I absolutely love some of the dairy breeds like the Nigerian Dwarf, Nubian, Alpine, Toggs, Oberhasli, Saanen, etc. I like them, they've got nice personalities but I don't think dairy breeds are right for me.
I like Pygmies, Boers, Kikos, Fainters, etc because on dairy breeds it bugs me that you can see ribs and bones. I like my thicker goats much better. It also bugs me that dairy cattle are the same way. Thin animals just bug me too much.
And another reason. There's alot to judge on. The heads, ears, face shape, neck, brisket, legs, feet, rumps, and blending. I suppose it's the same for the Pygmies and Boers but the dairies also are judged on udders. Medials, orfice sizes, milking amounts. There are so many abbrev and *s and +'s and other symbols in their pedigree it gets a bit confusing.
They're also VERY expensive if you want top notch goats.
Not to mention the mane registries. AGS, ADGA, NDGA, NMGA, etc. I don't think I could handle each goat having 2-4 papers per goat.
Boers and Fainters and Silkies also have multiple registries. With Boers there are %, purebred (nearly fullblooded boers, but they'll never be fullblooded), and fullbloods (completely 100% Boer). It's also a bit confusing.
I also must say I've spent lots of time with the bigger dairy goats and I have to say... Of all the breeds I like, my favorites are the Pygmies. They're small, easy to handle, have great attitudes, and reg pygmies don't cost alot (even if they are GREAT in the showring).
Anyway, that's just my two cents worth about the various breeds. And why my herd will ALWAYS be mainly pygmies.
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Pre-Fair Judging!
Pre-Fair Judging for my non-livestock projects was yesterday! :)
I took:
Vet Science 2
Star Spangled Food (yes I know... cooking! my worst talent!)
Creative Writing
I got A's on ALL three! And all perfect scores! I am soooo proud of myself! All three judges had really nice comments and positive things to say about me and my projects! :D Especially the Creative Writing judge!
Should find out if I got anything county wide in a few weeks. I'm not holding my breath though ;) I'm proud that I did as well as I did! :)
Just had to share ;) Will later post pictures of my posters and some of my writings for my creative writing project ;)
And here are a few pictures of my backyard today. I was bored and playing with photo options on my new Droid Incredible 2 :)
Here is another picture (yes I'm full of them today!) Of me with my bottle baby Daisy! :)
And then Billy Goat Co. Mystical Dawn and myself! What a pretty girl!
Tara
Tara's Rowdy Kidz
I took:
Vet Science 2
Star Spangled Food (yes I know... cooking! my worst talent!)
Creative Writing
I got A's on ALL three! And all perfect scores! I am soooo proud of myself! All three judges had really nice comments and positive things to say about me and my projects! :D Especially the Creative Writing judge!
Should find out if I got anything county wide in a few weeks. I'm not holding my breath though ;) I'm proud that I did as well as I did! :)
Just had to share ;) Will later post pictures of my posters and some of my writings for my creative writing project ;)
And here are a few pictures of my backyard today. I was bored and playing with photo options on my new Droid Incredible 2 :)
Here is another picture (yes I'm full of them today!) Of me with my bottle baby Daisy! :)
And then Billy Goat Co. Mystical Dawn and myself! What a pretty girl!
Tara
Tara's Rowdy Kidz
Monday, June 20, 2011
Odds & Ends Updates!
Well, I can't say it's been an easy winter or spring.
On March 16 my Grandad (aka my best friend and my goat business partner) passed away. Anyone who knew him, knew how amazing he was. He had such a love for all animals, I am glad he has passed that onto me. He is very much missed and I will admit, it's been hard for me to keep going with the goats but also my life. Cancer is truly a terrible thing, but he fought long and hard and lived a great 15 months after being diagnosed with stage 4 cancer in his brain, liver, lungs, and lymphnodes. He really was my hero and I miss him very much. Not a day goes by I don't think about him or miss him.
