All Breed Show 2011 - Toggenburg Judging

South Island Dairy Goats All Breed Show 2012 is fast approaching. It will be held on Saturday the 21st of  January at the Canterbury Show Grounds Stable Block.

This is the only show each year in Canterbury where the recognised dairy goat breeds are judged separately. This year, only Saanen, Toggenburg and Alpine breeds will be shown. (No Anglo-Nubians, sorry.)

All Breed Show 2011 - Alpine Judging

There will be a shared lunch so please bring some food to share. There will also be raffles sold on the day. Prizes will be donated by our generous sponsors and members.

Goats to be penned by 9:30 am, and judging to start at 10:00 am.  It will finish at around 3 pm.

Spectators welcome. We’d be delighted to answer any of your goat-related questions after judging on the day. See you there!

Goat Milking Demonstration

On the 8th October, we were finally able to hold our long-awaited field day, at Te Hua Farm in Oxford. It had originally been scheduled for October 2010, but was postponed to March 2011 after the September quake, and then postponed to October after the February quake. We had a working bee the day before, which saw a good number of club members giving up their free time to come and help sort out the signage and organise where everything was going to take place. We had a rain contingency plan as well, but even that was scrapped when the next day dawned overcast and bitterly cold. By an hour from when folks were due to arrive the wind was up and blowing heavy rain sideways. All the signs which were set up outdoors had to quickly come in from the rain.

Fortunately, about half an hour later, the wind stopped blowing, so all the signs were able to go back out, but under cover just in case. Many of the non waterproof signs stayed in the house, which is where we ended up holding much of the day’s activities. By start time, people began arriving in droves, and everyone crammed into our small lounge to have a hot cuppa and biscuits. There was a break in the rain before the homeopath was due to give her talk on homeopathy for goats, so we all scooted out to the paddock to have the one and only goat walk of the day. The goats were pleased for a brief respite from the rain, and happy to come out and say hello. After an informative talk by homeopath Rhonda Hamilton-Cross. We broke for lunch, a few people left, a few more arrived, and then the weather cleared nicely, so we could go out to the milking shed for hand-milking and hoof trimming demonstrations. One young boy, who had been asking a lot of great questions throughout the day, wanted to have a go at the hand-milking. He was very keen, the doe was very patient, and he was able to get a few squirts out of her. Her teats outsized his small hands by a bit, or I think he would have got quite a bit more!

Finally, we did a quickie-cheese making demonstration followed by a cheese tasting. I made a vinegar cheese, very easy to do and demonstrate, and very easily shows the separation of curds from whey. It’s a versatile, non-cultured cheese, bland on its own, but you can add anything you like to it, and it even fries without melting! There were probably more than 50 people there on the day, adults with children, down to the babes in arms. The children were all very well-behaved, and not a peep out of the babies! Everyone who was there was quite keen to be, and very interested in learning more about goats. We even got a couple of new club members out of the day, and hope to make this an annual event.

Many thanks to all our club members who helped make this day a resounding success!

Dairy Goat Section
Date: Thursday 10 November 2011
Judge: David Goulden, Christchurch

HR kidded Doe in milk, under 3 years (5): Barbara Kennedy – Antrimdowns Moracco SI9992H ADK/E7 1, Red Arrow Stud – Southbridge Pearle S57340H JAS/El 2, Red Arrow Stud – Red Arrow Elsie S57227H 941000000 3258494 3.

HR kidded Doe in milk, 3 years and under 5 years. (2): Barbara Kennedy – Antrimdowns Caithlyn TI9643H ADK/C15 1.

Champion HR Doe.  To be selected from the winners in classes 9000, 9002 and 9003 and second place: Barbara Kennedy – Antrimdowns Moracco SI9992H ADK/E7.

Reserve Champion HR Doe (The second place winner in the class from which the Champion Doe was selected: Red Arrow Stud – Southbridge Pearle S57340H JAS/El.

AR kidded doe in milk under 3 years (2): Jack Tranter – Antrimdowns Madeline TA19989H ADK/E6 1.

AR kidded doe in milk 3 years and under 5 years (2): Barbara Kennedy – Antrimdowns Maisie SO19987H ADK/D21 1.

AR kidded doe in milk 5 years and over (2): Natasha Hofmeester – Mystique Belle TDS2766 1.

Champion AR Doe to be selected from the winners of classes 9010, 9011 and 9012 with the second place getter from the class of the AR Champion paraded for: Barbara Kennedy – Antrimdowns Maisie SO19987H ADK/D21.

Reserve Champion AR Doe: Natasha Hofmeester – Mystique Belle TDS2766.

AR Grand Champion Standard Age Class (1): Barbara Kennedy – Antrimdowns Marquerite SC47493H ADK/P1 1.

Grand Champion AR Doe: Barbara Kennedy – Antrimdowns Maisie SO19987H ADK/D21.

Senior Progeny – Two daughters in milk of the same Sire but of different Dams. (2): Barbara Kennedy – Antrimdowns Marquerite SC47493H ADK/P1 & Antrimdowns Maisie SO19987H ADK/D21 1.

