The Boer Goat - November/December 2011

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Region 13 Troy Veal, President (EC) tvanveal@yahoo.com Region 8 Ervin Chavana, Vice President /Treasurer (EC) mengercreek@hotmail.com Region 10 Tracy Diefenbach, Secretary (EC) tldief@fairpoint.net Region 5 John Edwards (EC) eggstx@aol.com Region 7 Dennie Clark (EC) hcgoat@hotmail.com Region 12 Paul Kinslow (EC) paul@muellerauctions.net Past PResident Brian Faris (EC) brfaris@ksu.edu Region 1 Terry Brown capriole@pocketinet.com Region 2 Boyd E. Willoughby wbccboers@allwest.net

Region 3 Jeff Gibbs gibbsfarms@aol.com Region 4 Kay Garrett kewlkay@hotmail.com Region 5 Doug Widener dcbwidener@valornet.com Region 6 Kallie York kjkohls13@aol.com Region 9 Vicki Stich Ladyhogger59@hotmail.com Region 11 Scott Hawthorn scott@ cedargrovefarms.com Region 14 John Morrow morrowfarm@aol.com Region 15 Sara Davis csdavis@oakhollowlivestock.com Region 16 Brad Mackey bradmackey@bmackfarms.com *EC denotes Executive Committee member

November/December 2011 Dear ABGA and JABGA Members, As the year draws to a close, we like to reflect on the events that took place in 2011. We had an incredible National Show this year and have seen great success for our members’ operations over the past 12 months.

I’ve had the pleasure to attend many events this year and interact with our members. I look forward to seeing the new crop of genetics from this year’s kidding season and can’t help but get excited thinking about the upcoming year for ABGA as a whole.

We have also begun plans for the 2012 National Show and the board is very excited about all that we have in store for that event. It will be held in Duncan, Oklahoma, June 11-16, 1012, at the Stephens County Fair and Expo Center. Be sure to mark your calendar now as this is a “can’t miss event!”

The first item on the agenda in the ABGA office for 2012 is annual membership renewals. Renewal forms will be sent out this month, so please fill them out and send them back quickly to avoid any inactive member fees. The Board of Directors and the ABGA staff will be working hard to make the 2012 year one of the best yet.

Once again, thank you all for your continued support of ABGA. Sincerely,

1207 S. Bryant Blvd., Suite C | San Angelo, TX 76903 Sandy Smith, Office Manager, sandy@abga.org Mary Ellen Villarreal, Office Operations Supervisor, mary@abga.org Laurie Evans, Administrative Assistant, laurie@abga.org Belinda Constancio, Registration Support Staff, belinda@abga.org Sonia Cervantez, Accounting, sonia@abga.org Dee Ann Torres, Registration Support Staff, deeann@abga.org Aaron Gillespie, Show Coordinator, aaron@abga.org Ignacio Corrales, Registration Support Staff, ignacio@abga.org Miranda Carrillo, Member Services, miranda@abga.org Sherrie Cook, Office Support Staff, sherriec@abga.org

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Troy Veal, President American Boer Goat Association

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Whatever stand an individual breeding farm takes on the new ABGA Breed Standards, understanding and identifying udder and teat development is important.

The new standards will take effect January 1, 2013, which means this year’s doelings will be in the show ring and pastures as first-year production does when the standards go into effect. So it’s time to look over the possibilities.

The American Dairy Goat Association has long defined the perfect goat udder as having a single teat – or handle – on each side, with large openings and good

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milk channel development. With the goal of maximum milk production and ease of extraction, those goals made perfect sense. However, American Boer Goat Association has decided to go with a more traditionally meat-goat mammary gland development, breaking away from the dairy standard.

When it comes to feeding babies, three or four kids need more than two faucets.

In the meat production world, there has long been a controversy about teats and teat function. In Africa, multiple teats were considered an asset as more than two kids could eat at the same time, increasing

survivability on multiple births.

More pounds of kid at weaning is a powerful motivator, but with the mutation that creates a goat udder with more than two faucets comes the problem of teat formation. Unlike a cow, a goat only has two glands to produce milk. Adding additional orifices does not increase the number of glands or milk production, only the number of outlets for the milk.

The mutation for extra teats can cause additional teats to occur anywhere on an udder, and they can come in many shapes and sizes. Often they are a detriment, not

an asset. False or “dummy” teats have no milk channel, but a newborn kid doesn’t know that. Even if the doe only has twins, a kid that latches onto a dummy teat may not survive.

