[Halo-M Nubians]

I'm hoping someone can help me with a few questions. I don't get a chance to see the local folks who are on test very often and can't find the info I want in the paper work.

I'm planning on enrolling for next year, I haven't sent in my form yet, still need some info from my local group.
But I was wondering...

Do all milking does registered in my name have to be on test?

Also besides a scale, what other equipment will I have to purchase?

 

[Kaye White]

No. You will have to test all does of one breed,though. If you have more than one breed you can enroll one breed and not the others. If you have ND you have to have a herd code number for the minis and your standards.

No. All you need is a set of certified scales. All the other stuff is optional.
Kaye

 

[Halo-M Nubians]

My sister had 2 does that are her family milkers but in my name. She breeds to my bucks and kids come to my place and have my herd name or I sell them. But the does stay at her place. Is there a way to make this work with a lease agreement or something-or will I have to sign them over. We are doing it this way cause buyers seem to like a herd name rather then "the". All goats in question are nubians-the only breed I have.

 

[Odeon]

No. You will have to test all does of one breed,though. If you have more than one breed you can enroll one breed and not the others. If you have ND you have to have a herd code number for the minis and your standards.

Actually it is "recommended" that Nigerians are on a seperate herd code than standard breeds, becuase it will skew your herd averages, you can put them on a 2nd string if you would prefer to not pay for the additional paperwork.

Kaye is correct about all goats of a BREED must be on test, this also goes for ANY goats of that breed that reside on your farm on test day.. so if you have your Nigerians on test and board your neighbors Nigerian, and it is stil there on test day, you need to add her to your test.

Ken

 

[Halo-M Nubians]

So if they aren't on my farm it okay?

 

[Narrow Chance]

I'm interested in this also. I have tons of questions that ADGA said would be answered in the 'stuff' the sent.
I got it today.. and it is as clear as mud.
Mind if I ask my 'ton' of questions in this thread?

 

[Odeon]

If the goats legitimately reside on another farm, then no, you do not need to have them on your sheet.

If you don't want to test them so you "move them" on test day, then you are breaking the rules and could risk having your records expunged.

Ken

 

[Halo-M Nubians]

No, they definitly are NOT my goats; just on paper for ease of registry ect.

Rett, ask as many questions as you'd like.

 

[NubianSoaps.com]

I have lots, more than 20 goats like this...put them on lease in your ever owned list. This way I can choose to have them come home to be appraised or not. Vicki

 

[Odeon]

There was a breeder in Idaho back in the 80's who landed into a huge mess, he was sending goats to the farm next door on test day, and then bringing them back the following day. He just didn't want to pay to have them on his sheets... Well the local breeders who had an axe to grind with him, turned him in...

So as I said, make sure your I's are dotted and T's crossed. Vickie's suggestion of having them marked as "leased" is awesome... good way to cover your arse!

 

[Narrow Chance]

Asking away....
Since I am new to this DHIR thing.. which 'Test' do I go on? there are so many listed.. how would I know which is the right one?

I am small.. no more than 12 milkers at a time. Live almost in the middle of nowhere, although there is a few dairy goat people within a 50 mile radius. I've ask them if they would like to go on test, but they don't want the hassel of testing.
I do have one other that would be willing to go in as a group, but finding that third.. that is the ticket.

Can we do it with an outside tester.... or can we do the group and test each other? I've heard that you can send in your own test stuff.. on the honor system. Wouldn't that require some kind of back up quality assurance thing?

 

[Odeon]

You cannot test the herd of the person that is testing you... no way around it! However, you can get a Non-goat neighbor to be your tester (they cannot be a family member, or be living on your farm tho).

I just switched from Standard to Owner/Sampler. My tester flaked, and I am not concerned with Top 10, so O/S works great. I just need a verification test to be official!

If your tester doesn't live close, AM/PM is an option. The tester does one milking (say morning, just for arguments sake) and you do the other (evening in this case).

If you can find a local to take the training, then just go on Standard.

If you can find a third herd, I would still suggest you all take the training and go standard, rather than a group. In a group, there is one trained tester and everyone rotates. If you are all three trained. Then you would test "person A", person A would test "Person B" and Person B would test you. It would save on the tester fee.

Ken

 

[Kaye White]

But the does stay at her place

Problem solved.

As for testing without supervisiors...Owner/Sampler...I did that the 1st year and loved it. Only problem with it is...you have to have a verification test done on all does on test~between 60 & 90 days of freshening. Either haul them all to a one day milk test or hire a certified tester to come to the farm for 3 milkings (pm/am/pm in a row) AND your DCR (Data Collection Rating) must be at or over 75. With the price of gas going through the roof...this may be what I go back to in Jan.
Kaye