in West Africa, where they are called “West African Dwarfs”

Because of their size, color patterns and demeanor, Nigerian Dwarfs are very popular as 4-H and FFA animals, as well as family pets

Thank you to the Stutz Family for sharing your goats with us! You can find more information about Nigerian Dwarfs by visiting the American Nigerian Dwarf Dairy Association’s website

Preview of the Ranch!

Posted by Helena Bowen in Uncategorized and tagged with 2012 CDGA National Show, ADGA, CDGA, Colorado Dairy Goat Association, Goat Show, Loveland, Loveland Colorado, National Show, The Ranch March 26, 2012

Hey National Show Goers!

I’m sure you’re all psyched to see where you’ll be this July and I have a sneak preview for you! Three photos taken in the barns where goats will be held at the Ranch. Of course, there will be goat pens instead of horse stalls, and the event manager at The Ranch said they will likely have all the doors open during the show. But you get the idea. For more pics, check out The Ranch’s website: http://www.larimer.org/theranch/

Click on each photo to see a larger version.

The Ranch-Way Indoor Pavillion. Picture hundreds of goat pens here…

Waiting for the goats to arrive…

Indoor barn (w/ horse stalls instead of goat pens…)

Introducing Honey Dew, Our Newest Caprine Donor!

Posted by Helena Bowen in Goats, Sponsors and tagged with ADGA, Alethia Homestead, Dairy Goat, Honey Dew, Kickstarter, Nigerian Dwarf, Nigerian Dwarf Dairy Goat, Siena Rasmussen March 26, 2012

6 year old SGCH Algedi Farm DJ Honey Dew 1*M EEEE91, 5x BIS
Proudly owned by youth exhibitor, Siena Rasmussen of Alethia Homestead.

“We are a small family homestead interested in growing organic produce, organic egg production and raising quality Nigerian Dwarf Dairy goats for show, milk and the overall preservation and improvement of the breed. We participate in ADGA shows, milk test (only one day tests when possible at this time) and have found the Linear Appraisal Program to be a valuable tool in accessing the progress of our breeding program. We have very high standards, strict culling practices due to our limited space restrictions and only keep a small, select herd of goats. We are still in the process of building our foundation herd, based on the body style and incredible udder consistency of stock from Algedi and Rosasharn Farms, with our added focus on dairyness and structural correctness (we’re feet and leg fanatics… can’t help it!) We seasonally have a limited number of kids available and occasionally adult animals for sale to the right homes. We have VERY strict bio-security practices, have a closed, disease free herd, with the whole herd testing negative through WADDL for CAE, CL, Johnes and Q-fever in March 2012, therefore we offer no outside buck service. We love to talk “goat” and all things “anima’ related” so feel free to message us here on Facebook or email us and we’ll keep you posted about when we’ll have our website up and running!”

Thank you Siena, Dana and Honey Dew!

Editor’s note: Like Siena, with a donation to our film, you too can feature one of your favorite goats on our website! After you have made a donation, simply email me a picture (goatshowdoc [at] gmail [dot] com), your goat’s name, and any information you would like to include. Thank you so much for your continued support! Keep checking the website for more caprine sponsors!

Darling Alpines!

Posted by Helena Bowen in Goats and tagged with Alpine Goats, American Alpines, French Alpines, Goat Cheese, Harmody Alpines, Milking Goats, Rock Alpines, Saanens, The Larson Family, Toggenburgs March 24, 2012

Another stop on Mom and my baby goat tour of Northern Colorado was Vicki Larson of Harmody Alpines in Windsor, CO. Vicki, Greg, Amanda, Kenton, Hannah, Joseph, Abbi and Emily (phew!) started out with a small herd of Alpines fifteen years ago, and now they’ve branched out into Lamanchas, Oberhaslis and Toggenburgs. Last year the Larsons did quite well at Nationals and are gearing up for another good year. Here are some pictures of their adorable babies, as well as some Alpine facts!

Click on each picture to see a larger version.

The Alpine breed originated in the French Alps. They were first imported to America in 1922 by Charles P. Delangle.

Alpines are the only breed of upright-eared dairy goat that can come in all different colors and patterns

Before a recent overhaul by the Nigerian Dwarf breed, Alpines were once the 2nd most popular breed in ADGA (1st is Nubians).

Common Alpine colors include: Cou Blanc (coo blanc) – literally “white neck” white front quarters and black hindquarters with black or gray markings on the head. Cou Clair (coo clair) – literally “clear neck” front quarters are tan, saffron, off-white, or shading to gray with black hindquarters. Cou Noir (coo nwah) – literally “black neck” black front quarters and white hindquarters. Sundgau (sundgow) – black with white markings such as underbody, facial stripes, etc. Pied – spotted or mottled. Chamoisee (shamwahzay) – brown or bay characteristic markings are black face, dorsal stripe, feet and legs, and sometimes a martingale running over the withers and down to the chest. Spelling for male is chamoise. Two-tone Chamoisee – light front quarters with brown or gray hindquarters. This is not a cou blanc or cou clair as these terms are reserved for animals with black hindquarters. Broken Chamoisee – a solid chamoisee broken with another color by being banded or splashed, etc.