Split teats, cluster teats and “spurs” all complicate that vital first nursing for a kid.

Fishtail teats can have two milk orifices in a wide narrow teat that newborn kids often can’t grasp. Multiple teats can also leak milk and increase the risk of bacteria exposure for both doe and kid.

When selecting replacement doelings, teat and udder structure is important, as the genetically dominant genes will be expressed in the next generation. A doe with a low-quality udder or bad teats will pass that on to a large percentage of her kids.

bad udders and teats if he provides the dominate genes. Stringent culling, careful record keeping and a working knowledge of several generations of stock can help breeders produce does with quality udders and teats to maximize the production potential of their herds.

Don’t forget the buck, however. Bucks provide those genes, too. A doe can create a few doelings with bad udder and teat formation in a year. A buck can sire a whole generation of doelings with

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For many goat producers, December and January are when the kids will start coming, and this usually continues through the late spring to early summer. The weather may not be warm, and preparation and planning will be vital to kids’ health.

Once the doe is moved to where she will kid, it’s time to wait.

The udder may be checked to know when the doe is getting close, but she may have milk (or a milk-like substance) several weeks before she kids.

Producers should start preparing their does to kid several weeks before the actual event. It is helpful to know when does are due, but regardless of the due date, the steps are the same.

KIDDING

PRE-KIDDING Throughout gestation, it is important to maintain proper body condition on does. Any animal that is too thin will have trouble nursing. One that is too fat may have problems giving birth because she’s out of shape, and her internal fat can build up, and taking up needed room for the kid to grow.

As does progress through gestation, the kids grow larger, and the rumen will have less room to expand to allow room for feed.

Does may need to be fed more frequently in smaller amounts, especially if they are in pens with open does who will eat more.

Does generally kid about 150 days after breeding, but that can range from 145-155. If a producer knows the due date, the kidding pen can be set up a few days before the doe hits day 145.

To see a gestational table, turn to page 29.

The pen can be indoors or outside. The doe should have access to a clean, bedded area – preferably on straw – and fresh water and feed. Some producers don’t mind having their does kid with the herd, and others prefer to have their kidding does separate.

That decision is a personal preference.

An advantage to leaving does in the herd: they will not get lonely. One disadvantage is that other does may attempt to steal the kids, although this isn’t common.

Having a doe kid by herself can allow a producer to give the doe more attention. This may also relieve stress on the doe, because she isn’t worried about the other does. However, does that are separated still need a companion in an adjacent pen.

A “kidding kit” should also be prepared, including all the necessary supplies for kidding. This includes, but is not limited to examination gloves, lube, iodine, towels, scissors, rope, milk replacer and electrolytes.

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It’s finally time for the doe to give birth. Although not every doe will be the same, most does will display some or all of the signs of immanent birth: fleshy tail head, repeatedly getting up and down, vocalization and vaginal discharge. Once the doe has discharge, she will usually kid within the hour. Does may stand up or lie down to give birth.

When the doe is just about to kid, a fluid filled sac will appear.

As the doe continues to push, feet can usually been seen in the sac, followed by the nose.

The kid’s head and shoulders are the widest parts to move through the pelvis. Therefore, the doe’s pushing during this portion may take some time.

However, if it seems to be taking abnormally long, there many be something wrong.

The correct presentation for a kid is front feet first, one slightly ahead of the other, with the head tucked down near them. Kids can be born backwards (breach), but if this is noticed, it is best to pull the kid. If the doe takes too long on a breach kid, the kid could suffocate and die.

Kids can also have one or more front limbs bent back, and a producer will likely need to help the doe deliver kids that are presented this way. Every situation is different.

Once the doe passes the head and shoulders, the rest of the kid usually slides out. If you are there for the birth, clean off the kid’s face and nose, and make sure it is breathing. The doe will usually get up and start cleaning off the kid at this point, as well.

If it is cold and the kidding occurs outside, wipe down the kid with a towel, and move it to shelter. The kid may need to be wrapped in a blanket for warmth. The doe will continue to lick the kid, which is vital to the kid/dam bonding that must occur.

The doe will pass extra fluids after birth. Sometimes, the doe will lick those fluids, instead of the kid, in her attempt to clean up. If you can, clear these fluids away so the doe focuses solely on the kids.

