rachels.haven's Journal

OH! And this morning I discovered there were FF udders starting on both a ND and a Pete sired lamancha. I've got to get those pre kidding vaccines and hoof trims in! I might also need to combine it with some sani and udder shaves too at this rate. I can finally think about that without feeling overwhelmed. I might be finally recovering from this last move. (autocorrect wants to turn "move" to "movie" but honey, that mess was no movie)
 
* currently laying on a heat pad trying to convince my lazy body I'm not a lizard after a day outside in 35 degree weather *

Wow, my journal is really long. I think I'm going to start a new journal for 2026 when it comes.
Today I begun hoof trim and prekid vaccinations. Today I'm starting with ND. I'm also taking samples to test the dwarf goats for congenital myotonia carrier status to send to gensol, assuming I haven't already tested the parents or them as clear via uc Davis/adga earlier.

I'm considering dual registering my ND with my mini registry and sending their milk test records to them. For ADGA it's $70 this year and they haven't awarded or acknowledged any DHIR achievements for at least 5 years, maybe 6 so it's $70 for nothing with a promise of maybe something someday. The mini registry recognizes and awards milk achievements at the end of lactation every year.
The award for lactations are secondary to the records, but if I'm going to pay $70 every year it would be nice if the registry actually made good on their end of the deal. The MDGA plan leaves my Lamanchas out in the cold though. I don't think American Goat Society registers ADGA Lamanchas because the ADGA Lamancha herd book is still open, (the openness of which I wholeheartedly support)...
 
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The ND does are all trimmed and vaccinated.
Some of those poor dwarfies are quite loaded down.
I wrote up a work sheet and checklist for myself for the Lamanchas. Time to get kicked around! (The ones that have been hoof trimmed the most and KNOW are often the worst, so no it's not a training thing) I'm probably going to save the dry stock for last because I decided I'm going to vaccinate them for mastitis despite being dry and I need more vaccine. A bunch of them are going to come into milk and bag up anyway because we're very milky around here. I may also do the Lamancha bucks since they udder up too. I think I can do 2-4 does at a time and get them all done before the new year. The bucks I may need to wait until after rut or it's going to be an explicit rodeo again. But that's all good. I've got my work sheet!
 
Christmas Eve Morning.

Pregnant Lamanchas are done. Now off to the drys-retired Emmi and 7 2025 doe kids.

Oh boy do I have some culling for feet to do once udders are in. I think Pete's feet genetics may not have played nice with my doe's feet genetics. My older original does have nicer feet than his daughters at the young age of almost 2. That's a little disheartening. I'll keep the best, let go of the rest. Yes I went longer between trims than I should have but when my old does feet are still in great shape and the younger does are a mess...It's extra sad because he fixed a lot of other things but feet (and legs) are in the category of things for the goat's comfort and not vanity.

Lamancha feet are totally one of their weak points. That's why crossing them to Nubians is so appealing. It typically fixes that right up and carries for a bit for a few generations from what I understand. It's like alpine rumps/rear legs, saanen feet, Nubian pasterns and inconsistent udders...every breed has issues.
 
Done with the does.
There are a few potential keepers I'm going to be watching as they freshen. A group I was going to let go because the dam had a steeper lactation curve than optimal for me may have actually improved on the dam. I'll keep those. Then the Summer daughter. Two of the four Emmi daughters are as good or slightly better than their dam. Dolce is okay. On the other hand about half of the 2024 does are probably going to go and that is probably going to be okay because we have too many. They will need to homes that trim monthly. Based on their other strengths they're showing so far and the fresh pete daughters udders, I think they'll be loved and cherished anyway. I think most show goats are trimmed monthly to maintain their very upright hoof/pastern shape anyhow. I'm the dork that gets overwhelmed and trims less often and then still expects nice feet that only need an evening out (like Summer, Emmi now that she's mature, and to some extent Dot, who is working on maturing).

One more mastitis vaccine for the preggers in three weeks then we just get to sit back and wait for udders. They'll probably have then by then. I'll take pics.
 
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Merry Christmas!
Best big object lesson day of the year. Everyone celebrates in our own way.
It was silence because everyone but me is a night owl and is sleeping in until after 9 but NOW they're up. I hope everyone else's is as magical as ours.

Oh yes, and lots of milk. Lots of big fat goat kids too.
 
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