One Bite At A Time

The Oregon Megabucks Show

My alarm clock went off at 2:30 a.m.

I groaned and rolled out of bed. My hands searching in the dark for the off-switch in that indecent hour to be waking up. After silencing the alarm, I forlornly gave my bed one more glance before getting dressed. My friend who I was sharing a room with, also got up and began dressing.

Shoes were put on, food was grabbed, water bottles filled... We got in her diesel pickup truck and began our four-hour journey at 3 a.m.

Since March, I have been boarding a buck named 'Bob' for my friend who lives close to Seattle, WA. I live four hours south from her, so we agreed that Bob would stay here in Oregon until May 5th. She had entered him in a goat show that was to be held that day, and said she would pick him up then. I was fine with this, and the days slowly fell away until May 4th had arrived. Wishing for a companion to come with her, she invited me to attend the goat show as well. She didn't need to ask twice! It was four hours from Seattle to my farm, and yet another four hours down to Southern Oregon where the event was being hosted. That is a looooong drive for anyone.

 As it happened, this particular goat show was not like most. This one is known as the "Megabucks" show, and as you might could guess, it is for bucks only. I was about to spend an entire day in which there were more male goats than humans.

 Saturday morning dawned too quickly, and at the decided time of 3 a.m. we loaded up Bob and began the trek! I am pleased to say that I was smiling before 4 a.m... And that's without any caffeine! One hour after the next slipped by as our rumbling truck ate up the miles, and by 7 a.m. we had hit our destination.

 The building was a modest, low-slung barn on the county fairgrounds. On the outside it was nothing special, but who knew that the inside could be host to so many lovely animals? As you stepped into the barn you were immediately hit by a wave of, umm -- well, buck smell. Many of these boys were still in rut, and it really does make for an interesting scent when there are so many of them in one spot! But once past the smell, and once your eyes adjusted to the dim, warm lighting, there was pen after pen of goats. I had a date with my camera this day, and I had a host of captive subjects. Hehe.

 To my surprise, there was actually a good number of does there alongside the bucks. Apparently there was another show the next day, so these ladies were patiently waiting for their turn in the limelight. In a far back corner, a group of Alpine does stood watching the unfolding scene before them. Their voices a surprisingly deep bassoon. Like whales singing, so they hummed deep chords. I smiled whenever they started a new verse in their low song; none of the bucks could rival their timbre.

  Our buck, Bob, was clipped for the ring, and put in a comfy pen. Or at least the pen was the goal. Bob had other ideas as he felled the chain link walls that surrounded him. Baling twine to the rescue! So perhaps Bob didn't have the nicest looking pen after that, but hey, it kept him where he was supposed to be!

 Touring the building, I admired the day's contestants. Nigerian Dwarfs, Nubians, Alpines, Saanens, Sables, Toggenburgs, La Manchas... Alas, there were no Oberhaslis, and for that I was disappointed. At the front of the building were tables of nic nacs that were being raffled off, but the jewels of this raffle were four purebred doelings... A Saanen, A Nigerian, A Toggenburg, and a Nubian. All dainty little ladies who were destined for a new home this evening. I admit I really wanted the Toggenburg...

The show officially began at 9 a.m. and the rest of the day was pretty much a blur. This was a 3-ring event, meaning there were three rings of goats being shown at all times. In other words, it's craziness for the contestants trying to get to the right ring, and it's even more hectic for a photographer trying to get pictures of everyone!! Gaah!

  During break time, my dear friend (Bob's owner) and I had a fun time guessing bloodlines on the Nubians and then asking the owners to see if we were right. I do believe we got them all right! Whoohoo! I love it that I'm starting to recognize the details that each bloodline gives to a goat!

The show was resumed and the numbers began to thin as the winners from each ring began pitting their looks against each other. Seasoned show folks knew the tricks to getting their goats to pose correctly, but sometimes even the wisest person couldn't convince an especially ornery buck to cooperate. Ring after ring, goat after goat, the numbers dwindled to only the finest buck from each breed. A Nubian, A Nigerian, An Alpine, A Toggenburg, A La Mancha... The cards were played, and a specimen from each breed prepared for the final judging.

   Now, to be honest, I have to admit that I didn't take any pictures of the Best In Show winner. Whoops. After snapping pictures for eight solid hours, I decided to be selfish and watch the final ring without having to be constantly checking my ISO and aperture. But the final winner of the day was a lovely Toggenburg buck. Personally, I was rooting for the Iron-Owl Nubian buck, but oh well... Every buck has his moment of glory.

 The raffle was the climax to this busy day and people whooped and hollered as they heard their name being called out for each prize. I *almost* put in some raffle tickets for that Toggenburg doeling, but resisted. No.. I must be firm with myself. No new breeds until my Nubian herd has grown to a good, competitive size. To console myself, I put my tickets in for a duo of hilarious looking, pure white Silkie chickens. A hen and a rooster they were, to create a puffy, comical pair. I had no idea what I would do with the birds (except perhaps use the hen to hatch out some eggs since the breed is notorious for going broody), but how can you not like something that looks like a mix between a PEEPS marshmallow and something that got electrocuted? Maybe it's just me... But alas, I didn't win the chickens (which is probably a good thing in the end), so I went home with only pictures and stories...