HR Best Udder.  Udder to be judged when full and again when stripped out with (7): Red Arrow Stud – Southbridge Pearle S57340H JAS/El 1, Barbara Kennedy – Antrimdowns Moracco SI9992H ADK/E7 2, Barbara Kennedy – Antrimdowns Caithlyn TI9643H ADK/C15 3.

AR Best Udder.  Udder to be judged when full and again when stripped out with (5): Barbara Kennedy – Antrimdowns Panache TC19411P ADK/C2 1, Barbara Kennedy – Antrimdowns Maisie SO19987H ADK/D21 2, Jack Tranter – Antrimdowns Madeline TA19989H ADK/E6 3.

Junior Showmanship – for young persons 15 years and under. To be judged on (6): Jack Tranter – Jack Tranter 1, Arscott J/Jones A – Courtney Miles 2, Red Arrow Stud – Hunter Smith 3.

HR Maiden Doe or Goatling 12 months and under 30 months that has not (1): Red Arrow Stud – Southbridge Rita S57817H JAS/G1 1.

HR Doe Kid under 12 months (4): Red Arrow Stud – Red Arrow Ruby 1, Barbara Kennedy – Antrimdowns Kathleen ADK/H2 2, Red Arrow Stud – Red Arrow Eleanor 3. Champion HR Junior Doe   To be selected from winners of classes 9032 and 9033 with the second place: Red Arrow Stud – Southbridge Rita S57817H JAS/G1.

Reserve Champion HR Junior Doe  The second place winner in the class the Champion was selected to be : Red Arrow Stud – Red Arrow Ruby.

AR Maiden doe or goatling 12 months and under 30 months that has not borne (2): Arscott J/Jones A – Hollybank Holly II RG57736H G4HYK 1.

AR doe kid under 12 months (3): Barbara Kennedy – Antrimdowns Pearl ADK/H3 1, Arscott J/Jones A – Hollybank Poppy  2.

Champion AR Junior Doe to be selected from winners of classes 9038 and 9039 with the second place getter from the class of the AR junior champion to be: Arscott J/Jones A – Hollybank Holly II RG57736H G4HYK.

Reserve Champion AR Junior Doe: Barbara Kennedy – Antrimdowns Pearl ADK/H3. Maiden Goatling and Doe Kid (of the same breed) (1): Arscott J/Jones A – Hollybank Holly II RG57736H G4HYK 1.

Buck Kid under 6 months (2): Barbara Kennedy – Antrimdowns Caiden ADK/H1 1. Champion Buck Kid to be selected from classes 9046 and 9047.  Reserve to be selected from 2nd place getter from the class of the champion kid : Barbara Kennedy – Antrimdowns Caiden ADK/H1.

Reserve Champion Buck Kid: Jack Tranter – Antrimdowns Magnum ADK/H11.

Buck – 2 years and over (Herd Register) (1): Barbara Kennedy – Lagooncreek Hagrid TI9538H TML/C20 1.

Champion Herd Register Buck to be selected from the winners of classes 9020 and 9021 with the second place getter from the class of the champion to be  : Barbara Kennedy – Lagooncreek Hagrid TI9538H TML/C20.

Stewart Dawson & Co. Challenge Cup – Best Herd Register Goat : Barbara Kennedy – Antrimdowns Moracco SI9992H ADK/E7.

Supreme Champion Dairy Goat : Barbara Kennedy – Antrimdowns Maisie SO19987H

Farm Walk - this farm has over 100 goats

Homeopath Talk

Vet Talk

Milking Demonstration

Hoof Trimming Demonstration

Cheesemaking Demonstration

The day started very wet but we had a good turnout. The weather cleared up later on and we had a great time. Thanks for coming, and we look forward to another Goat Field Day in 2 years’ time.

Judging time at the Club Show 2010

Our annual Club Show is fast approaching! It will be held on Saturday the 26th of November at the Christchurch Show Grounds Stable Block.

This is a very friendly event and it’s all about having fun showing goats rather than competition. For some members, this is the only show they participate in each year.

We have invited a judge from the North Island this time, so please don’t miss this opportunity to hear what she has to say about your goats and others’ goats.

Judging time at the Club Show 2010

Unregistered goats? No problem. There will be classes for unregistered does as well.  Fun classes such as the Pet Goat Class and the Fancy Dress Class are open to all goats including wethers. Let’s be creative and have fun!

There will be a shared lunch so please bring some food to share. There will also be raffles sold on the day. Prizes will be donated by our generous sponsors and members.

Fancy Dress Class 2010

Entries close a week beforehand on the 18th November. You can download the schedule and the entry form below. You can enter by email as long as the entry fees are paid BEFORE the show starts on the day. Just have a look to see what classes there are, or fill in the form and enter the show. Goats to be penned by 9:30 am, and judging to start at 10:00 am.  It will finish at around 3 pm.

All welcome; with or without goats Spectators welcome; see you there! If you are coming to have a look, do come later rather than earlier, as the show becomes more interesting then.

