Here is Penny's udder before milking this morning.

[mrs.H]

Here are photos of Penny's udder this morning before milking and one from January before she started to bag up. She is not as lopsided as I feared she would be, but her front attachment is poor. She has a pocket up there.

So what else should I know. I'm learning and would appreciate all input.

She milked out 35oz. this morning! I am very happy with my little Penny!

[KnowOneSpecial]

WOWSERS!! That looks almost painful! I bet she was walking funny!!

I have a FF and she's still got her 2 bucklings on her. They nibble on her morning grain and go out to the pasture with her once in a while. I don't know if they're grazing or not. She gives me a good pint every evening. Right now the puppies are LOVING it as I throw the pint in the blender with puppy chow and they slurp up the slurry like crazy!

[cmharris6002]

Nice milk out!! She has a nice medal and excellent udder texture (milks down to nothing ) I'd want improve teat placement and rear udder width.

Christy

[mrs.H]

She still has her twin bucklings on her too. They are together all day, and then I separate them from her at night, and milk out in the AM.

[saanengirl]

I'm not fond of her udder attachment over all or her teat size and placement. I'm afraid that this is an udder that may need support help in the future. Make sure you breed her to a buck out of a doe with an outstanding mammary. You need more area of udder attachment and better teat size and placement.

If you are looking at linear appraisal detailed breakdowns I would look for a buck out of a doe with an E mamary that has at least a 35 in rear udder height, a score between 25 and 30 in medial, a score of at least 35 in fore udder attachment, anywhere from 22-30 in teat placement, and teat size of less than 25. A buck out of a doe with these numbers will give your daughters of your doe with improved mammaries. Once you get the daughters you want, retire the dam. and go from there, continually improving your herd.

For the time being, this doe will do what you need her to do. In the long run, you need to improve with each generation, and the main things that need to be improved are the areas I mentioned above.

[mrs.H]

Wow saanengirl, that is an excellent breakdown. I will be looking at the chart now to figure out what you said, like a Spanish to English dictionary. I don't learn very well just from reading, I need a demonstration to bring it home.

I really want to attend some goat shows, but I can't seem to schedule the time.

[Cannon_Farms]

the next local show is in Monroe on June 4th I think, check georgia goat breeders site to confirm.
If you do your testing you could possibly use my buck, he will be showing at Monroe as well as his dam.

[MrsSurplus]

Originally Posted by saanengirl

If you are looking at linear appraisal detailed breakdowns I would look for a buck out of a doe with an E mamary that has at least a 35 in rear udder height, a score between 25 and 30 in medial, a score of at least 35 in fore udder attachment, anywhere from 22-30 in teat placement, and teat size of less than 25. A buck out of a doe with these numbers will give your daughters of your doe with improved mammaries. Once you get the daughters you want, retire the dam. and go from there, continually improving your herd.
.

Where can I go to learn what these numbers mean? Also, website or something that details udder attachment information? I know that at least one of my does has poor udder attachment - but that's because a) you can't miss it and b) people on here told me that. Where can I educate myself a little better on the topic - and knowing what to look for in breeding stock?

By the way, Mrs. H - impressive milk supply! Pretty little doe, too.

[cmharris6002]

You can download the LA guide here http://adga.org/index.php?option=com...sal&Itemid=199 There are lots of pictures to help explain things.

Linear Traits Ideal Point Ranges

Stature - meet standard for breed at 4 years of age
Strength* - 27 to 33
Dairyness* - 33 to 38
Teat Diameter - 18 to 28
Rear Legs - 25 to 30
Rump Angle - 30 to 35
Rump Width - 30 to 35
Fore Udder Attachment - 35 to 42
Rear Udder Height - 40 to 45
Rear Udder Arch - 32 to 40
Udder Depth - 22 to 27
Medial Suspensory Ligament - 28 to 32
Teat Placement - 25 to 30

*animals outstanding in Dairy Character are a combination of these ranges in strength and dairyness.

[suzyhomemaker09]

Bah...I hate ADGA's new site...we're members but haven't set up our new log in access...the link given doesn't work for me unless I log in

[cmharris6002]

Are you a member of http://dairygoatforum.com/? The whole guide is posted there,http://dairygoatforum.com/index.php?topic=75.0

[TRAILRIDER]

What about the mention of a pocket in the fore udder? Any ideas on that? I may post a pic of my new doe here and see what you all think. You're the best!

[MrsSurplus]

Thank you!

[mrs.H]

Originally Posted by TRAILRIDER

What about the mention of a pocket in the fore udder? Any ideas on that? I may post a pic of my new doe here and see what you all think. You're the best!

Please do! But start a new thread so it doesn't get buried. Pictures with instruction, my favorite.

[cmharris6002]

This might help, from the LA Guide,

[mrs.H]

Penny's fore udder is not that bad. It goes back a little bit instead of a smooth line to her barrel.

[saanengirl]

Originally Posted by cmharris6002

You can download the LA guide here http://adga.org/index.php?option=com...sal&Itemid=199 There are lots of pictures to help explain things.

Linear Traits Ideal Point Ranges

Stature - meet standard for breed at 4 years of age
Strength* - 27 to 33
Dairyness* - 33 to 38
Teat Diameter - 18 to 28
Rear Legs - 25 to 30
Rump Angle - 30 to 35
Rump Width - 30 to 35
Fore Udder Attachment - 35 to 42
Rear Udder Height - 40 to 45
Rear Udder Arch - 32 to 40
Udder Depth - 22 to 27
Medial Suspensory Ligament - 28 to 32
Teat Placement - 25 to 30

*animals outstanding in Dairy Character are a combination of these ranges in strength and dairyness.

These are ideals, but sometimes it may not be possible to find an animal that meets these numbers. You have to gain the practical experience to be able to visualize what different numbers mean. A rear udder height of 40-45 may be ideal, but very few does have that high of a rear udder. A rear udder that has a 35 in height is still a very good rear udder, particularly if you have a good arch. Teat placement is another category where it is difficult to find the ideal. In the numbers I gave, I allowed a little more leeway that should still bring your teats down to the udder floor and be mostly plumb, but may not quite be the ideal. Ideal teat placement is very difficult to find.

What you should do is find herds in your area that are appraising this year and go and watch the appraiser in action and ask questions. This activity will help you understand these numbers more than anything. Another thing you can do is find a breeder that appraises and ask to compare their appraisal sheet with their goats so that you can see how the numbers apply in real life.

[cmharris6002]

What you should do is find herds in your area that are appraising this year and go and watch the appraiser in action and ask questions. This activity will help you understand these numbers more than anything. Another thing you can do is find a breeder that appraises and ask to compare their appraisal sheet with their goats so that you can see how the numbers apply in real life.

I agree. Or even better, spend the $250 for for your own Linear Appraisal. It is the best way to learn the strengths and weakness of each animal in your herd and find out what your breeding program is accomplishing and lacking.

[Cheribelle]

Thanks for that chart! Very informative!