As for the goats, things have been doing alot better than the winter! Still no live babies though. And so far I've sold TreeFrog Pygmies Sugar Baby (back to her original owners) and they also took home Sycamore Creek Pygmies Nutmeg! Thank you Battigs! Hope your happy with them :)
I'm DOWNSIZING! I'm selling a buckling, several PET does, and 1 wether. :) Just too hard for mom and I to handle on our own.
On a side note, I'm welcoming a new show doe to the herd! She is my belated birthday present to myself! (using my b-day money to buy her!) She's a BEAUTIFUL light brown agouti with a bellyband! Her name is Billy Goat Co. Kellie! And she is *hopefully* bred to Miss Jill's handsome silver agouti buck, Burntwood Farms Deacon! :) Thank you SOOO much Jill for selling this gorgeous doe to me! :)
Seems like that's it for now! :) New pictures of everyone coming soon! :)
On March 16 my Grandad (aka my best friend and my goat business partner) passed away. Anyone who knew him, knew how amazing he was. He had such a love for all animals, I am glad he has passed that onto me. He is very much missed and I will admit, it's been hard for me to keep going with the goats but also my life. Cancer is truly a terrible thing, but he fought long and hard and lived a great 15 months after being diagnosed with stage 4 cancer in his brain, liver, lungs, and lymphnodes. He really was my hero and I miss him very much. Not a day goes by I don't think about him or miss him.
As for the goats, things have been doing alot better than the winter! Still no live babies though. And so far I've sold TreeFrog Pygmies Sugar Baby (back to her original owners) and they also took home Sycamore Creek Pygmies Nutmeg! Thank you Battigs! Hope your happy with them :)
I'm DOWNSIZING! I'm selling a buckling, several PET does, and 1 wether. :) Just too hard for mom and I to handle on our own.
On a side note, I'm welcoming a new show doe to the herd! She is my belated birthday present to myself! (using my b-day money to buy her!) She's a BEAUTIFUL light brown agouti with a bellyband! Her name is Billy Goat Co. Kellie! And she is *hopefully* bred to Miss Jill's handsome silver agouti buck, Burntwood Farms Deacon! :) Thank you SOOO much Jill for selling this gorgeous doe to me! :)
Seems like that's it for now! :) New pictures of everyone coming soon! :)
Saturday, February 12, 2011
The Worst Week Of My Life.... :'(
I have been putting up on this update for awhile now (as if I didn't update wouldn't make this all true) but this week we lost a few very important members to our little herd...
Swafford's Sunny Totally Wicked came down with severe hyperthemia. And even after 2 days at the Vet's office he was too sick for them to save. RIP little buddy, you are very sorely missed.
1-13-09 to 2-5-11
Then after a very tramatic delivery for K&J Pygmies Isabella where neither of kids survived she suffered severe nerve damage, leaving her paralyzed. After the help of our wonderful Vets in Bellevue, babies and momma couldn't be saved :'(
For those whom don't know, Isabella was one of the first goats I've ever known and she was one of the prettiest caramel does I'd ever seen and was a very sweet and a VERY very special doe to me. It killed me to know that she'd passed away after a short 2 day fight.
I'm finding it very hard to keep going with my goats. Thinking about selling out? I guess it may be for the best if I could find good homes for the majority of my goaties. I only have 3 of the original 5 of my original herd. Kookie, Andy, and Riley.
I am not making this decision in vain or heartache, although they do affect it. I just want to do what's best for my goats and maybe now is not the time or place for me to manage my herd. Maybe it's not ment to be. Maybe I'll just start over after I complete Vet school and live on a farm of my own....
Maybe I just need guidance? Or maybe I'm just confused...
Either way, RIP my Sweet Isabella. You are over the rainbow bridge with your babies and buddies Buster Bar and Crystal now, waiting for me someday. <3
1-11-07 to 2-9-11
I will miss you very much Bella and I will never forget you...
And Wicked, I'm not even sure I can begin with the guilt I feel for loosing you. And Isabella... :'( I love you both very much.
