Yes, even on a meat goat farm there are dairy goats. Our daughter, Halie decided that last year she needed to venture into the Dairy Goat Realm in 4-H/FFA. She purchased a beautiful black Alpine wether named, J.J. Why a wether? Well, to be completely honest, we weren't big fans of having to milk a dairy goat. I mean, have you seen the size of those udders?! The meat goats tend to have smaller udders and we rarely have to milk to them because they are nursing kids. So, a wether it is!! Now, J.J. only gets shown once a year at the Clackamas County Fair, what is Halie going to so with him in the off season? She has decided to train him as pack goat. J.J. was a bottle baby and is a very friendly, smart, eager to learn kind of guy. Halie and J.J. spend a lot of time just hanging out together. I have to say, it's pretty fun to look out in the pasture at our herd of white goats and see this big, black goat with pointy ears standing there.
Update: I am sad to report that we lost J.J. in March, it was a heart breaking and devastating time for us. You are missed J.J. RIP
Update: I am sad to report that we lost J.J. in March, it was a heart breaking and devastating time for us. You are missed J.J. RIP
After the devastating and crushing loss of J.J., Halie was given an amazing opportunity by Dr. Lauren Acton to come look at a little doeling that she thought would be a perfect fit for Halie. When Halie laid her eyes on this little girl, she almost cried. Not only was this little doeling absolutely beautiful, but she looked exactly like J.J. complete with his spunky, outgoing personality. When I told Halie that this little girl was hers if she wanted her, the huge smile and tears of happiness that filled her eyes were the best present I could have ever received! So, Halie brought home Tempo Aquila Panther Lily and she has been glued to Halie's side ever since. Panther Lily is one of the prettiest little Alpine does that I have ever seen and she just gets prettier every day. Panther won her class and Reserve Champion Jr. Alpine Doe at the 2015 Clackamas County Fair Open Dairy Goat Show and also in the 4-H Division. When you go out to the barn, you can't help the smile that she puts on your face when she greets you. Thank you so much, Dr. Acton for not only such a beautiful girl, but for also returning Halie's smile.
** UPDATE** Panther Lily is still alive and kicking, she's now the farm's source of milk for bottle babies and as always is attached to Halie at the hip. Panther has continued to grow and now towers over all the does in the pasture, as she aged her personality stayed the same, it is awfully entertaining to watch a giant goat hop around and play the same way a tiny baby would. Panther is one of the few animals on the farm that we dare say is a farm 'mascot' her closest rival for that spot being Nyx.
** UPDATE** Panther Lily is still alive and kicking, she's now the farm's source of milk for bottle babies and as always is attached to Halie at the hip. Panther has continued to grow and now towers over all the does in the pasture, as she aged her personality stayed the same, it is awfully entertaining to watch a giant goat hop around and play the same way a tiny baby would. Panther is one of the few animals on the farm that we dare say is a farm 'mascot' her closest rival for that spot being Nyx.