In 1998 at the Milam County Junior Livestock Show, our oldest son was showing hogs. During the
show our middle son, John kept disappearing and we would find him watching the market goat show. At
the age of 4, he could tell us who won which class and so on. He fell in love with goats and decided
that he wanted to show goats as his first project the next year. In Milam county the kids can show at
the age of 5 and in Kindergarten. Since I had to sell out my sheep operation several years earlier, I
was anxious and more than willing to raise small ruminants again. So we talked and decided we would purchase
a few goats to raise. I began my internet journey to learn about goats. I found several breeders of
different breeds of goats and the world of internet discussion groups. After a few bad experiences with
one breeder in just trying to learn about their breed, I decided to go with Boers. I also learned that
Boers would be the better choice for show market goats. I made my first purchases with Lazy J Goat Farm
which was 5 percentage does (most PWRK78 Comanche's Sean Connery / Downen Big 85*ennobled breeding).
We made our first buck purchase from Beau Schilling, George West Texas. The buck was 2SIS 37K (Lucky
Seven 95285048 BBGF x Max 94129023 BLEG) who was bred by Powell/Holman. Traditionally colored, he had
a recessive red gene so we got lots of color from his kids. We got very nice kids from the 37K buck with
show winners and nice replacement does. John's first show kid was doe out of him and made the sale at
the Milam County Junior Livestock show in 2000.
Eventually we expanded to over 100 Boer influenced does
today (fullblood and percentage). We also added bucks from Farmer's Stock Exchange, Trueheart Meat Goats,
Allen Farms, Lazy S-T Ranch, Border Boers, CR Ranch - Coni Ross, Texas Goat Flock/Marvin Shurley, and
JABB Goat Company. The bloodlines that we favor as the best producers of wethers are: NBBG Tsjaka *ennobled,
NBBG Hog, Yabu *ennobled, HMR Sumo *ennobled, Mojo Magic *ennobled, Frances *ennobled, Kaptein *ennobled.
We also have other popular lines in our does and bucks such as Eggsfile *ennobled, Top Gun *ennobled,
GAR Aduwa-Sasquatch *ennobled, JLF Pillo *ennobled, SEBG N Botha Highlander 95, Downen Big 85 *ennobled,
Downen Pipeline *ennobled, NK Stud Monkey, NK CEO, 2SIS 324M Bingo *ennobled, Tabu *ennobled, KALR Lightning,
KALR Studly-Dudley, Oscar *ennobled, FSE 0088 Sumo Style *ennobled, Mzuri Rumba, FSE Jiim-0057 *ennobled,
PARM Starman *ennobled. Over all the greatest influence has been advice and does purchased from Coni
Ross in Blanco TX, not to forget the help of Robin Walters of Bar None Meat goats who gave me tips and
locations of so many wonderful animals even selling me some of her show string.
We breed the Boers for show wethers and doe kids. We do sell some breeding stock each year as we cull
annually strictly on the ability to produce sellable show stock. The boys do show in local breeding meat
goat shows with does and doe kids they pick to raise from the herd. They have done very well, winning Grand
Champion, Reserve Champion and numerous class winnings at the Rockdale Fair and Milam County Junior Livestock
Show. We breed the does to kid two times a year, winter (for Fall shows) and late spring/summer (for Spring
shows). We are proud that our show kids have won and placed for their owners at numerous regional shows,
state fairs and county shows
We also ventured into dairy goats to supplement any extra kids and lambs. We started with Nubians but
soon ventured into Alpines, Saanens, LaManchas and Toggenburgs. John wanted to show in the local dairy
breeding shows so he purchased a few show Nubians from Becky Fraley of Bryan TX and eventually purchasing
his first buck in 2005. Holly's interests in Nubians were in flashy spots! The CHJ Valntine's Spot is the
foundation for the spotted Nubians and the Queen of the farm. Quality-Farms and Kris' Kids are the foundation
bloodlines. We also purchased Saanens from Gay Bottoms of Aquilla TX. They are very nice quality with excellent
temperaments that regularly adopt extra kids and lambs without much help. The main foundation bloodline
is the doe Briar Bay SS Fortune Leigh. Gay is most generous in allowing us to purchase show stock from
her. Matthew took interest in the Saanens for show and that is his project now. The Alpines are heavy milkers
of mainly grade Alpines. They are nice easy going girls. David took an interest in Toggenburgs. So he purchased
a couple of show does from Becky Fraley and Totally Toggs of Bryan TX. We also have an aged doe from Brynnestone
Farms, Franklin TX. We added on LaMancha from Elizabeth Pannell to round out the mix.
To help other learn about goats, I founded two internet discussion groups on goats.
The_Boer_Goat is
a fast paced, busy internet discussion group focused on anything Boer plus goat industry topics. In January
2006 the group had over 1650 members world wide. Internet discussion lists are great to learn all aspects
of goat ownership.
Founded in 1999, GoatandSheepRancher was
focused on aspects of raising goats and sheep. This is a general purpose 'G' rated farm/livestock list
with a main emphasis on goats & sheep with over 1200 members worldwide as of January 2006. |
