03/10/2025
When do you retire your does... I get asked this question a lot—and honestly, my answer usually surprises people: when she dies.
Look at this Brown Swiss cow. Winning twice, second time at the age of 10 years old.
As a breeder, I expect my does to be productive well into their teens. My oldest girl passed last year at 15 years old, right after weaning a kid. Many of our does kid well over age 10. After all the time and cost to raise them, it takes at least two kiddings just to “pay back” their place in the herd—so here, every doe, whether she’s out of national champions or a commercial line, is held to the same high standard: to be a Texas Tough goat.
What I see too often in the industry is top show-winning females who are flushed once or twice… and then never kid again. I have nothing against flushing—we flush too! But our donors also breed, kid naturally, and raise those kids. No excuses. I’ve done this successfully with does as old as 12.
Boer goats were created as a composite breed for durability and productivity. If we want to preserve that, we need to emphasize traits like longevity, fertility, and maternal strength—not just ribbons in the show ring. A breed-up to fullblood program should prioritize exactly that, bringing high-quality, productive percentage females into the future of this breed.
At the end of the day, goats should work for us, not the other way around. 💪🐐
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/17Z3Jjww7G/
Day 4 at World Dairy Expo delivered something we rarely see.
A 10-year-old cow just won Grand Champion.
Her second time taking the title.
Most elite show animals peak young and exit early. This cow kept going, kept producing, and just proved that longevity isn't luck... it's strategy.
We broke down the full story - the cow, the breeder, and what this win means for the industry's approach to durability and herd life.
Because here's the thing: average herd life sits at 2.8 lactations. You're replacing animals before they've paid back raising costs. Every early exit is $2,000-$3,000 walking out the door.
This Grand Champion made it to 10 years and won twice.
That doesn't happen by accident.
Sire selection, transition protocols, cow comfort investments - the decisions that extended this cow's career apply to every animal in your herd right now.
Push herd life from 2.8 to 3.5 lactations and you've just cut replacement costs by 20%. Real money, every year.
We covered the full breakdown in today's recap:
→ The cow's background and breeding
→ What made this win so rare
→ The economic case for longevity
→ Tactical steps to extend herd life on your operation
Read the full Day 4 recap here: https://www.thebullvine.com/news/world-dairy-expo-day-4-10-year-old-cow-stuns-industry-with-second-grand-championship/
What's your current herd life average? Drop it in the comments.
