Herdsire Qualifications - DNA testing

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Looking at a herdsire and deciding what should or shouldn't stay intact etc... If you can retain enough does from a particular buck and then you see what that buck does and you know what the doe is doing then your have a better idea of what the buck can do. When you see what you are looking for then that is a buck you may want to keep intact.

The pics from my earlier post show how improvement was made- that same buck the following year was bred to that same doe.
This is a FF udder. different kid same parents.

Unfortunately the pic isn't great - as most goats about to be milked like to squat a bit and spread their legs out so it is easier to milk... so in this her back legs are spread way apart but you can still see the attachment is good- far superior to the dam's. The udder floor is higher, the attachment tighter, better medial, teats are long... although a bit flaring to outside... yet it is a FF udder. With more capacity from 2nd and 3rd udders the teats should sit a bit better.
Peeps udder.JPG
Sadly the buck that improved these udders died from a heart issue. He had a heart issue when we bought him, we found out after buying him... What is worse is we never got to put him over any of our registered does.
Unregistered goats are IMO still worth trying to make improvements on... doing your best to improve on what you have is not contingent on reg or unregisterd animals- you can learn so much.

The LA, Production stats, maybe even show wins... ARE important. There is no discounting that. The animals doing well in those areas generally will be more expensive- understandably so. There is much that a breeder has put into those goats. I don't want it to come across that I don't think those things matter. They absolutely do.
However, the majority of goat owners are not doing those things, don't know how to look at those stats and many can not afford pricey bucks for a few backyard milkers. Yet they are going to need bucks to breed their does.
 

lalabugs

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I see what you're showing. Both does have great improvement because of the buck.

If honey has any does, we plan to keep at least 1. We have not decided on Marshmallow. We will have to purchase a new buck for any does retained, as we only have scooby. He's the sire to all of the babies. Except pumpkin, her babies will be mini manchas. We have not decided on Pumpkins either.

Willow will not be staying, she's going to my sister. My kids hate her milk. They love Nigerian milk. We're really hoping that they will like the mini manchas milk. That will be a huge factor into what kids we will retain.

I need to get pictures of the does udders once they kid. Honey has no fore udder attachment. She has a pocket.

Here is honeys full pedigree. I had to do some researching and input in information from goats that are ags registered. I did not add any of the stars or anything, just the names so I could calculate when breeding her.

HOney Pedigree.png
 

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The Rosasharn goats are beautiful... love them :love but we do not think the style will mesh with our type goat. The Rosasharn goats have a very locked in type. I can't wait to see what you have! :)

Something we have noticed on some of the well known lines are the capacious udders... I also notice that on many goats with these huge capacious udders the teats are below the hock. Capacious doesn't always mean production.... it can but not always. I don't like teats below the hock.
I can't put pics up because they aren't my pics but sometimes these real full capacious udders don't always have the best attachments... I saw a pic of a doe recently that scored a 90EEEV.. the pic was just at a normal fill time-she did not have that show fill udder ... no way, I couldn't believe it. I could put my whole foot between the vulva and the escutcheon. :\
I often see side udder shots and rear, or both... but what about that foreudder? Like you mentioned ... that is important too.

I like high and tight. I like when you milk a goat and you go where is she storing all this milk? :D
 
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Daxigait

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Do you guys have suggestions on resources for studying confirmation? I need one with good descriptions and diagrams/pictures. I am just beginning to learn.
 

lalabugs

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Honey produced 5 cups being milked twice a day as a 4F. I do not know what a Nigerian should produce, to be considered a good milker. Her milk is delicious though. She's also a super sweet goat, everyone is attached to her.

I have seen some really horrible attachment. We went and looked at a Nubian. They were selling Dam and her quads. The dams udder was almost dragging the ground! It was horrible!

I will post pictures in my kidding thread once she kids with udder pictures. Along with Willow & Marshmallow. I would love all thoughts on udders and how to improve.
 

Southern by choice

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Honey produced 5 cups being milked twice a day as a 4F. I do not know what a Nigerian should produce, to be considered a good milker. Her milk is delicious though. She's also a super sweet goat, everyone is attached to her.

I have seen some really horrible attachment. We went and looked at a Nubian. They were selling Dam and her quads. The dams udder was almost dragging the ground! It was horrible!

I will post pictures in my kidding thread once she kids with udder pictures. Along with Willow & Marshmallow. I would love all thoughts on udders and how to improve.

Wonder if we should do another thread about udders and improvements. I know @Green Acres Farm started this as herdsire qualifications- and it has taken a few turns... but good info anyway. Whatcha think @Green Acres Farm
 

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