Advice on Nigerian doeling price given?

LilPutt

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Hi - we are first on the list for a local reputable breeder in our area, selling registered Nigerians. I've followed the farm/small herd for the last year and had many conversations with the breeder, she's great. We were expecting to pay $400-$450 per doeling kid initially, but she did make me aware that the kids expected in Feb from two does will be $550. This is because the two does were LA'd. One is FF, so wasn't evaluated on the milk side of things, the other is SF. Both of them scored +VVV 85. I don't mind paying more for quality since I imagine its work to build up a quality herd, but just want to know if this price is appropriate given their LA scores (or perhaps worth it just because they have a score)? Is there other questions I should ask? I'm very new at this, and the LA portion and valuing the kids from a herd is still something I'm not confident in. The breeder seems wonderful, I don't think she would take advantage but I figure its always worth getting some advice just in case I may be overpaying. That's definitely the highest price I've seen in my area so far (again, still new to the community though, and not everyone has a good reputation either...). Appreciate any thoughts/advice!!
 

Southern by choice

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@Goat Whisperer is more knowledgeable on LA scores than I am.
But-

1st and 2f got the same score of +VVV85 you do not have milk production info... assuming these are 1-2 or 2-3 year olds those are very good scores for 1stf , 2f Nigerian.
Now, some farms wouldn't have those scores in their herd.... all the way to another farm having a 4 yr old score similar and sold her for $1800.
Whoever bought that goat for $1800 bought a name and nothing more.
Most any farm would like those scores for a 1st, 2nd freshener and the linear should go up with age....
When it comes to Nigerians the pricing is ALL OVER THE MAP! Seriously. Your neck of the woods that may be very reasonable... my neck, some try but few will get that.
Sometimes it depends on the herd and how long they have been breeding and the consistency of the herd.

IOW if you looked at Castle Rock Farm (since they are in CA I'll use them as an example) They have many many years with a very large herd with very consistent LA scores across the board, milktest, show mins, National CH, etc.... it isn't a few goats out of the herd... it is the whole herd and years of it. They can easily charge that out of a FF. They have beautiful goats.
Another herd that may not be as established and has a few nice goats, milkstars, and some show wins usually can't.... because they lack whole herd consistency.... they may get that for their top doe but not all goats and no way a FF or 2ndF.

If you are comfortable with the breeder, like their animals, and feel they give the support you need then I would go for it.
Just make sure they are tested, at a minimum CAE... Johnes and CL are preferable.
 

OneFineAcre

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A total score of 85-89 is Very Good
90 and above is excellent
If you are buying a kid then the dam is only half the equation
The sire is the other half
It would be a little pricey here but markets are different
I would say that its not an exhorbitantly high price at all some farms sell for much higher prices
If it is a reputable farm ( clean tested for CAE, CL and Johnees) and you are comfortable with them and they will offer continuing support then its fair
I got a new buck kid this year from Maryland and he was much more than that
 

LilPutt

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@Goat Whisperer is more knowledgeable on LA scores than I am.
But-

1st and 2f got the same score of +VVV85 you do not have milk production info... assuming these are 1-2 or 2-3 year olds those are very good scores for 1stf , 2f Nigerian.
Now, some farms wouldn't have those scores in their herd.... all the way to another farm having a 4 yr old score similar and sold her for $1800.
Whoever bought that goat for $1800 bought a name and nothing more.
Most any farm would like those scores for a 1st, 2nd freshener and the linear should go up with age....
When it comes to Nigerians the pricing is ALL OVER THE MAP! Seriously. Your neck of the woods that may be very reasonable... my neck, some try but few will get that.
Sometimes it depends on the herd and how long they have been breeding and the consistency of the herd.

IOW if you looked at Castle Rock Farm (since they are in CA I'll use them as an example) They have many many years with a very large herd with very consistent LA scores across the board, milktest, show mins, National CH, etc.... it isn't a few goats out of the herd... it is the whole herd and years of it. They can easily charge that out of a FF. They have beautiful goats.
Another herd that may not be as established and has a few nice goats, milkstars, and some show wins usually can't.... because they lack whole herd consistency.... they may get that for their top doe but not all goats and no way a FF or 2ndF.

If you are comfortable with the breeder, like their animals, and feel they give the support you need then I would go for it.
Just make sure they are tested, at a minimum CAE... Johnes and CL are preferable.
Thank you so much! I don't think this farm has that kind of herd consistency, though she's clearly working toward it by at least using her LA and starting to retain some of her best kids that were produced by her goats. Any of her goats that were LA'd seemed to have very good scores though, and she's been honest in the past when selling poor performers (that showed some responsibility and character that I appreciated). I will def double check they are tested! Thank you for the advice and yes, clearly the pricing can be all over!
 

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