A “Rock Alpine” is a Purebred French Alpine crossbred with another Swiss import. They are not registered under ADGA, but the Rock Alpines of the 1920s had great genetics and were absorbed into the category of “American Alpine,” which includes goats that are not 100% French Alpine.

A “British Alpine” is a goat that appears to be a black and white Toggenburg.

Alpine milk is great for cheese because of their good butterfat and protein content

Alpines can have Toggenburg-like facial stripes, but cannot be Toggenburg colored. Likewise, they cannot be solid white like Saanens.

Alpines are known for being curious, friendly and hardy

You can find more information about Alpines at the Alpines International Breed Club website: www.alpinesinternationalclub.com/

Thank you to the Larson family for letting us visit your goats! Good luck at Nationals!

Adorable Lamanchas!

Posted by Helena Bowen in Goats and tagged with American Lamanchas, Baby Goats, Dairy Goats, Goat Kids, Lamancha Goats, Lamanchas, Milking Goats March 22, 2012

Hello Everyone!

Yesterday, Mom and I also made a visit to Marilou Webb of South Fork Lamanchas. Marilou has some of the best Lamanchas in the nation, and frequently wins big at goat shows. This spring, Marilou has FORTY-NINE kids and counting! She still milks all her does by hand and hand-raises all the kids. Here are some of my favorite pictures from the trip.

Click on each picture to see a larger version.

The Lamancha is the only major breed of dairy goat that originated in the U.S! Lamanchas were first bred by in Oregon by Eula Fay Frey.

Lamanchas are one of the most easily recognizable breeds of goat because they appear to have no ears! Don’t worry- they can hear just like any other goat. There are two types of Lamancha ear: Gopher (less than one inch of cartilage) and Elf (maximum 2 inches of cartilage, turned up or down). Gopher ears are preferred (as seen above).

Lamanchas come in every color known to goats and can have spots, stripes or no pattern at all

The name “Lamancha” comes from the earless goats from La Mancha, Spain first exhibited at the World’s Fair in Paris in 1904

Only male goats (bucks) with “Gopher” ears are able to be registered because it is possible to breed the short ears out of Lamanchas by using elf-eared bucks and elf-eared does

Lamanchas are known for their high milk production

Lamanchas have very calm and loving personalities

Dairy goats are tattooed in each ear to be registered and identified by ADGA. Because Lamanchas do not have external ears, they are tattooed on the left and ride fleshy sides of their tails instead!

Like the Nubian goat, Lamanchas have high butterfat in their milk

Pictured above: Cate, an old goat with a goofy, toothy grin

To find out more information about Lamanchas, visit the American Lamancha Club website: http://www.lamanchas.com/

Thank you Marilou for sharing your goats with us! To find more information about Marilou’s herd, visit http://www.southforklamanchas.com/

Nubians are Great!

Posted by Helena Bowen in Goats and tagged with ADGA, Dairy Goats, Goat Breeds, Goat Milk, International Nubian Breeders Association, Milking Goats, Nubian Goats, Nubians, Pam Bartholf, Wakan Dairy Goats March 21, 2012

Hello Everyone!

Today we drove down to Erie, CO to visit Pam Bartholf of Wakan Dairy and her Nubian Goats. Here are some of my favorite pictures of the day, and some facts about Nubians!

Click on each picture to see a larger version.

Nubians originally came from Nubia, a desert region in the Northern Sudan, but the British and French are credited with developing today’s Anglo-Nubian from a variety of breeds

Nubians are the most popular breed of dairy goat in the U.S. today

Nubians are known for their long, pendulous ears and Roman noses

Nubians produce less milk on average than many of the Swiss-origin breeds

Nubians have short, glossy hair and come in a variety of color patterns

Because of their heritage, Nubians are able to withstand extreme cold and heat

Nubians are very commonly born in large litters – triplets and quads are more common in Nubians than other breeds

Nubians are known for being very vocal, sociable animals

Nubian milk is very high in butterfat- 5% on average

For more information, visit the International Nubian Breeders Association at www.i-n-b-a.org

Thank you Pam for sharing your goats with us!

Beautiful Colorado!

Posted by Helena Bowen in Colorado and tagged with Colorado, Rockies, Rocky Mountains March 21, 2012

Hello Friends, Family and Followers!

For all of you National Show goers, here is a preview of what’s to come: Beautiful Colorado. I took these pictures today while driving from Longmont, CO to Lyons, CO. Correction: While Mom was driving (I may be an LA driver, but I’m not that unsafe!)

Click on the picture if you want to see a larger version.

We Love Oberhasli’s!

Posted by Helena Bowen in Goats and tagged with Alpine, Baby Goats, Chamoisee, Dairy Goat, GGG Oberhasli's, Goat Breeds, Goat Kids, Goat Milk, Libby George, Milking Goat, Oberhasli, Oberhasli Breeders of America, Oberhasli Goat, Saanen, Toggenburg March 20, 2012

Hey Friends, Family and Followers!

I’m touring Colorado for the next two days visiting a variety of goat owners to see their newborn baby kids! My first stop was Libby George of Monument, CO and her herd of Oberhasli’s. Oberhasli’s are less-common, but Libby’s goats sure are exemplary of the breed. Here are some of my favorite pictures from the day. Stay tuned this coming week for videos of her goats!

Click on the picture if you would like to see a larger version.