2016 Goat Linear Appraisal Results

We participated in our fifth year of ADGA dairy goat Linear Appraisal on July 17, 2016 (see Linear Appraisal for what it is), and I highly recommend the program if you’re interested in breeding goats or improving your herd.

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!