September 1.2013

Well it certainly has been a while since we have updated our blog.   It has been a difficult year in many ways.  Cutting back has been difficult as these goats are really our babies!  We have had family health problems that has also made us realize that we needed to cut back.  Our son was recently diagnosed with ALS ( Lou Gehrig's disease) for which there is no cure. 

We had a bad kidding season battling some type of enterotoxemia and lost several of our nice Toggenburg kids including our Spotlight Sale Nomination.   Fine at last check at night and gone in the morning !  Really devastating.  Thinking of what we can do different to prevent this for next year.  Most of the kids that were affected were born in May so we have decided not to breed after November this year,  Seems the kids do much better who were born early.

We have a few Alpines left.  SGCH Waiilatpu Gabe's Cherubim left us after kidding this year.  She was a lovely old doe  and is missed.  We did breed one of Christel's Alpines,  Lainey to Zeus before he left and have two little does.   They are staying as Glen does like his Alpine babies.  

The last of our Lamanchas left us today and crossed over the Rainbow Bridge.  CH Welbian Farm's Sweetie Pie.  Our  Lamancha herd has come to an end.   I know we will miss them.

We are very pleased with our young Toggenburg herd.  They mostly come from our Madison line.  Madison is still going strong and will be 14 in March!  Her daughter Maddie will be bred to Rendezvous .  We hope to do some AI breedings this year including Whinchezter, Walker Farm Honor System, and perhaps Stonybrook Cavalier.  These past few years have been a rebuilding time for us and we really like our Rendezvous daughters.   He is throwing such consistency and lovely mammaries.

We were thrilled when our Oberhasli buck Udderly Crazy Holy Roller LA 92 EEE!  He has produced some lovely kids for us.  His 2 year old daughters from his breeding to CH Welbian Farm's Hot to Trot have done very well this year as 1st freshening two year olds.  Both have earned championship legs.  Our Oberhasli herd is small and stem mostly from Hot to Trot and CH Sparkling Acres Dixie Sunshine.  We used Devonshire Finite Moment this year are very pleased with the kids from his breedings.  All have lovely general appearance.   Thank you to Dave and Sally Graybill for letting him come for a visit!  We sadly lost Sir Echo Bricker's Ritz to some type of anaphylactic shock .  We are fortunate to have one yearling daughter from him that is lovely.  Thank you Sandy for sending him to us.

Our last breed is the Saanens.  I have really come to like these animals.  They are just awesome!  Lotus LA 92, Serenity LA 91, Lucy LA 91 , and Sarah LA90. Tranquility (RG) LA 90.Ad Lib LA87 (1st Freshening 2 year old), Iris LA 86 (yearling) and Harmony (RG)LA 85 (yearling).  Macabee has given us some lovely daughters.   Our new Junior Herdsire Loughlin;s Duncan was used only a few times but we do like what he has produced.  I never thought I would see so many white does in the barn!!

We will only be breeding between 20 and 25 does this year.   All 11  doe kids that we are keeping will be kept as dry yearlings .    We are presently milking 15 does and enjoying the lesser work load.
Now the fun begins to work out our breedings plans.   We have not been to very many shows this year but do hope to make the National Show next year in Kentucky.

We are fortunate to still have Michael with us as he is such a helper and loves to go over those pedigrees!!

I am in the process of updating the website and will get the projected breedings on as soon as we make the decisions.

Hope everyone has a wonderful fall !

Donna, Glen , and Michael