• January 2023 – Final Milk Test results for 2022 lactation:
  • Wilma: Earned *M in butterfat & protein, *D in weight & butterfat
    • Son Chris inherits *S
  • Vera: Earned *M in butterfat & protein, *D in weight & butterfat
  • Sugar-Monster: Earned *M AR in weight, BF, protein, and *D in weight & BF
    • Son Sebastian inherits *B and *S
  • Persephone: Earned *M AR in weight, BF, protein, and *D in weight & BF
    • Son Uhtred inherits *B and *S
  • Kamei: Earned *M AR in butterfat & protein, *D in weight & butterfat
  • Eevee: Earned *M AR in butterfat & protein, *D in butterfat

• December 2022 – Christmas Day Milk Test stats updates:
  • Wilma: Same as below, now dry. Needed only 18 lbs for ADGA. 🙁 Darn!!
    • Chris inherits *S
  • Vera: Same as below
  • Sugar-Monster: Same as below + AR. Needs 6 lbs for ADGA
    • Sebastian inherits *S
  • Persephone: Same as below + AR. Needs 23 lbs for ADGA
    • Uhtred inherits *S
  • Kamei: Qualifies in butterfat & protein AR ADGA, milk weight & butterfat AGS
  • Eevee: Qualifies in butterfat ADGA

• November 2022 – Current Milk Test stats updates:
  • Wilma: Qualifies for butterfat & protein AR ADGA, milk weight & butterfat AGS
  • Vera: Same as below, now dry
  • Sugar-Monster: Same as below
  • Persephone: Qualifies in butterfat & protein ADGA, milk weight & butterfat AGS
  • Kamei: Qualifies in butterfat & protein ADGA, butterfat AGS

• October 2022 – Current Milk Test stats:
  • Wilma: Qualifies in butterfat and protein ADGA (again), milk weight AGS
  • Vera: Qualifies in butterfat and protein ADGA, milk weight and butterfat AGS
  • Sugar-Monster: Qualifies in butterfat and protein ADGA, milk weight and butterfat AGS
  • Persephone: Qualifies in butterfat and protein ADGA, butterfat AGS
  • Kamei: Qualifies in butterfat ADGA, butterfat AGS

• October 2022 – So last year I signed up and paid for ADGA DHIR Herd Testing. I took the supervisor training class and test to get certified. With Wilma kidding so early, I did my first milk test on 28 February… Now that it’s October, it feels like an eternity of milking. Lol. Anyway, I’ve done my part: Filled out the forms, paid the fees, sent the samples, paid the lab and the database company, got the verification test, etc. Now that I am nearing the end of this year’s tests and appear to have does who have earned their Milk Stars, I am told by ADGA that “Due to the incomplete programming of the new computer system, we are not able to give qualifying animals their awards at this time.” Really? So I have put in all this time, effort, and expense to be in this program but my does won’t even get their awards?!? 🤬 From the 2022 ADGA Guidebook:
  • GENERAL RULES
    a. ADGA recognizes production on pedigrees through designation of *M for does, and *B and +B for bucks based on meeting minimum criteria either through Advanced Registry (AR) based on DHIR, or the Star program (ST) based on Owner Sampler production testing. One-day competitions, progeny recognition, or acknowledgment of approved non-ADGA DHI programs. The program designation (AR or ST) is included with the *M on the pedigree. (Emphasis added.)
• My job is to jump through all the designated hoops. ADGA’s job is to “recognize” my hard work as well as the does’ on their pedigrees. I have done my part, but ADGA is not doing theirs. In fact, Wilma qualified for Milk Stars in butterfat and protein last year (2021). Yet the registration certificates that were just issued for her offspring do not show her Milk Stars! It is one thing for a company or organization to have a “computer glitch”. Sure, it happens. But haven’t they been having major computer problems for well over a year now?? Who does that?!? 🙄 Imagine putting in all the work and expense of showing your dog to its championship then having AKC tell you that you get no Champion Certificate or any acknowledgement whatsoever because their computer is messed up… since last year or so??!! Again I ask, WHO DOES THAT?!? 🤦‍♀️
• The point to my ranting and raving, aside from expressing my frustration and disgust, is that I have decided to dual-register my goats with AGS. I have been studying their rules, DHIR info, etc., and am looking forward to working with them. …especially since they (thanks Ms. K!) answer questions in a coherent and timely manner. …plus they actually issue awards to qualifying goats (unlike ADGA). My plan is to continue with ADGA for Linear Appraisals, but do my milk testing through American Goat Society… so I can actually get my awards! ★

