We participated in our fifth year of ADGA dairy goat Linear Appraisal on July 17, 2016 (see Linear Appraisal for
It teaches you about the various parts of a goat, what you’re looking for in a good goat, and how to go about improving a herd. The appraisers are very knowledgeable about goats, and take the time to explain how a goat should look, and why it’s important from a functional standpoint.
It’s also a lot of fun, and if you’re participating with several herds, it’s interesting to see how their goats score too. We got to see a couple of our goat breeding friends again (goats and friends – what could be better?).
For scoring, an E = 90 and above, a V = 85 – 89, a + = 80 – 84, an A = 70 – 79, an F = 60 – 69, and a P = 59 and below. Does tend to improve as they get older (up to a point), and after they’re five years old their best score becomes their permanent score. Our does are still young, so I’m quite pleased with how they’re doing.
The best a Nigerian Dwarf doe has every done is 93 (94 is the highest they can actually score), and it’s good to know how each changes/improves as she matures because her daughters are likely to exhibit a similar pattern.
The first of our adult does to be scored was Buttin’Heads Calligraphy, and I was happy that she improved from an 83 last year to an 85 this year as a second freshener. She’s on track for earning some very nice LA numbers.
Year | LA Age | Appear- ance | Dairy Character | Body Capacity | Mam- mary | Final Score |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2015 | 02-05 | + | + | E | V | 83 |
2016 | 03-01 | + | E | E | V | 85 |
2017 | 04-04 | + | V | E | V | 86 |
Old Mountain Farm Taylor Quinn was the next doe that was appraised this  year, and she also improved from an 83 last year to an 84 as a second freshener.
Year | LA Age | Appear- ance | Dairy Char-acter | Body Capa-city | Mammary | Final Score |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2015 | 02-05 | + | V | V | + | 83 |
2016 | 03-03 | + | V | E | + | 84 |
2017 | 04-06 | V | + | E | V | 87 |
Our remaining does at linear appraisal are all first fresheners (and were also all bred on our farm), so I was really excited to see how they would do. Bramblestone Charm Box was the first to be appraised, and she scored an 83 which is super for a first freshener.
Year | LA Age | Appear- ance | Dairy Char-acter | Body Capa-city | Mammary | Final Score |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2015 | 01-05 | + | V | + | N/A | + |
2016 | 02-03 | + | V | V | + | 83 |
The second to be scored was Bramblestone Amethyst, and she did even better with an 84 as a first freshener:
Year | LA Age | Appear- ance | Dairy Char-acter | Body Capa-city | Mammary | Final Score |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2015 | 01-05 | + | V | V | N/A | + |
2016 | 02-03 | + | E | V | + | 84 |
2017 | 03-05 | + | + | V | + | 84 |
2018 | 04-03 | V | V | E | V | 87 |
And then there was Bramblestone Sun Tea who really made me happy. Her dam has always been my favorite doe, so I was anxious to see how she would do. She scored an 88 as a first freshener!!!! The highest a first freshener can score is an 89, and I’ve never seen a Nigerian Dwarf come close – but Sun Tea did.
Year | LA Age | Appear- ance | Dairy Char-acter | Body Capa-city | Mammary | Final Score |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2016 | 02-03 | V | E | E | V | 88 |
2017 | 03-05 | + | V | V | V | 86 |
2018 | 04-03 | + | E | E | E | 87 |
I continue to feel that we learn (or relearn) so much each time that we participate in a linear appraisal session that it’s well worth the cost ($8.50 per goat this year). I’m very pleased with how conformationally correct the girls are turning out and how well they’re scoring. And, we’ll continue to participate each year to make sure we keep the herd on track!
Amanda says
Congrats on your scores! This is really interesting to me, as someone who just got into goats this year. Originally we just wanted to have goat’s milk for our family. Then our son got into showing with 4-H, and now I find myself bitten by the bug and wanting to learn more about these things. Do you have any recommendations of books or resources? I’m sure ideally finding a mentor is my best bet, but I feel so ignorant, being a complete newbie! (By the way, I’m looking forward to the rest of your NDG e-books too!)
Lesa says
Hi Amanda, I struggle with recommendations that are helpful with things like linear appraisal, there just doesn’t seem to be much out there. Hence, the NDG e-books that I’m trying to write – frustrated by lack of information! The ADGA site has some basic information on how linear appraisal works, etc. but it’s kind of basic and I didn’t find that it helped me through the experience much the first time. If you have any specific questions, I will try to answer them here.