If the doe is carrying multiples, she will stop to have other kids, following the same procedure each time. After the doe has passed all babies, she will then pass the placenta. The doe will likely try to lick or eat the placenta, as well. It is best to discard the placenta, as it may attract predators.

POST-KIDDING After the doe has finished kidding, a few items must be attended to. First, cut the kids’ umbilical cords if they are more than a couple of inches long, then dip the cord into iodine to ward off possible infection.

If possible, stay with the doe and kids until the kids are up and nursing. The first milk produced after birthing, colostrum, contains a concentrated amount of immunoglobulins (IGGs or antibodies), which help the kid to develop immunity. Kids are born with no immunity, and without colostrum, they can become susceptible to disease. It is best that they are nursing within an hour of birth.

If a kid will not get up to nurse, milk the doe, and then feed the kid with a bottle or syringe to ensure it receives colostrum.

Colostrum can also be bought and mixed, if a doe dies during birth or the kid will not take the doe’s milk.

Kids should be monitored the first few days after birth to make sure they are up and moving, nursing from their mothers, and are in good health. Any kid that is weak or shows signs of disease should be evaluated by a veterinarian and treated as needed.

Does may continue to have discharge for a few days after kidding but should clean up shortly. If you had to go into the doe to pull a kid, you may need to give her antibiotics to prevent infection. You may also need to give her electrolytes if she seems lethargic and isn’t drinking water.

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One of the most important issues in rearing a healthy kid is to be sure the doe is treated correctly prior to kidding. If the doe is healthy; then, she is less likely to have problems. She is more likely to have adequate milk, do a better job rearing and mothering her kids.

In our part of the country, goats do better if they are on pasture and supplemented according to stage of pregnancy, body condition, and pasture condition. If does have green small grain fields, they need mineral, salt and maybe some dry hay to slow down that green stuff.

If they are on dry winter pasture, they need more. Adequate minimum nutrition is critical to body condition. If a doe is thin, she may not make enough milk to feed her newborns. If she is too thin, she may abort her pregnancy. Use common sense, and look at the does and their condition.

Two to three weeks prior to the earliest date of expected kidding, I vaccinate does with Covexin-8 (an 8 way Clostridial vaccine that has Enterotoxemia types C&D, and Tetanus, or Calvary 9, a 9 way Clostridial, Super Poly Bac B Somnus (pneumonia vaccine)) and worm them.

An easy way to calculate the earliest kidding date: Mark the date you put the buck in.

Assuming that some doe was bred on that day, you back up 5 days and add 5 months. So, if you put your buck in on October 5th, the earliest expected day for a kid to be full term would be March 1st. Mark your calendar to do this doe care on Feb. 15th or so. This gives adequate time for the doe’s immune system to put antibodies in the colostrum that will protect the kids from infection until they are old enough to vaccinate.

I normally let the does do the work themselves, but invariably, there is a problem, and the real challenge is to save the kids and the does.

Hopefully, the does will rear the kids themselves.

KIDDING AREA

I kid in a small pasture in most cases, so I can keep track of kids, and tag them at birth.

Also, young first time kidders will need watching, in case of kidding problems. Short

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grass is preferable to long grass. If the grass is too long, kids get wet and cold with dew on cold mornings and can become hypothermic.

Young does can lose kids in pastures that have grass that is too long. They should have access to shelter. Cold wet weather is responsible for more kid deaths than any other factor than worms. Nothing is worse in my opinion than kidding in a cold rain.

THE CHILLED KID

In winter, cold and especially cold wet conditions can cause hypothermia in the newborn kid. A newborn’s life depends on two things: getting warm, dry and getting energy (nursing) to survive. If that kid can be out of the wind, a full belly will go a long way toward its survival.

FLAT COLD KID

If possible, I put the kid in a jumbo zip-lock bag, with its head out, and then immerse the kid’s body in hot (110-115 degrees) water. The normal temp for goat’s is 102-103, so water any cooler than 110 feels cold. Do not get the kid wet, as this washes away the maternal birth odor, and may cause mis-mothering, by a confused doe; that doesn’t recognize the new kid, because the odor is gone. I have put a wet chilled down kid in the floor of the truck, and turned the heat on high, with the blower on the floor. A kerosene heater, commonly used in barns and shops will dry one out quickly.