• August 2022 – Wow, we lived through linear appraisals!! Being my first time, I felt so unprepared. I was told different things about grooming, yet could not find anything regarding shaving on any ADGA material. Seemed like the boys could use some haircuts anyway, so I started with them. Then instead of using the recommended #10 blade, I went with a #2 on the girls, and mainly did the toplines since most already had smooth summer coats. Well it turns out that no shaving of body or udder is actually necessary or required, so that was good to find out (from the appraiser). I was also concerned about tattoos, but they were all good. The process itself was fascinating to watch. Being an ex-dog show judge, I was super impressed with the appraiser’s decisiveness and efficiency! Although I was very nervous about the appraisal process since it was a completely new experience, the appraiser really put me at ease and it turned out to be an excellent learning process! The scores make sense to me and having this information really adds a great tool for planning future breedings that will improve the herd quality. I’m really grateful to have experienced linear appraisals! Scores are posted on each goat’s page.

• July 2022 – Well, it’s official: The goats are scheduled for linear appraisals in August. Should be fun!

• June 2022 – When the milking parlour was being built, I had already decided that I was tired of digging trenches for power lines. I totally lucked out with Home Depot having an incredible sale on Nature Power’s 200 watt solar panel kit and 500 watt wind generator. I’ve been using the solar panel setup with a marine battery to keep my Milwaukee battery charged up – this runs my Udderly EZ milking machine. The solar panel also powers my Defender PhoenixM2 “goat cams”. The handyman just put up a 20′ steel pole for the wind turbine, and I picked up another marine battery. I’ll get this all hooked together soon. The milking parlour also has a cute solar lamp that comes on every night just in case I need to go in for something. I love having the milking parlour off-grid, not because I’m at all into the “green” movement, but because I do not want to rely on the grid for power.

• What’s in our ‘mineral bar’? The bar started out as a 4×8′ chicken tractor-style structure. But it just wasn’t big enough. So a 6×8′ wing was added on. Currently being offered in the free-choice bar: Kelp, Copper, Zinc, MSM, Sulphur, Ascorbic acid, Molybdenum, Phosphorous, Boron, Anti-parasite herbal mix, Selenium, Iodine, Calcium, Magnesium, Potassium, Silicon, Vitamins B & C, Vitamins A D & E, Cobalt, Iron, Manganese, Acid neutralizer, Alkaline neutralizer, Animal salt, Payback goat minerals. Coming soon: Himalayan salt.

• 22 March 2022 – Finally learned how to use my milking machine! Wilma was the lucky volunteer as I needed to submit the next milk test. I was quite pleased that she made 3.7 lbs in her two milkings.

• 8 February 2022 – Test results from UC Davis: Everyone is negative. Thanks to Dr. Scott Essex for doing the blood draws and checking out my adored goat friends.

• 31 January 2022 – Enjoying watching Wilma’s new babydolls using Defender PhoenixM2 security camera system. It comes with a little monitor that has sound, and was so simple to set up! Mount the camera and plug in camera and monitor. That’s it! I can see and hear mom and babies in the milking parlour. How fun is that!

• 25 January 2022 – Linear Appraisal application paid. Fingers are crossed that it’ll happen this year.

• 12 December 2021 – Took the WA-DHIA Testing Supervisor Certification Training Class. Woo hoo!