   As exhausted as we were when we got home (at 8 p.m.!), my friend and I stayed up three more hours poring over old goat pedigrees online. I got an overhaul in the information department as I looked at grainy black-and-white photos of goats who died in the 40's and 50's. I learned new names and new bloodlines, and learned the ins and outs of the foundation stock of some of the finest Nubian herds in America. Between the goat show and this nighttime history lesson on the foundations of Nubians, my appreciation for bucks and good breeding has just increased.

Bob! Ain't he handsome!?

Many people wonder what the attraction is about a goat show. I say you really just have to go to one and integrate yourself in the event before you can understand. There's just something about the camaraderie that blossoms from folks who don't mind being up since 3 in the morning, spending an entire day with bucks and smelling like one themselves, and getting dirty. We are a rare breed, to be sure, but we're an awesome group. We are doctors, lawyers, farmers, stay-at-home moms, 4-H'ers, College students, and everything else. But we are bound together by the incurable love of showing goats, and being around fellow goat showers. It's awesome. You should try it sometime. 

Training

It is time.

Time for Peaches to learn how to act like a lady while on the lead rope.

Over 300 lbs. now, this little girl still hasn't learned to enjoy the touch of humans, and it is somewhat difficult for me to do anything to her (put a fly mask on; treat her for something, etc.) seeing as the scales are uneven when it comes to weight and size. She's really good about standing still to have her fly mask put on, but that's only if I manage to shoo her into a kidding stall. There's no touching her if she's out of the 6'x8' pen. I've gotten her on the lead rope a few times before but only to then be dragged or have the rope ripped out of my hands. Peachy dear, this ain't workin'.

   So I am putting my nose to the grindstone and the two of us are learning together.

I'm starting really slowly right now (some might say too slow), but that's okay. Just as long as we've got these dance steps figured out before she's milking (which will be like 18 months away...)! I start my evening chores at 8 p.m. and finish milking, feeding, and watering by 9 to 9:15 p.m. Once that hour has slipped by, and everyone is nodding off, I pull out my best brushes and the trusty lead rope.

 This is always where Peaches gets bug-eyed. Her gaze furtively goes from the rope in my right hand, to the brushes in the left hand, and trots over to a corner to hide her head. That cow is wickedly smart, let me tell you. The brushes are stowed momentarily, and we begin our nightly waltz. I slowly walk up to her, lead rope clasp extended and ready to clip onto the halter. She takes one look and hightails it to the other side of the pen. I walk to the other side of the barn only to watch her skitter back to where we started. She watches me, I watch her. Neither one of us makes a sound, save for our footsteps in the deep bedding. The goats get underfoot, the broiler chicks peep nearby (and side note: they were put back in the brooder a couple days ago due to a freak frost alert. They're fixin' to go back outside), the rafters creak. The sounds of footsteps in straw is the melody of this barn song. A soft "swoosh, swoosh, swoosh", is harmonized by living beasts under the same roof. I still say nothing, only watching her body movement and anticipating her next move. Peaches shows no fear, she just wants to lie down and chew her cud. She dodges me with supreme grace and hopes I will tire of our slow, repetitive dance. She is like a toddler; only after much gentle, firm persistence will they heave a sigh of defeat and consent to your wishes (or at least toddlers are supposed to be like that!). After five minutes, Peaches stands still. Her eyes are gentle and she is relaxed. 

Then comes the fun part: tying her. I've never been able to get her tied before, simply because I can never seem to get her near a post before she goes berserk. Tonight I managed somewhat! Granted, she had three and a half feet of lead rope to wander around on, but at least I got the last 1/2 foot tied to a the post. I walked back to get the brushes and tried to hide my smile as I watched Peaches learn just what pressure is. She backed up, not realizing yet that she was now attached to a post, and then stopped short. Something was holding her back...

Her eyes got wide and her body went rigid. But she did nothing. The poor dear had no idea what to make of this. Her stance made me think of the main character in the movie, 'Elf' as he goes up an escalator for the first time:

'Elf'

I chuckled as I watched her, knowing she would eventually learn that moving forward would help her plight. Brushed were pulled out and I gave this lady the best grooming she has ever had. I've swiped her with a brush a couple times, but she's never gotten a real thorough brushing. It was time to see what was hiding under this shaggy, shedding coat. After a few minutes, Peaches relaxed, but still wouldn't move forward, so she let her head hang where it was; the lead rope and halter acting as a hammock. 

Ten minutes later, I stood back and surveyed my work. Wow. There was a beautiful cow hiding beneath the peach colored fuzz! She was slick and shiny; new muscle showing beneath her skin where there was once only flab. Having lost the fuzz, she was now a warm, buttery color, and not so much a fuzzy peach. She glowed. Holy kohlrabi, this cow is mine!

I nudged her forward so she would learn how much comfier it is to stand with a loose lead, and brushed her a couple more minutes.