Tara
Swafford's Sunny Totally Wicked came down with severe hyperthemia. And even after 2 days at the Vet's office he was too sick for them to save. RIP little buddy, you are very sorely missed.
1-13-09 to 2-5-11
Then after a very tramatic delivery for K&J Pygmies Isabella where neither of kids survived she suffered severe nerve damage, leaving her paralyzed. After the help of our wonderful Vets in Bellevue, babies and momma couldn't be saved :'(
For those whom don't know, Isabella was one of the first goats I've ever known and she was one of the prettiest caramel does I'd ever seen and was a very sweet and a VERY very special doe to me. It killed me to know that she'd passed away after a short 2 day fight.
I'm finding it very hard to keep going with my goats. Thinking about selling out? I guess it may be for the best if I could find good homes for the majority of my goaties. I only have 3 of the original 5 of my original herd. Kookie, Andy, and Riley.
I am not making this decision in vain or heartache, although they do affect it. I just want to do what's best for my goats and maybe now is not the time or place for me to manage my herd. Maybe it's not ment to be. Maybe I'll just start over after I complete Vet school and live on a farm of my own....
Maybe I just need guidance? Or maybe I'm just confused...
Either way, RIP my Sweet Isabella. You are over the rainbow bridge with your babies and buddies Buster Bar and Crystal now, waiting for me someday. <3
1-11-07 to 2-9-11
I will miss you very much Bella and I will never forget you...
And Wicked, I'm not even sure I can begin with the guilt I feel for loosing you. And Isabella... :'( I love you both very much.
Tara
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Gotta Love Winter....
Ohio got dumped on today! Thick heavy snow means no school for me today! So I did chores and *barely* got in the barns for chores! The doors were FROZEN!
I did get in and got everyone fed. Thanks to my mom and my grandma the goaties were warm (since they bedded them down for me when I was at school yesterday). A few buckets were frozen but I went ahead and changed them all since my goaties like their fresh water in the mornings! And I just gotta say thank God for the running water in our barn! And I'm even more thankful that the pipes didn't freeze overnight!
I'll have to get some pictures of the snow tonight once I find my camera. It's DEEP and a PAIN in the butt but it's sooo beautiful!!
Except for the fact that I *of course* so happened to have Isabella bred and due to kid when NW Ohio is having the largest snowstorm of the year!!! **smacks self** So I guess I'll be having some snow babies soon... Just hope Isabella holds out till next week when the road conditions won't be so bad.
Everyone's alive and well (thankfully). We haven't lost anyone to pneumonia this year (like we lost my two bucks last year). We did however loose a very sweet and much loved doe a few weeks back to due genetic inbreeding; which is a great reminder to all you breeders out there NOT to inbreed and linebreed when you don't know what you're doing with the lines. **Please note that I did not breed this doe, but I purchased her. On her sire's side there's an animal which is a cousin on her mom's side.
I guess that should be a lesson well learned for you all...
Have a nice snowy day! :)
Tara
I did get in and got everyone fed. Thanks to my mom and my grandma the goaties were warm (since they bedded them down for me when I was at school yesterday). A few buckets were frozen but I went ahead and changed them all since my goaties like their fresh water in the mornings! And I just gotta say thank God for the running water in our barn! And I'm even more thankful that the pipes didn't freeze overnight!
I'll have to get some pictures of the snow tonight once I find my camera. It's DEEP and a PAIN in the butt but it's sooo beautiful!!
Except for the fact that I *of course* so happened to have Isabella bred and due to kid when NW Ohio is having the largest snowstorm of the year!!! **smacks self** So I guess I'll be having some snow babies soon... Just hope Isabella holds out till next week when the road conditions won't be so bad.
Everyone's alive and well (thankfully). We haven't lost anyone to pneumonia this year (like we lost my two bucks last year). We did however loose a very sweet and much loved doe a few weeks back to due genetic inbreeding; which is a great reminder to all you breeders out there NOT to inbreed and linebreed when you don't know what you're doing with the lines. **Please note that I did not breed this doe, but I purchased her. On her sire's side there's an animal which is a cousin on her mom's side.