Heated towels or frozen packs warmed in the microwave may be used to warm a kid. If this method is used, be sure to put one hot pack on the kid’s head to wake up his brain. He will respond faster. I give the kid 3-5cc of 50% dextrose by mouth before I put it in the hot water, and usually, the kid will start ‘squeaking’ in 10-15 min. Once the kid is moving around, and making more noises, I tube feed it with 2 oz of its own dam’s colostrum.

ENERGY

As soon as the kid is warm enough to wake up, I put it with the doe, so she can mother it. A stall that is dry is usually enough, as long as out of the wind, but some people use heat lamps.

I never remove a kid from its dam any longer than necessary to make sure it can survive.

If necessary, I tie the doe, and help the kid to nurse. Once the kid knows how to find the teat, it will have a good chance of survival. Cold kids often do not have much suck reflex. If you tickle the kid’s tail, you stimulate the suck reflex, and the kid should root around to hunt for the teat.

I usually tickle the tail, then hold the kid to the teat, put the teat in its mouth, and milk a little colostrum into the mouth. Most kids will begin to suck, even if it can’t stand long. Check to be sure the kid is nursing every few hours. A hungry starved kid is usually humped, hollow, and its tail is down.

Check the doe’s udder to be sure the teats are open. Occasionally, there is a wax plug in the teats that prevents the kids from nursing. You will have to milk that wax plug out. Always assess the udder: Is it soft and pliable? An udder with mastitis may be hard or have hard areas.

The milk may smell bad, or be abnormal in appearance, with blood in it. If so, intervention will be necessary immediately to supplement kids and treat the infection.

Starvation is a major reason for death in a newborn, and some of these chilled down kids are ‘dummies’. If kids are born in extreme cold, getting the kid to nurse immediately is the best possible scenario. I put the doe in a stall, and get the kids on the teat immediately. The suck reflex is very strong within the first 15 minutes of life, so if that kid fills its belly, or at least sucks some, it has a chance of survival with no other intervention.

If a kid is so cold that it is a ‘dummy,’ I usually give it 500mg Thiamin, and 2cc of Penicillin orally, and then 5cc of 50% dextrose oral. This will get the dummy un-dummied pretty fast.

Some people recommend iodine on the umbilicus at birth. I do not do this, as I usually kid in the pasture, and once that umbilicus touches the ground the Iodine is too late. The worry is “navel ill”. In 27 years, I have had 2 cases of Navel Ill, and no iodine was used.

Navel ill is an infection that invades through the umbilical cord at birth. The best preventative is kidding on clean ground. Dirty

barns or lounging areas are the primary vector for infection of all types. The infection invades joint of the knees and hocks causing edema (swelling), and the kid is painfully crippled.

I have posted kids that died of navel ill, and found pus around the heart that was as hard as semi soft plastic.

If the kid with joint ill is not treated aggressively, and promptly, it is permanently stunted and crippled.

GRAFTING KIDS

There are several methods which work. I like to use a dark room. I tie the doe, and allow the kids that need a mother to fill up on her milk. I put the doe and kids in the dark area, and make sure the doe has as much alfalfa and feed as she can eat. The light needs to only be 3-5%. The doe needs to only have enough to barely see the feed, hay and water. I usually catch the doe, and tie her at least twice a day, to allow the kids to fill up. It usually takes only 24-48 hours for the doe to decide the kids are hers. The smell from her milk comes through, and she is isolated in that dark room with no other company. Goats are herd animals, and if the only company she has is that set of kids, she will bond faster to them. After all, there are ‘goat eating monsters’ in the dark.

Another method that works: you have a dead kid, and a doe that needs a kid, so you decide to graft a triplet to the doe with no kid.

The dead kid can be skinned, and the hide put on the graftee. I usually cut the head and legs off of the hide, but leave the tail. I make slits in the hide to put the kid’s legs through. Put the kid with the doe that will be its mother, and if necessary, tie her until the kid is full.

Usually, it only takes 24-48 hours for complete bonding to take place. I then remove the hide, and leave them penned for at least another day. If there is a kid already on the doe, taking some of the colostrum feces from her kid, and smearing it on the tail area, belly, and a stripe down the top of the head of the graftee, will help with bonding.

FLOPPY KID

Floppy kid syndrome usually occurs between 3 days and birth. I have seen it occur in kids only a few hours old, and kids as old as 3 weeks.

Rarely do I see it in kids older than 3 weeks.

I have seen it in dam raised as well as bottle raised kid. I have seen it in pasture raised kids, and kids on Rumensin feed with their dams.