 Content with the night's work, I loosed her. I had not said a word, she had not made a sound. The goats got underfoot, the broiler chicks peeped nearby, the rafters creaked. The final verse of the night's barn song is heard and I bid everyone good night...

The Zebra Cow

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, so here are pictures so I won't have to type as much! ;) This is my "zebra cow"...

You're probably wondering what on earth I've done to my little heifer, aren't you? Well friends, this is Peaches' new fly mask! The poor dear has been tormented by the flies (and they aren't even that bad yet!) to such an extent that she's been having eye problems and some extremely irritated skin around the face. I couldn't bear watching her always trying to rid herself of the pesky insects and failing every time; so I bought her this.

Lucky for me, I had a cool coupon for Jeffers Livestock, so I got this spandy fly mask for free. All I had to do was pay the measly shipping fee. Shucks, that's a bargain!

Zebra stripes probably wouldn't have been my first choice in colors/patterns but it's all the store carries at this time, so Peaches will just have to be content with being an attention-getter. Hopefully the traffic on our road won't pile up...

And yes, she actually can see through the mask!! In person, you can see her eyes and a lot of detail through the thin weave, but you can't see it through a picture. 

I admit I was skeptical when I bought this thing. I didn't think she would be able to see through it, or that it would even keep the flies at bay since it hangs open around the muzzle. But it works! I've been watching with a smile as the flies land where her eyes are, but they can't reach her. Peaches grazes on in peace... 

Ivy, being the drama queen that she is, is terrified of this new zebra striped creature that has suddenly invaded her territory. It's amusing watching her run away in fright, and then Peaches follows along right behind her thinking that it's time to move to new pasture. I think they might still be outside doing that... Hmm.

But Peaches definitely seems more content with the mask on. I think she's happy to finally have relief from the constant torment. Let's just hope that the flies don't get smart and think up a new battle plan.

Breaking The Fast

May 9th, 2012. The 10 month long dairy fast ended this morning with a big glass of raw milk!

New In Town

Soooo, while I vaguely mentioned last week that I was getting something new very soon, I never really built up any suspense on that. I kind of enjoyed this little secret.

But now is the unveiling! Today, I got 2+ new additions to the farm!!

Please meet 'Ima Poco Sombrita', and 'Bags Metropolitan Gurl'!

I saw these girls on Craigslist and immediately e-mailed about them. Their pedigrees are *awesome*!
But more on specifics, Sombrita and Metty are a mother/daughter pair who were owned by the president of the Northwest Oregon Dairy Goat Assoc. He didn't have room for all of his goats, so these two were up for grabs. And grab them I did.

Sombrita is the black doe pictured below. She's a 7 year old, 7th freshener who is milking 8 lbs. (1 gallon) per day. Being an older lady, she's really nothing special to look at conformation wise, but that's not why I wanted her. My reasons for so hotly pursuing this lady was 1. She settles super easy when bred via AI, which I plan on doing this fall. 2. She's already in milk and I am dying to have milk again! And 3. She outproduces herself, meaning that while she might not be anything fancy, all of her offspring is gorgeous!!

Photo courtesy of Bags Nubians

"Metty" is the daughter. A 2nd freshening two year old, this little lady is due to kid around May 22nd (thus the 2+ I mentioned earlier). She is a wonderful improvement over her dam and got Reserve Champion at the Oregon State Fair last year! She milked 6 lbs. (3/4 gallon) a day on her first freshening last year, so I'm hoping for 8-10 lbs. from her this year.

Metty as a First Freshener; photo courtesy of Bags Nubians

Both of these ladies are tiny. They're very deep and wide, but quite short! These are "old-style" Nubians, so while today's trend is to have Nubians that are long, tubular and thin, the old style girls are deep, solid, calm ladies. They have substance through and through.

And what's even more fun, Metty is bred to a Nigerian Dwarf buck, so I'll have Mini-Nubians hopping around in a couple weeks! Eeek! ;)

These two girls, plus Ivy and Summer, will be my foundation does in which I will be starting my herd. It will be a blend of bloodlines from the past and present as I use today's names such as Lakeshore, Saada, and Kastdemurs, and names from the past such as Homestead, Kismet, and Mosaic. I am sooooo excited for breeding season already!!

But the best part by far is that now I have milk again!! WHOOHOO!! I haven't had any goat milk in 10 months, and the only cow milk I have had was two glasses while at Polyface Farm. This has been a long dairy fast, and I ready to break it. I want my milk.

So off I hop now, to milk dear Sombrita! :)

Peaches: 5 weeks

It's been five weeks since Peaches was rescued! She is now getting close to the 275 lb. mark, and is looking lovely. Last week it occurred to me how she really looks like a heifer now... When I first bought her, she screamed "calf!", but as the weeks have fallen away, I don't see a calf in my pasture anymore. No, now there's a little heifer... A young lady. :)

Peachy (nickname) got her very own halter last week, as well as a zebra striped fly mask. Hehe. She's still a bit small for the mask, but hopefully it will fit her before the summer heat comes.

Doesn't the purple halter look good on her?!

Yep, she's a good little cow...