I guess that should be a lesson well learned for you all...
Have a nice snowy day! :)
Tara
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Poor Isabella....
Look at my poor girl! I wasn't kidding when I said she was HUGE!!! Fingers crossed that everything goes well... She still has about a week or longer till her 145 (I lost her dates when my old phone broke!!! >:(
Just REALLY hoping everything goes well...
Those kiddos in there are FIESTY! They move on a regular basis...Somedays she'll be WIDE the other days she'll be super deep!
And I feel them kicking on a regular basis! That's one of the coolest things in the world, to feel the little babies kicking <3
Can't wait for kiddos (HOPEFULLY). I just want an easy delivery...Once I make it to the June breedings I'll be ok. Just a little nervous with the weather being bad and with me in school. I really really really don't want anything to happen.
Can y'all tell I'm a worried mess!?
I'm pulling my hair out anxiously! I wonder if my mom would mind if we kept her in our garage at home?! It has heat..............
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Isabella's Getting Close!!
My first kiddos of the year are going to be from my first registered doe, K&J Pygmies Isabella (medium caramel w/ bellyband)!
She's my girl!! Love her to death, she's such a sweetheart. Her FF she kidded with triplets, and she's HUGE this time! Just as big, if not bigger, than last time! Praying desperately for an easy kidding.
She is expecting my first set of kids from 2xGCH Beech Creek Elite At-Apach (caramel). Pach lived down south for most of his life, soaking up the sun and winning pretty ribbons! He also sired about 32 kids while in Florida.... Plus a ton more that have not been registered!
She's due around Feb 3 (lost the dates when my phone got replaced) but she had been bred on Sept 11 (I just remembered all of a sudden!)
So anxious to see what I get as she is HUGE!!! (Bigger than when she had her massive trips 2 years ago!). Would just love a doeling, but will take healthy kids with an easy delivery...That would mean more to me than the world right now.
Doeling Retained (?)
Doeling Reserved: AF
Buckling Reserved: HT
Wether Reserved: ER
Wether Reserved: KM
Still taking one more doeling reservation as well!
Just praying for an easy delivery!
The proud parents! :) K & J Pygmies Isabella and 2xGCH & 3xRGCH Beech Creek Elite At-Apach!
She's my girl!! Love her to death, she's such a sweetheart. Her FF she kidded with triplets, and she's HUGE this time! Just as big, if not bigger, than last time! Praying desperately for an easy kidding.
She is expecting my first set of kids from 2xGCH Beech Creek Elite At-Apach (caramel). Pach lived down south for most of his life, soaking up the sun and winning pretty ribbons! He also sired about 32 kids while in Florida.... Plus a ton more that have not been registered!
She's due around Feb 3 (lost the dates when my phone got replaced) but she had been bred on Sept 11 (I just remembered all of a sudden!)
So anxious to see what I get as she is HUGE!!! (Bigger than when she had her massive trips 2 years ago!). Would just love a doeling, but will take healthy kids with an easy delivery...That would mean more to me than the world right now.
Doeling Retained (?)
Doeling Reserved: AF
Buckling Reserved: HT
Wether Reserved: ER
Wether Reserved: KM
Still taking one more doeling reservation as well!
Just praying for an easy delivery!
The proud parents! :) K & J Pygmies Isabella and 2xGCH & 3xRGCH Beech Creek Elite At-Apach!
Saturday, January 1, 2011
2010 Buyers!
Thanks you to our 2010 buyers! The list goes as follows!:
2010 has been a great selling year! I have found awesome homes for all my available goaties this year!
First, I must thank Joe Perry of Perry Tent Rental in Fremont Ohio for purchasing my market wether, Gambler at the 2010 Sandusky County Fair.
And for those who purchased my Pygmies; thank you sooo much for spoiling them rotten! :) I know they all got GREAT homes so thank you to:
Scott and Jonell of S-J Farms
Ellie Rife
Shelby Morehart
Bloom family
Kadie Myers
Sold 8 Pygmies this year! 1 buck, 3 does, and 5 wethers!