If caught early, it is very easy to cure.

I see it most often when the mornings are cool and damp, and then the day warms up by 10 a.m. or so. It can occur any time of the year,

but I see it most frequently in spring. I have rarely seen a floppy case in winter.

First symptoms are a wobbly, ataxic drunken type gait. If you see a kid crossing his back legs as he travels, he likely has floppy. He may walk or run a few steps and stumble or fall.

Often, I see the kid eating dirt (pica), before it actually comes down with floppy kid. Often the kid has a wet or damp nose and may have a respiratory rattle. Floppy kid is often mistaken for pneumonia. Dam reared kids usually look hollow and hungry. The kid will approach its dam, and attempt to nurse, but simply can’t.

The doe may be standing over her kid with a distended udder. Often, a comatose kid with floppy is mistaken for a starved kid and tube fed. These kids and bottle kids have a belly full of milk and sound like they are sloshing.

Peristalsis ceases (the gut shuts down), and the milk does not move down the digestive tract.

Bloat can also be a misdiagnosis for floppy kid.

I usually give at least 10cc of Pepto to kids that look bloated.

Thiamin and glucose are responsible for the electrical signal going from brain to body part (autonomic as well as voluntary systems). The electrical signal travels from cell to cell through glucose and thiamin. If there is thiamin deficiency, then all systems gradually shut down. Voluntary muscle function stops first, then the autonomic system also ceases, death occurs.

These kids become lethargic, unable to stand, nurse and hold their heads up. If not treated quickly, they die. Any time a kid stops nursing and becomes flat, floppy should be suspected.

TREATMENT

I treat with 500mg thiamin and 2cc long acting Penicillin orally in the same syringe, once a day for three days. Penicillin does not work systemically, but topically to kill bacteria that are causing the problem in the gut. If the floppy is caught early, the kid will usually stand and nurse in 6 or so hours. If the kid is semi comatose or comatose, I give 5cc of oral 50% dextrose. If the weather is hot, and the kid is dehydrated, I give 15cc water or electrolytes mixed with 5cc of 50% dextrose orally. Keep the kid in the shade if it is hot and warm if it is cold. If the kid is flat, prop it up on its brisket, do not allow it to lay flat. Do not tube feed or give a bottle for at least 6 hours after the first dose of thiamin, and the kid is up and around. If it nurses it’s dam, it is ok to do so, it won’t nurse until it can. On day two, the kid will probably be back almost to normal. On day three, it will be hard to catch. On day 4, I recommend a dose of live probiotics to restart the gut.

For pasture kids found without the dam present: I move the kids to the water lot, in the proximity of the water trough to treat them.

Their dams should be able to find and identify their kids.

ENTEROTOXEMIA

A kid that bloats suddenly cries out in pain, stands humped: Suspect Enterotoxemia.

Vaccination of the dam 2-3 weeks prior to kidding should prevent this, but no vaccine is 100% effective, and not all animals have the same immune system.

This is an emergency. I treat with Pepto Bismol 15-30cc orally (depending on body weight). Pepto has an antacid, an antibacterial (bismuth), and an anti-gas product. I also give a kid 5-7cc SQ of CD Antitoxin SQ, 5-7cc SQ of long acting penicillin, 5-7cc orally of Penicillin (to topically kill bacteria in the gut), and Banamine 1cc/100lbs IM a onetime dose. I usually see improvement very quickly.

Repeat the Penicillin SQ and CD antitoxin on day two. The first symptom of Enterotoxemia is usually death. If you see the beginning of the symptoms, you have a better chance save the kid.

BOTTLE FEEDING KIDS

Be sure milk replacer used has milk protein as a first ingredient. Measure milk powder separate from water or scouring can occur.

Start young kids off with 6-8 oz 3-4 times a day.

Increase time interval between feedings, and increase volume. I add Calf Pac (an excellent live probiotic product) to one bottle per day, and make sure bottles, nipples, etc are clean.

I also give 2cc Polyserum SQ mixed with 3cc CD antitoxin to all bottle kids every 1014 days. Bottle kids nibble at the ground and everything else, and it does not matter if the dam was vaccinated, they are more susceptible to Enterotoxemia and to Pneumonia than dam reared kids.

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BUCKLES AND BANNERS SALE The offering of the Buckles and Banners Sale held September 17 in Shawnee, Okla., were of excellent quality and diverse genetic packages, and backed by a successful group of breeders who excelled in the show ring this past year. Selling was brisk and viewed nationwide. There were 89 approved online bidders and 70 registered onsite bidders.

