During my teen years, I worked with the Miramonte herd in Morgan Hill, CA as well as the Yarrow Hill Saanens in Santa Cruz, CA. I attended a lot of goat shows at a time when people went to shows to learn and not just to win. One ring, one judge, all day. Shows were leisurely and informative. They were a place to learn, much like schools used to be, when teachers were themselves scholars and had l
earned through inquiry and integrative thinking and not rote memorization. I started my University education in 1979 at SFSU, as an English major, before changing to a Theatre Arts major. At the urging of one of my acting instructors, I auditioned for, and was accepted to a Professional Actors' Training School, where I studied with some outstanding teachers. After earning my certificate, I returned to the Bay Area and began my studies in Math and Sciences, attending community college. After two years, I transferred to the University of CA - Davis as a Physiology Major. My major changed again, this time to American Studies, and then another time, to Zoology, a subject in which I earned a BS degree. During this time, I worked at Monami Dairy in Vacaville, CA where I milked 200 does of all breeds and crossbreedings. After leaving UC D, I went to work in Biotech as a Molecular Biologist. Being indoors all day drove me crazy, so I evaluated my options and decided to become a veterinarian. In veterinary school, I was drawn to Herd Health, and one of my instructors, Nancy East, was a true mentor to me. An actual stock keeper, Nancy taught me a great deal through both ideas and hard work. On the other hand, the limited instruction regarding goats, by an "instructor" considered "expert" seemed on a level geared toward mothers of 4Hers. My emphasis in vet school was Dairy Production Medicine, which I was able to transfer to my work with Farmed Deer and Elk when I worked in New Zealand upon graduation. Throughout my formative years on the sidelines, Ray Vieira and Donald Smith were two people who offered me the most guidance and allowed me to watch them do their chores and ask a lot of questions. Donald was visionary in his breeding of Alpines, and Ray remains a master of his craft. Standing in Ray's milking parlor for hours at a time, just listening to him, taught me a great deal about livestock and goatkeeping. Very few people with goats can be mentioned in the same sentence as either of these men, except when discussing contrasts. Barbara Backus has been another influence on me, setting an example of consistent and true type coupled with intelligent linebreeding. Few breeders of any breed have managed to attain and maintain a herd that remains true to its ideals. She has never followed trends or fashions in her quest to keep her animals true to type, and her involvement in the show ring is limited and very sensible. ABOUT THE HERD
In the year 2000, I was able to start my own herd and purchased 4 American Saanens from Kelly Gann. I was fortunate early on to have enough goatkeepers in my area to have a good test group for production testing. One year, I had the highest herd average in my DRPC, of over 3800 lbs, with three of my six milkers being yearlings. That same year, my does held 4 top ten placings in milk and butterfat. Eventually, as my fellow group members moved away, I stopped testing. Nobody was beating down my doors for kids anyway, so it made no sense to go it alone. I had enjoyed the camaraderie and the celebration of my fellow group members' successes and it was no fun without them. When I started my herd had not intended to show my does. But the showbug bit me and I attended a few shows each year, mainly to look at the other animals in attendance. I have enjoyed a modicum of "success" and have bred a few does who have been competitive in very political northern California circles. I have used a number of bucks from Lauren Acton's herd to add and strengthen the traits I desire most in my goats. Dr Acton's animals have consistently added good traits to my herd and have never been problematic - the bucks have good libido, and her does are not problem breeders. In addition, they are hardy and productive and kid easily. PHILOSOPHY
My philosophy is to understand and appreciate the dam line I am working with and to plan matings that will enhance the best traits of that line while making some changes. For me, an animal from a good dam line grows well, matures appropriately, breeds young, freshens as a yearling after kidding without trouble, and milks well. In addition, she will produce kids at least as good as herself and her type will be recognizable in her daughters. I do not believe in using sons of national champions simply for the sake of doing so, nor does a buck I use need to be from a doe with an LA score of 92. Instead, I look for strong traits in families and plan matings hoping for similar or better kids. Surprisingly, I trust my own judgment and do ask the opinions of a few goaty friends. REGARDING LA
Thank goodness for LA. After many years, it looks like there will be some really good advances made just with the training of some new appraisers! Because I think the showring has more negatives than positives, I look forward to utilizing this program with regularity, especially since some new appraisers have been trained and among them are Trinity Smith-Malmanis and Mark Baden - both people I respect due to their longstanding relationship with dairy goats, their experience working with commercial herds, and the fact that each of them is an active breeder of outstanding animals. Add to this the fact that they are both ethical and upstanding people, and I think the program is moving forward. THE SHOWRING
This year I decided to quit showing. After closely examining the amount of political gamesmanship it entails, and to repeatedly see some solid, productive animals passed over by judges who do not milk or own goats, in favor of animals with huge deformities and deficiencies, because of the owner or handler of the animal, I realized that most of what happens in the showring is a lie. Between the gross lack of professionalism demonstrated by one particular judge of a local show in 2014 and the pathetic job done at the national Saanen show in 2015, it became evident that the showring exists to promote a very select group of people whose qualifications have little to do with the real quality of their animals.While sometimes a good animal gets a nod, too many placings and wins are granted to animals that are neither sound nor productive. Favors are granted, debts are paid, liaisons are made. Add to that the lack of vision, intelligence, or fairness on the part of the governing organization, and it is easy to see why all of this happens. Passing a test wins you a card to judge and affect the industry and the future of dairy goats, even if you have never managed a herd, milked a goat, bred a decent animals. Just learn the lingo and march in lock-step, become an expert and tell others how they are, or should be, doing things! THE FUTURE
But the overarching truth is that I love my goats. I enjoy their company, I love seeing the improvement in my herd, watching the genetic drift over time, learning more and more about what makes a goat a goat, and what makes a herd look like a whole. And I do enjoy a handful of the people I have met through this endeavor. I hope to keep a few goats and a few of these friends for the rest of my life. I have decided to not milk goats this year, so for the first time, I will have a group of dry yearlings. Those who know me understand how awful I think this is, as I think the Dry Yearling should not exist, especially in the show ring. But I needed a break and I needed time to spend with other interests in my life. If you are interested in my goats, please contact me privately. Sincerely,
Bill Davis, DVM
