Advice before I buy...

[Hazel2006]

I am looking at purchasing my first goats. One of them is a 4 year old dry doe. Won Grand Champion last year at our state fair and reserved champion 2 years ago. Said she milks about a quart (total) a day. Has nice udder attachment and good sized offices. Easy milker. Is not bred this year due to missing cycles becauSE of family injury. Goats are registered. Has closed herd. Tests for CAE said does not vaccinate for CL because markers will show up in future testing?? Any important questions I should ask that I'm missing? Wants 400$ here is a pic....feel free to critique. I realize she is not posed very well just a quick phone shot she sent. ImageUploadedByHomesteading Today1426561873.002018.jpg

[Wonderland]

Vaccinating for CL is only recommended for herds that already have an infected animal because once vaccinated they will always test positive for CL. In addition to that, it's not a guarantee against the animal getting infected with CL. Most breeders (including myself) do not vaccinate, so nothing to worry about with that.

I would ask for negative CL, CAE, and Johnes tests (aka the Caprine Biosecurity Screen at WADDL). She should let you pull that test prior to/as a contingency of sale if she doesn't have recent results herself.

A quart a day isn't busting the bucket, but it's not terrible. Was that as a FF?

Here are some things I try to ask and look for:

Has she ever had trouble kidding? Is she a good mother?

What is her personality like? (The first two does I bought were wild as March hares. Never again!)

What are her ancestors and siblings like? Are they consistently good producers, easy kidders, good conformation, etc?

And I'd also look up USDA milk test data on her and her dam and other close relatives if possible. That can be done through ADGA Genetics if she's ADGA registered.

I hestitate to comment on conformation because I'm no expert and also, it's hard to tell much on a fuzzy, unposed goat.

[Hazel2006]

Thank you wonderland. I know she is ADGA registered and I am assuming since she was shown at the fair she should be tame. I will for sure check into some of the things you mentioned.

[mygoat]

From what I can see from an unposed, fuzzy shot is that she is quite a nice little doe. Deep and looks level. She appears a little coarse here, however, that is something that a pose, better lighting, and a haircut would show better - you can't see her long neck or judge proportions very well from this pic. She has no glaring faults that I can see. Another thing with nigies to consider is height - they must be within a height range to register. Pictures of her udder would be what makes me decide to deal though. Rear, side, and fore udder ideally.

400.00 will depend on her lines IMO. And if she's bred, and if she has any records on her like LA/DHIR.

[where I want to]

I agree on testing. I would test a free goat because of the misery of bringing an illness on to my place. Been there and don't want to go again.

[Hazel2006]

Here is some pics of her udder FF. She is 4 now but was not bred this yearImageUploadedByHomesteading Today1426633493.623883.jpg

[nehimama]

Will you be hand-milking? Those tiny teats look like hand cramps to me. Otherwise, very nice doe.

[mygoat]

That was a FF udder... So tiny teats is to be expected really. The rear shot isn't great, but the shape of the udder is beautiful IMO. Teats SEEM a little too widely placed - common in nigies - select bucks for her that improve teat placement.

I actually really like this little doe - surprising, because I rarely like nigerians. :P :P . She still looks a little coarse to me - not refined and dairy like - but she is pretty structurally sound so far as I can see, and has a pretty nice little udder. In the FF pic she looks posty in her rear legs and like she has a weak chine, but in her newer pic she doesn't appear to have either. Those are a couple things I would look for on her when you see her in person. Ideally a Nigerian would look like a tiny alpine.

[Hazel2006]

Thank you so much for all the great comments I really appreciate it. Normally when I go to buy something I don't have experience with I bring an experienced friend with for a second set of eyes and advice but I have no goat friends so thanks for being my extra set of eyes!