High-selling buck was a Windy Acres consignment at $3,000 and went to Will Harvey of Georgetown, Texas. High-selling doe was a 2Dox consignment at $5,100 and went to Darrel Mueggenborg of Texas, and the volume buyer was Linda Stuart of Roby, Texas.

averaged $1,450. There were 374 online bids through DVAuction.

Twenty-two head of animals, including both high sellers, were sold on the internet.

High-selling buck was EGGStra Flash in the Pan, sired by EGGSTRA Clip *Ennobled* and out of 3H V774. He was owned

by EGGS and sold for $4,000 to Jim Lechner, Pittstown, N.J. High-selling doe was EGGStra Big Check’s Verified Z255, sired

by EGGStra Big Check and out of EGGS V467. Bred by EGGS, she sold to Shana May and Aryn Proctor from Snyder, Texas, for $7,000.

JR Patterson of Essential Feeds was on hand to provide feed and supplements for buyer door prizes. We thank Mr. Patterson and his company for their generous contribution. The consignors want to thank all those who attended and joined us online for their continued support. We wish you all the best with your purchases.

Left: High-selling buck was EGGStra Flash, sold to Jim Lechner for $4,000. Right: High-selling doe sold to Shana May and Aryn Proctor for $7,000.

Information provided by Jackie Edwards

SOUTHWEST MISSOURI MEAT GOAT PRODUCERS Left: Buckles and Banners high-selling buck sold to Will Harvey, Georgetown, Texas for $3,000.

Right: High-selling doe sold to Darrel Mueggenborg, Texas, for $5,100

Information provided by Terry Taylor

WESTERN MARYLAND PASTURE-BASED MEAT GOAT PERFORMANCE TEST Pictured is the top-selling buck from the 2011 Western Maryland PastureBased Meat Goat Performance Test.

It was consigned by ABGA member Sherrie Losch from Port Royal, Pa. The buck brought $875 in the silent auction held September 24 near Boonsboro, Md. The buyer was Linda Heise from St. Thomas, Pa. Only 11 of the 78 bucks in the pasture test qualified for the sale. To qualify for the Top-selling buck at the 2011 sale, bucks must meet Gold, Silver, and/or Maryland Pasture-based Meat Bronze levels of performance for growth Goat Performance Test. parasite resistance and parasite resilience.

The Losch buck met the Gold standards for parasite resistance and resilience. While on test, the bucks consume a pasture-only diet.

Data is collected bi-weekly.

The Southwest Missouri Meat Goat Producers Third-Annual Production Sale was held September 17 with 16 consignors. A wellattended seminar was presented by Jodie Pennington and Heather Tucker, DVM. Sixty-two goats were sold with an average of $334 per lot.

The high-selling buck was Harmony Hill Showdown for $750, and the high-selling doe was Harmony Hill Samba for $800, both purchased by Dana Smith from Harwood, Mo. Our members are primarily meat goat producers; thus, we offered non-registered, percentage, replacement goats — as well as show goats — in the sale. Truly something for everyone. We thank all of our customers, who came from Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Iowa, and we hope to see you back next year for our fourth annual sale held Sunday, September 16, 2012.

Information provided by Connie Elam

HEART OF MISSOURI SALE

Information provided by Susan Schoenian

SHOWSTOPPER SALE There were 123 lots offered at this year’s Showstopper sale held at The Ike Hamilton Arena in West Monroe, La., on August 13. The sale

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Top-selling percentage doe was consigned by Jerry Brown, Inc and sold for $1,800 to Riggs Florence.

The consignors of the 2011 Heart of Missouri Production Sale would like to extend a big “thank you” to all who attended the sale in person and online this year. It was great to see everyone again, and it was even better to see some new faces. We would also like to give a big thank you to Col. Mark Younger and the folks at EDJECast for broadcasting the sale online, and to Clarence Luchini for commenting on the goats.

There were 69 head of goats in the

sale with an average selling price of $715. The top-selling buck was co-owned by Braxton Luchini and Sheldon Guilford, purchased

by Larry Crawford for $2,500. The top-selling full blood doe sold for $2,300 to Parson Creek Farm, consigned by Braxton Luchini and Sheldon Guilford. And the top-selling percentage doe sold for $1,800 by Riggs Florence, and consigned by Jerry Brown, Inc. Thank you to everyone for bidding, and we hope that you may all enjoy new additions to your herds as much as we have enjoyed raising them. We look forward to seeing them and their kids in the show ring in the future. Thanks again, and don’t forget to come back next year!

