This year, (2012) our herd will be participating in both Linear Appraisals as well as DHIR (dairy herd improvement records).
What the linear appraisals mean for our herd, and for you as a potential buyer of one of our kids is that our whole herd will be judged and rated in August on dairy traits and conformation. The appraiser gives each goat a score that will go on their permanent record. These scores are helpful for the herdsman to know which goats to cull, and which to keep. It's also helpful to buyers to see the notes on the scorecard which list faults as well as strong points of the appraised goats.
We will also be "on test" this year, which refers to the national milk record keeping system known as DHIR. DHIR is a program whereby once per month each does milk is officially weighed at AM and PM milkings and tracked. A sample of her milk is also taken and sent to Langston University and is tested for butterfat, protein and somatic cell count. (A high somatic cell count could indicate mastitis). The does on test are eligible for certain awards and I am so excited this year to be able to have these records available "officially".
Our first milk test will happen in just a few weeks, once the does start kidding. Our appraisers are scheduled to be here, tentatively at least, in August. All of our girls milk at least a gallon per day, some of them milk much more than that. It will be so wonderful to be able to not only know how much each doe is producing each day, but also the butterfat and protein that is in that milk!
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