Click here to download the CDGBA Annual Club Show Schedule

Click here to download the CDGBA Annual Club Show Entry Form

Click here to download the map for the CDGBA Annual Club Show

2011 Canterbury Dairy Goat Breeders Association Field Day

When: 10:30 am – 4:00 pm, Saturday, 8 October 2011
Where: Browns Rock Road, Oxford
Public Welcome!
Gold Coin Donation

It’s definitely on. Rain or shine!

Including:

• Vet Talk
• Simple cheese making demonstration
• Lunchtime ‘Experts’ Q&A
• Bring your questions to ask our experts
• First Aid and Kidding Kits on Display
• Hand-milking demonstration
• Introduction to Homeopathy for Goats with Ronda Cross-Hamilton – this will take place at 11:30am
• Hoof trimming demonstration
• Preparing Your Doe for Kidding
• Drenching demonstration
• Goat walk – visit the goat herd, lots of bouncy goat kids!
• These will be ongoing through the day
• Made-to-order goat coats
• Goat Milk Soap for sale

Bring a brown bag lunch or picnic to enjoy during the Q&A  session.

Please ring 03 312 1203 for more details, or email tehuafarm@no8wireless.co.nz

This event is only held every two years. It was planned for early October 2010 but had to be cancelled due to the September 4 earthquake, and then it was postponed to early March 2011 but had to be cancelled again due to the February 22 earthquake. It is a long-awaited event so please don’t miss it!

Relaxing after the main course

Our annual mid-winter dinner was held today, on Saturday the 23rd of July 2011. This lunch time event was at Red Red Wine Cafe in Darfield. Most does are dry at this time of year, so things are fairly quiet on goat farms. In other words, everyone can relax

Children enjoyed the Kids Menus

We had the whole restaurant to ourselves, as it was a private function. We loved it! The food was great, and we all had a great time. Sorry I couldn’t include every one in the photos.

"Billow the Goat" by Sayna Smith

My Name is Billow.

My mother’s name was Storm, because she was born after a thunderstorm. I used to live with a lady called Irene. She was a good owner, but she sometimes treated me like a little kid even though I was already quite grown up. You know, my mum and other kids’ mums got more feed. I used to watch them eat and wonder why she didn’t give me as much food. Why, the only difference was that I was a bit young and haven’t had kids of my own.

Before my new owners brought me to my new home, they left me at a place where I married…no, I mean mated with a buck called Faroah. Then the new owners came and picked me up again.

When I arrived at my new home, I became very confused, because I did not know where my old owner was and where my friends were.

I slowly became used to the strange human monsters living here. Prudence, our herd queen, told us not to go near them at first. Unlike my old home where there was just one lady looking after us, here there were lots of different humans walking in and out of the paddock all the time. Some of them were quite noisy, too. They behaved like kids, too. They kept on changing their coats; I saw coats of many colours. I didn’t understand why they change coats like that. I like my old white coat best.

My favourite fellow goat where I live is Mallow. She is a very timid, gentle goat. She likes to eat treats like carrots and apples. (Also my favourites!)

Some people say goats are smelly, mean, eat everything etc. But that is not really true at all. Oh, I am getting sidetracked here…

My two fellow goats did not like the idea of not living at their old home. We avoided those human monsters as much as we could, but they kept on coming to our paddock day after day to spend time with us and give us treats. So in the end we decided they weren’t too bad after all. In about 2 months, we became used to our new home.

My favourite human mum is the head hoof clipper human, Junko. She’s kind to me.

I remember last year my mum died. I was very sad. I did not understand why they crowded around her. Maybe they were sad too.

About a month after my mum died and my depression had subsided, I had two kids. They were tiny helpless buck kids. I only had enough milk for one of them, so the humans had to feed the other one with a funny bottle device. They called my kids No. 2 and No. 3.

In about a month, my kids were taken away from me. I heard that they were given to a nice family. I am sure they are safe.

Today, I am a happy, healthy and much loved goat. I give lots of milk and I love living here.

Billow the happy goat

Story by Sayna Smith (written when she was 11)

Homemade feta cheese

Classes will resume in the spring; booking essential.

Cheesemaking 101 – an Introduction
Basic equipment required, but nothing out of the ordinary for the home kitchen. Everyone makes a feta cheese to take home to age and enjoy. Cheesy nibbles provided.

Farmstead Cheddar
For this course you will need to buy or bring a cheese press. We will have them available on the day, for $90, made by local woodworker and forester Barry Mathers. This course cost is $100 and runs for 5-6 hours. Each participant will take home a round of cheddar to age, as well as watch demonstrations of several other cheeses, which may include a herbed chevre log, mozzarella, haloumi, cup cheese, manchego fresco, queso blanco and mascarpone, to name a few. Cheesy nibbles provided, but please bring a lunch.

These classes are an ongoing fundraiser for the Canterbury Dairy Goat Breeders Association, with a portion of the proceeds to go to the club for its pursuits in educating the public about goat husbandry as well as promoting the improvement of dairy goats.

Andrea Gauland has been milking goats and making goats’ milk cheeses for twelve years.