Last Updated: 11/20/2009
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Irish Valley Farm
Irish Valley Farm has been breeding a fairly small herd of dairy goats since the fall of 1999. Our farm is centrally located in Belding, Michigan - approximately 3 hours from both Detroit and Chicago. Over the years we have raised Alpines, LaManchas and Saanens. In 2003 we sold out our beautiful Alpine herd to concentrate on the other two breeding programs. We have now also cut back our LaMancha herd to concentrate specifically on our stunning Saanen herd. Our goals are to breed animals with excellent mammary systems, while maintaining strong milk production, and to excel in all other areas of the scorecard as well. We have used national show winning bloodlines from various herds in our quest to accomplish these goals. We have been showing our animals since the very first summer that we owned them. Over the years our herd has become more and more competitive in the ring, bringing home many honors to our herd. We have been told that we now have one of the best Saanen herds in the state. Our girls have placed consistently at the top of their classes for the past few years, earning numerous Grand and Reserve Championships as well. We participate in Linear Appraisal when we can, in 2007 our average final score was 90 first fresheners included! Our last three ADGA National shows have been very exciting for us! Our second National show we were absolutely thrilled when our 2003 Spotlight Sale consignment, Irish Valley MFA Vreneli was the 1st place Intermediate Kid! We also had a 3rd place Junior Kid, 1st place Junior Get-of-Sire for McQuitty Farm Ammo's Attidude, 2nd place 4yr old milker, and 4th place 5yr old milker that year! Our third time attending in 2004 was very exciting for the girls who did VERY well in the Youth contests. Alicia was Premier Saanen Youth Exhibitor and 2nd place Senior Showman, Kate was Premier LaMancha Youth Exhibitor and Premier Overall Youth Exhibitor and 4th place Intermediate II Showman, and Hannah was 1st place Junior Showman. Alicia and Kate were also part of the 2nd place Fitting Team. Our fourth attendance in 2006 proved to be our most exciting to date. We only brought 4 milkers and placed 15th in the yearling milker class, 5th and 7th in the 3yr old milker class. Our 2yr old, First freshener, McQuitty Farm WMV Thalutations received top honors placing first with first udder in her class!!! Herd Management: Herd management is a big deal to us. We believe that show animals are 50% genetics and 50% management, and we take special care to be sure that each animal is healthy and a good example of our herd. The milkers and dry yearlings are housed on a one acre pasture, with a run into the barn. They are fed quality second and third cutting alfalfa through the spring and summer and have trace minerals available free choice. We feed first cutting alfalfa through the fall and winter, and start feeding bred does grain regularly along with third or fourth cutting alfalfa when they reach roughly one month prior to their kidding date. We practice very careful CAE prevention by raising our kids on pasteurized milk. Kids are started on grain and hay as soon as they show interest, and we wean them from milk at 10 to 12 weeks of age. We worm and treat for coccidian regularly through the summer and fall, and give BoSe every other month through their first summer of growth and then as needed throughout their life. Reserving Your Kid: If you have any questions please feel free to Contact us. We look forward to hearing from you! Sincerely,
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