HEADLINER SALE The Headliner Boer Goat sale took place on Saturday, September 24, at the Hancock County Fairgrounds in Greenfield, Ind. Over 100 head of the some of the finest goats in the country were sold. Thanks to all of the buyers and consignors at the Headliner Sale.

The sale was great, with 111 lots selling for an average of $1,381 per lot. Congratulations to 2M Boer Goats on its high-selling lot 24 buck going for $10,000, and their high-selling lot 4 doe going for $4,600. Catch us next year at the 2012 Headliner sale held September 22, 2012.

Information provided by Jerry Brown

LABOR DAY CLASSIC The Labor Day Classic sale was held Saturday, September 3, at Redlands Community College in El Reno, Okla. It was standing room only as 10 consignors offered the best from their herds. Buyers from 14 states attended the sale. More than 150 people viewed the sale online through www.edjecast.com, representing 36 states plus Canada. There were more than 110 registered buyers in person and online.

Consignors for this year were 2 Bit Boers, Bar None Meat Goats, Blue Top Farms, Diamond B, Elk Creek, Triple J Boer Goats, Windy Acres, Zimmerman Boer Goats and guest consignors B4 Boers and S and S Farms.

Left: The Headliner Sale’s high-selling buck, consigned by 2M Boer Goats, sold for $10,000.

Right: High-selling doe, also consigned by 2M Boer Goats, sold for $4,600.

Information provided by Joe Mueller

PLATINUM ALLIANCE SALE The Platinum Alliance Sale took place on August 20 in Sidney, Ohio. The sale offered a set of does and bucks for both the wether industry and the breeding industry.

The sale kicked off with the buyers and consignors enjoying homemade burgers and all the trimmings before the sale, cooked

by Blue Top Boer’s Gerald Peterson. Lots of door prizes were given away; the big prize was semen donated by all the consignors and will be going back to Wyoming. Thanks to Essential Feeds for their contributions of feed and supplements.

High-selling doe at the 2011 Platinum Alliance Sale sold to Lonnie and Lowell Peterson for $3,800.

Consignors for the sale include Nebraska Boer Goats, Greg and Gloria Floyd; Silverwood Boer Goats, Dallas and Cheryl Miller; A Bar Boer Goats, Shana May and Aryn Proctor; and Reeves Boer Goats, Tammy Reeves and Chuck Jackson.

High-selling doe was BSA Blonde Bombshell, consigned by A Bar Boer Goats, which sold to Lonnie and Lowell Peterson of Greenville, Ohio, for $3,800. A Bar Bover Goats also consigned the high-selling buck, S2 Idiot Proof, which sold for $2,200 to Gary Mitchell and Cindy Westfall. The sale will be held again in Sidney, Ohio, on August 18, 2012, featuring new consigner, Buckeye Illini Genetics.

Left: High-selling buck and doe at the Labor Day Classic in El Reno, Okla. Right: Volume buyer, Raymond DePalma, from Evanston, Wyo., purchased 12 head.

Austin Bauer from Kenyon, Minn., purchased the high-selling buck for $6,600 from Bar None Meat Goats. Abigail Hannah from Mercedes, Texas, purchased the high-selling doe for $5,100, also from Bar None Meat Goats. The sale had 76 lots that grossed more than $81,000.

Volume buyer was Raymond DePalma from Evanston, Wyo., taking home 12 head. Big thanks from all of us to Raymond and his wife for making the journey to El Reno. Look for them at the upcoming shows; they took home some good ones!

Mark your calendars September 1, 2012, and come to El Reno for the 3rd Annual Labor Day Classic Sale.

Information provided by Robin Walters

Information provided by Aryn Proctor

LAZY S-T RANCH LABOR DAY Over the Labor Day weekend there were several sales held at the San Angelo Fairgrounds. The Lazy S-T Ranch, owned by Randy & Cindy Dusek, conducted a “Complete Herd Dispersal” sale.

At the sale, ABGA presented them with a certificate of Randy and Cindy Dusek, Lazy S-T Ranch, appreciate for their years of were recognized by ABGA for their years of dedication to the Boer breed and dedication to the Boer goat industry. the industry. www.abga.org | 25

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