Nigerian Goat Milk is a delicious addition to one’s table whether in cooking or a simple glass of milk. However, in order for a dairy goat to provide milk they must first give birth. Inevitably there are baby goats who need to find their own purpose and subsequent new homes. Let’s take a look at how the ADGA Performance Programs increase a herd’s value.
ADGA or the American Dairy Goat Association has 3 areas designed to increase (hopefully) the value of a goat herd. These provide documented proof of performance and quality of a particular animal or in repeated generations establishing proven linage.
- Milk Testing
- Linear Appraisal
- ADGA Sanctioned shows
Table of Contents
ADGA Performance Program: Milk Testing
Milk testing documents the capacity or volume of milk produced and the percentage of butterfat and protein. Samples collected are also tested for SCC which indicate potential mastitis infections. ADGA has set a minimum for volume, butterfat and protein. If a doe attains these numbers in one or all of the 3 categories, she can be awarded a star.
2023 was my first year to conduct owner sampler milk tests. In the past year I learned a lot and while it took some trial and error to get it all, I am finally feeling confident when it comes to a milk testing routine. I plan to continue milk testing in 2024. First, I will need to take a test to become recertified. I will be recertified using email and/or snail mail.
If you live in Indiana Elizabeth Shaw is your contact person. If you live in a different state, contact your state dairy association or state dairy goat association for further information. Another great resource is other goat breeders in your state.
Look for an upcoming post explaining the milk testing process in further detail.
ADGA Performance Program: Linear Appraisal
A linear appraisal involves a day set aside where an approved or certified liner appraiser visits a farm to critique specific animals rating their physical characteristic. I have signed up for my first Linear Appraisal or LA in 2024. I am excited to learn. When filling out the ADGA form you have the option to visit a host herd or be a host farm yourself. For 2024 I am signed up to travel to another farm.
The initial fee is $45 with the option to add 3 DNA tests for $65 more. If your herd did not participate in LA the previous year there is an additional $10 fee. After the actual LA is conducted you will be billed your part of an LA. There is minimum stop fee of $400 split between the first $25 goats after that the fee is per goat. As you can see, the price will vary.
I am still learning about LA and have read some posts and comments from others who have experienced LA for themselves. If I was to sum up a few things I have read:
The appraisers themselves set particular guidelines impacting the actual process of the LA, these will vary but do not compromise the integrity of the appraisal. Rather they help keep the flow of the LA process streamlined to a particular group. In other words, the appraiser is given paramitas to organize the process at each testing sight.
Bucks get lowest priority for 2024.
Dry does are not usually appraised.
I am a newbie to LA and would love to hear your experience in a comment below. If you would like to read more about ADGA’s Linear Appraisal, click the link below:
Linear Appraisal – American Dairy Goat Association – ADGA
ADGA Sanctioned Shows
ADGA approved shows provide an opportunity to learn how a particular animal compares to others in their age group, sex and breed. A show is of course based on someone’s opinion of the score card and depending on a judge’s interpretation of the card.
Goat shows provide an opportunity to connect with others who breed and enjoy goats. Winning a class or championship advertises the quality of your herd. Not to mention showing goats is a fun way to enjoy your animals.
I also get concerned thinking of disease risk that comes with showing goats, exposing them to other farms and the stress itself of showing and how it wears on an animal’s immune system. I would think having a plan in place for quarantine upon returning and supporting a goat’s immune system would be important.
Comparing the 3 ADGA Performance Programs
The time invested is divided out in a similar way as the funding. A linear Appraisal is a lot of work for a few days or a week or 2 but then it is over. Milk testing takes a set day each month and then there is the paperwork prep and organization. But does not take an entire day at any point. Shows now they seem to be the most work when I look at the time spent training, preparing, traveling and then the actual show day or days.
For me the choice is which do I focus on for 2024. They all take a degree of money. The Linear Appraisal is an upfront fee. The milk testing with an upfront fee and includes a monthly expense. Attending goat shows also has its costs in gas expense, show fees, equipment.
I chose milk testing as my first ADGA Performance programs in 2023. For 2024 I am signed up to participate in a Linear Appraisal. I have a loosely held goal of attending 3 ADGA sanctioned shows.
Are you planning on participating in any of these ADGA Performance programs?
