Updated 11/21/05
Christi and I picked up the little buck on Saturday, 11/19. You can see his photo under Buck Photos.
We put him with the Nubian does and they were all nice to him except for Cameron. I sat and watched him with the does on Sunday right after they were fed. Cameron hit him and sent him rolling so she was moved in with the meat goats.
The buckling will be moved in with the meat goats in a few weeks. We want him to feel comfortable before he gets moved in with the "bullys".
Lazarus and Krios (ram lamb) were moved to the buck pen with Sirus on Friday, 11/18. They are all getting along fine.
Updated 11/02/05
My 4-H Dairy Goat meeting was held at my leaders house on Sunday, 10/30. As part of the meeting my leader was going to band (castrate) her four month old buck. I really liked him so I decided I would buy him. He is still a buck and I plan to pick him up in a week or so.
I don't have any does that I can breed him to since he is the son of Sirus and half sister to all of my does. I decided to buy him so I can put him into my meat goat project next year.
My plan is to trade or sell a few of my does so I can get some unrelated does back into my Nubian breeding project.
Updated 10/28/05
I bred Ashelin to our Boer buck, Lazarus, on 10/08 and she is due to have kids on 3/07/06.
Nora came back for a short visit so that she could be bred by Sirus on 10/22 and she is due to have kids on 3/21/06.
The family that bought Nora have decided to buy Jezebel. They are in need of a second goat so they can have fresh milk year round. They will be picking her up soon. They expect to breed Jezebel around the first of the year.
Updated 10/05/05
I still have Cameron, Ashelin, Leila, Jezebel, Darlene, and Adelaide.
I have decided to breed all the Does in December and January. I will breed Cameron to Sirus for Registered Nubian kids. Since Sirus is the father of the rest of the Does, Darlene and Adelaide will be bred to an outside buck for Registered Nubian kids. Ashelin, Leila and Jezebel will be bred to our Boer goat, Lazarus.
Updated 8/05/05
I have the fair results listed under each individual goat in Nubian Goats For Sale. I sold Pantera to the same people that bought Domino last year.
I didn't take Cameron into the show ring because she does not like it and she does not cooperate. She went to the fair because she likes the people and it is easier to milk her there than to come home twice a day everyday.
Darlene wasn't shown because she did not feel well the day of the show. She was doing much better the day after the show and has fully recovered.
Updated 7/18/05
I clipped Adelaide and Leila and still have Cameron and Pantera left to do. They all look so different after they are clipped.
I have added a few more photos to the Nubian Photo Gallery.
Updated 7/11/05
I keep changing my mind on whether or not I am going to continue with Dairy Goats.
Yesterday, 7/10, I clipped three of my goats in preparation for the fair. I clipped Ashelin, Darlene, & Jezebel. As I was clipping Ashelin, I decided I would like to keep her. As soon as I finished clipping Darlene, I decided I would really like to keep her too.
I don't know exactly what my decision will be at fair time. I will go to the fair with the intention of selling my does, but keep Ashelin and Darlene as the last one's to go. What are the chances of selling seven goats?
Updated 7/08/05
I have now decided to sell all of my dairy goats including Ashelin.
I will be taking all of my does to the Amador County Fair on 7/28 through 7/31. I have entered all of my does in the Registered Purebred Breeding Animals Division. I will be showing Ashelin in the Junior Yearling class. My brother, Jim, and I will show Leila and Pantera in the Intermediate Kid class. Jim, my friend John, and I will show Jezebel, Darlene, and Adelaide in the Junior Kid class and Best any three females class.
Updated 5/31/05
I love my dairy goats and it was not an easy decision, but I am going to downsize my herd. I am selling all of them except for Ashelin. They were all bottle fed and raised and are friendly and loving.
My plan is to breed Ashelin with an outside buck, since Sirus is her Sire, and have her raise her kids. By having her raise her kids, I won't have to milk her twice a day and my mom will still have access to goat milk so she can make cheese, lotion, and soap.
Updated 5/02/05
I sent the registration papers to the American Dairy Goat Association for Annoying Ashelin, Nora's Leila, Nora's Pantera, Cameron's Jezebel, Cameron's Darlene, and Cameron's Adelaide.
The outside doe Sirus bred that was due on 3/27 had triplets. It was her first successful breeding and she had two bucks and one doe.
Since I have several animals that I breed and show, I will be selling some of my dairy goats.
Updated 3/19/05
At the fair last year, I participated in the ADGA Milking contest and Cameron is now a 1*M. On 7/23/04, Cameron was lactating for 19 days. She had 10.6 lbs. milk, 0.41 lbs. Butterfat, and 3.90% Butterfat. She earned her star with a score of 19.0 points.
Our doe, Nora, had twin does on 2/22. The first kid, Leila, was 6 lbs., 8 oz., and the second kid, Pantera, was 7 lbs. They are both cute and healthy.
Our doe, Cameron, had triplet does the early morning of 3/18. The first kid, Jezebel, was 5 lbs, the second kid, Darlene, was 7 lbs., and the third kid, Adelaide, was 5 lbs., 8oz. The first two kids were up and standing right away. I was concerned about the third kid because she didn't try to get up and when we were getting ready to weigh her she let her head hang like she wasn't very strong. After we milked Cameron, we brought the kids into the house and fed them. The third doe ate more than the other two and is now doing great. I will be adding photos within the next few days.
Our buck, Sirus, bred two other does this year. Since we have five does, I am anxious to see what else he produced. The first doe is expecting kids on 3/27 and the second doe is expecting kids on 6/22.