Thank you again Tara's Rowdy Kids customers! And if you're looking to purchase for next year, contact me soon! :) Kids arriving Feburary-June of 2011.
2010 has been a great selling year! I have found awesome homes for all my available goaties this year!
First, I must thank Joe Perry of Perry Tent Rental in Fremont Ohio for purchasing my market wether, Gambler at the 2010 Sandusky County Fair.
And for those who purchased my Pygmies; thank you sooo much for spoiling them rotten! :) I know they all got GREAT homes so thank you to:
Scott and Jonell of S-J Farms
Ellie Rife
Shelby Morehart
Bloom family
Kadie Myers
Sold 8 Pygmies this year! 1 buck, 3 does, and 5 wethers!
Thank you again Tara's Rowdy Kids customers! And if you're looking to purchase for next year, contact me soon! :) Kids arriving Feburary-June of 2011.
Long Time, No Talk....
Sorry for not talking.... My life has gotten a bit busy to update much lately. School, band, and homework (plus farmwork) has been demanding alot of time this past year. So as part of the new year, one of my resolutions is to keep the blog 100% up to date at all times! Starting now!
For August kiddings we ended up have 1 doe and 3 bucklings. We ended up keeping Scar-Bar-O Ranch Ava and Beech Creek Elite John Henry's black buckling, Tara's Rowdy Kids Mr. Magic!
As for Billy Goat Co. Leighanna's accidental breeding...She was terrified of her babies and wouldn't take care of them so I had some cute little bottle babies! Tara's Rowdy Kids Oopsie Daisy and her brother Wicked Twister. Sadly, Twister was never quite right, and didn't live to be more than a mere month old despite the help of many wise goat friends and my family and I's efforts. Our little boy had come so far, it still breaks my heart to have lost him. But because of his short little life, I have learned alot. RIP little Twister, we all miss you <3 :'(
...............
On a lighter note; Sandusky County Fair also came and gone in late August. The goats all showed GREAT! And Tara's Rowdy Kids did AWESOME in the 4-H show! Here are the full results!
4-H show results:
(they only placed 1-3)
Int Showmanship...Sycamore Creek Pygmies Nutmeg and I placed 3rd.
Gary the Gamblin' Goat (Boer Market Overweight) - np
Tara's Rowdy Kids Sweet Divinity (Sr Doe Kid) - 2nd placeTara's Rowdy Kids Sparklin' Topaz (Sr Doe Kid owned by Ellie Rife) - 3rd place
Tara's Rowdy Kids Aurora (Sr Doe Kid) - NP
Tara's Rowdy Kids Rebel Angel (Jr Dry Yearling) - 2nd
Tara's Rowdy Kids Chocolate Legacy (Jr Dry Yearling) - 1st
Sycamore Creek Pygmies Nutmeg (Sr Dry Yearling) - NP, large class
Springwater Farms Miss Karina (freshened 2-3) - 2nd
Desert Suns American Style (freshened 3-5) - 1st, Reserve Senior Champion, Reserve Grand Champion Doe Overall!!!!
Tara's Rowdy Kids Eric's Rebel (wether under 1) - 2nd
Lil's Little Kids Winston (wether 3 and up) - 1st and Grand Champion Pygmy Wether overall!!!
TreeFrog Pygmies Musketeer (wether 3 and up) - np
Level 2 Pack: Lil's Little Kids Winston and I placed 3rd (despite the fact that Riley flopped down in the pool! LOL!
So I had a great time with my friends and goaties at the fair! It was a great time as usual! And pretty cool cause I got 2 trophys this year!
But it was a bit heartbreaking, as I had to say a permanent goodbye to my much loved Market Goat, Gambler. He was a very special goat, probably one of my favorites and he will forever be sorely missed. Thank you to Joe Perry for purchasing him from me.
.............
