All kids are raised on a CAE prevention program. Any kid that nurses is culled. This means a tremendous amount of labor for us, in addition to our full-time off the farm jobs. However, we feel that this is the only way to ensure negative kids in a herd of this size.

For our animals to be profitable and remain in the herd, they must have good milk production and good conformation. In North America, goats are very seasonal in their breeding and their milk production. The majority of goats in the U.S. breed in the fall months and freshen (kid) in the spring. Because we provide milk all year long to the cheese company, we breed for does that have long, steady lactations and that maintain their milk production even after they have been milking 8, 10, 12, 14 months or more.

In addition to steady milk production, our animals must have good conformation so that they can milk easily and can remain healthy throughout a long life. We prefer to milk an animal until she is 7 or 8 years. Thus, we emphasize strong udders, feet and legs. Our animals also tend to be large and "dairy;" that is, we prefer animals that combine large size with a degree of refinement. Dairy goats, like dairy cattle, should be "cleaner" (having less excess flesh) and taller than meat animals.

We were on DHIR milk test from 1978 until 1996. While we plan to go back on test in the year 2000, many of our best does now do not have official production records.

This year we have a number of 2000 bucklings for sale out of proven sires. We also have doe kids for sale.