Production Awards
This week I got the email that ADGA was finally updating pending production awards in NG. I was so excited to see some of the animals that we have on our farm finally getting their official recognition.
It takes so much hard work to get milk stars. I'm on year two of DHI and I've yet to get it completely right. I know it takes lots of trial and error and it will be some time before I get the hang of it. Nonetheless, the data we have gotten is extremely valuable and useful. "I'm in this for the long run, not for instant gratification" I have to remind myself. This is a yearly commitment to my farm and to the animals I have to continue proving their bloodline and not lose all the hard work that was done before them. I've lost a doe that I wanted to prove, so she could inherit the genetic evaluations that belonged to her, and it hurts. Her progeny will suffer that loss. All that work put in the generations before her almost lost completely. Thankfully I was able to get a Type evaluation done on her, so its not a total loss, but it still hurts!
Preserving bloodlines is not just breeding them. It's the continuation of genetic evaluations through Linear Appraisals and Milk Records. It's objective data that proves a breeder is in fact maintaining the integrity and quality of the bloodline, not just by pedigree, and not just "because I said or think so". By actual solid evidence. You cannot claim to be a preserver and ignore the basic principles that apply to the preserving process. Although I don't claim myself to be a "breeder", more so a dairy and genetic enthusiast, I understand this concept. Im really grateful to those that helped me understand what this truly means, and what I need to do to continue it in my herd.
One generation from a dam line full of milk stars that isn't put on test is a dam line lost. A dynasty gone. One that will need to be rebuilt and brought back up again. You can spend all the money you have on "proven" genetics, but if you do not continue the data work that is behind them, what good are they then? How many generations down the line can you claim they belong to this or that bloodline? Something to think about!
Congratulations to these boys and girls that now reside in our herd that were finally awarded their production stars earned under the care and management of Veteran's Ranch in Florence, Arizona.
*B Crow's Dairy Supersonic Comet
Crow's Dairy Bernita 18*M
Veteran's Venus Horizon 14*M
*B Veteran's Chuck Berry
*B Veteran's Marine One
*B Veteran's Gunslinger
Veteran's Mafalda Smart 13*M
Furthermore, congratulations to these foundation bucks for getting more production recognitions! :
++*B SG Six M Galaxy Noel's Comet (second + earned for two AR sons and three AR daughters)
+B Crow's Dairy Little Richard (for three AR does from different dams)
We are motivated and commited to the continuation of genetic evaluations for the future generations of the goats that currently reside and will be produced here! This is an extremely important goal to us and we will try to document as much as we can of that process.
