End of an Era - Maybe?

I made the difficult decision to sell Dixie and her babies this year.

This is probably one of the hardest decisions I've ever made - next to selling Dixie's mom Willow. Willow was our first Nigerian. I loved that doe - I miss that doe - her snippy attitude, her beautiful coat, Dixie looks a lot like her except in color but she even has her attitude! I went back and forth and I finally decided this line wasn't working as well for me as the other lines I have.

I fell in love with Dixie the minute I laid eyes on her impish little face when she was born. I couldn't sell her even though I'd made up my mind to. No, I ended up keeping both my does last year when i'd intended to sell one. Dixie has her mother's lovely udder, wide body, but has more angularity and dairy quality to her than her mother. Dixie surpassed my expectations when she won Jr. Champion at 6 weeks of age over several does much older than her. So, are you asking yourself why I decided to sell my darling Dixie? This year I came to the stark realization that i cannot milk 5 does. Not with all that is going on - Alyssa's cancer, My thyroid deal. Just isn't happening. I thought, for a while that when she kidded triplets that would be the icing on the cake - I should keep Dixie or one of her doelings (trust me - it's INCREDIBLY tempting) I am trying to justify. I still think - I should keep someone. But really I cannot do it right now. I milked the girls and since I will be doing the Lion's share of the milking this year I have to let the doe go who is the hardest for me to milk. As a first freshener - Dixie's teats are too small for me. "leave one of her babies on her and keep her" you say - ummm - 2 extra mouths to feed right now with medical bills looming (as my nephew likes to say "DARK CLOUDS LOOOOOMING!!!!!" said with an ominous voice)?

"Keep one of her babies then" you say. UMMMMM - yeah, that extra money would come in real handy this year to feed the rest of the herd. I already am keeping two babies I did not plan to keep - One for Alyssa and one because I'd really like to see what my next generation is going to be like . And Frankly I'm not even conviced I'll keep her but might have to because of the bad reaction she had to hornburning. So I'm kind of stuck between a rock and a hard place. Willow was our first Nigie - the gal who got this love of Nigerians started. She is always going to have a place in my heart, as will miss Dixie - But sometimes you even have to let a good one go because of circumstances beyond your control. Willow is helping a new person start their herd of Nigerians - Dixie's daddy Entei is too, and NOW I guess it's Dixie's turn to do the same thing. It looks like she's sold. I know I'll cry when they come take precious Dixie and her son away but I also know that they will be starting a new herd for someone - I can't think of a better doe to do it than miss Dixie! These folks need a loveable sweet first goat and Dixie will be just that!!!!

Sigh. Thanks for listening.

Milk Testing

CBF Nigerians just took our first two does to a one day milk test. At the moment I am not sure either doe will get their stars. Joie, who is my super milker - dropped her production for the morning milk out.
She usually gives me about 2#s per milking and she went down to 1.4# and did 2.0#s in the evening. I still don't understand what all goes into giving your goat her star but I am glad we tried. It was a great experience. PrairieWood Player who is our Flying Goat Jazzy Blues' granddam also went on test and I know she milked out 2.2#s in the morning. I am very excited as Jazzy and Kidd's moms are both doing well so far. I have my eye on another doe who I'd like to buy a buck from in the future. She was the breed leader for butterfat, starred last year, and is one win away from her MCH. SOMEDAY!!!! My doe Joie's brother is now at Prairie Wood so she will be using him in the future for anyone who is looking for those milky lines besides mine here at CBF.

CBF Ent's Whistlin' Dixie - Jr. Grand Champion (AGS)

This is our little doe Dixie who we took to the show so my 4 year old could show and to get some "show experience" . Little did we know our little Dixie Darling would come home with a 2nd in the morning show (to our new buck's sister Flying Goat Annabelle)

and 1st plus a Jr. Grand Champion! In this case, Good things came in a small package - we NEVER expected to even be in the top of the class with the second youngest doe there - the youngest doe - Dixie's half sister CBF Ent's Twinkle Lil'Star didn't do as well but we still adore her - her mom is terrific and a great milker so she's still a keeper in our minds!

Dixie is out of CBF Entei and El Cerro Wind in the Willows. Thank you Valerie for picking our little Dixie for Jr. Grand! We just thought she might be something special when she was born.

BABIES! CBF Welcomes their first two babies of the year

CBF Nigerians welcomes their first two babies of the year. Born to El Cerro Wind in the Willows and CBF Entei. The little buckskin with white belt is the doeling and the black and white is the boy. Both will be available upon weaning if anyone is interested they can contact me at NMgoatgal@gmail.com Currently they are called Dixie and Shakespeare.

3 Weeks until Babies

Here are pictures of Miss Willow at about 3 weeks before kidding.
Right now we are about 2 weeks to kidding and can't wait. Check out that Belly!!!! She carries very low and not very wide. Next I'm posting pics of Joie who carries pretty wide but not real low. Fun to watch and see the babies move around!