Fall breedings have started, without much success. I still am not seeming to be able to get TreeFrog Pygmies Sugar Baby or Springwater Farms Karina to settle. Really disappointing :(
I think so far I've only got two does bred...
K&J Pygmies Isabella to 2xGCH Beech Creek Elite At-Apach
and Isabella's daughter:
Tara's Rowdy Kids Rosalie to 3xRGCH Beech Creek Elite John Henry
Isabella should be kidding in Febuary and her daughter Rosie hopefully should be kidding in April!
I still have about 6 or so does to breed for June. 5 registered and 1 grade doe! Should have a busy June! ;)
...............
Well I hope you all have had a Happy Holiday season!
Love to all,
Tara
For August kiddings we ended up have 1 doe and 3 bucklings. We ended up keeping Scar-Bar-O Ranch Ava and Beech Creek Elite John Henry's black buckling, Tara's Rowdy Kids Mr. Magic!
As for Billy Goat Co. Leighanna's accidental breeding...She was terrified of her babies and wouldn't take care of them so I had some cute little bottle babies! Tara's Rowdy Kids Oopsie Daisy and her brother Wicked Twister. Sadly, Twister was never quite right, and didn't live to be more than a mere month old despite the help of many wise goat friends and my family and I's efforts. Our little boy had come so far, it still breaks my heart to have lost him. But because of his short little life, I have learned alot. RIP little Twister, we all miss you <3 :'(
...............
On a lighter note; Sandusky County Fair also came and gone in late August. The goats all showed GREAT! And Tara's Rowdy Kids did AWESOME in the 4-H show! Here are the full results!
4-H show results:
(they only placed 1-3)
Int Showmanship...Sycamore Creek Pygmies Nutmeg and I placed 3rd.
Gary the Gamblin' Goat (Boer Market Overweight) - np
Tara's Rowdy Kids Sweet Divinity (Sr Doe Kid) - 2nd placeTara's Rowdy Kids Sparklin' Topaz (Sr Doe Kid owned by Ellie Rife) - 3rd place
Tara's Rowdy Kids Aurora (Sr Doe Kid) - NP
Tara's Rowdy Kids Rebel Angel (Jr Dry Yearling) - 2nd
Tara's Rowdy Kids Chocolate Legacy (Jr Dry Yearling) - 1st
Sycamore Creek Pygmies Nutmeg (Sr Dry Yearling) - NP, large class
Springwater Farms Miss Karina (freshened 2-3) - 2nd
Desert Suns American Style (freshened 3-5) - 1st, Reserve Senior Champion, Reserve Grand Champion Doe Overall!!!!
Tara's Rowdy Kids Eric's Rebel (wether under 1) - 2nd
Lil's Little Kids Winston (wether 3 and up) - 1st and Grand Champion Pygmy Wether overall!!!
TreeFrog Pygmies Musketeer (wether 3 and up) - np
Level 2 Pack: Lil's Little Kids Winston and I placed 3rd (despite the fact that Riley flopped down in the pool! LOL!
So I had a great time with my friends and goaties at the fair! It was a great time as usual! And pretty cool cause I got 2 trophys this year!
But it was a bit heartbreaking, as I had to say a permanent goodbye to my much loved Market Goat, Gambler. He was a very special goat, probably one of my favorites and he will forever be sorely missed. Thank you to Joe Perry for purchasing him from me.
.............
Fall breedings have started, without much success. I still am not seeming to be able to get TreeFrog Pygmies Sugar Baby or Springwater Farms Karina to settle. Really disappointing :(
I think so far I've only got two does bred...
K&J Pygmies Isabella to 2xGCH Beech Creek Elite At-Apach
and Isabella's daughter:
Tara's Rowdy Kids Rosalie to 3xRGCH Beech Creek Elite John Henry
Isabella should be kidding in Febuary and her daughter Rosie hopefully should be kidding in April!
I still have about 6 or so does to breed for June. 5 registered and 1 grade doe! Should have a busy June! ;)
...............
Well I hope you all have had a Happy Holiday season!
Love to all,
Tara
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