Wednesday, October 14, 2015

long, overdue report

I owe you a fiber report, and apologize for the delay. Thank you, readers who inquired and reminded me! I hope you won't regret it when you see how long this post will probably be.

Remember when I sent five bags of 2015 cashmere to the Cashmere Goat Association show in Maine? And then someone offered to personally transport fiber across the border if any of the US exhibitors would care to enter the Canadian National Cashmere Fleece Competition the following month?

I am astonished that I got this group in one frame.
As I mentioned at the time, I'm not very interested in competition for it's own sake; what I was after was "judges' cards." A judge looks at each bag of fiber - there were over 100 entries at the Maine show - and makes quantitative and qualitative assessments. Some relate to the elements that actually define cashmere, such as the length, diameter, and form of individual fibers. Some relate to the productivity of the goat and overall quality of the entire fleece. Since my own fiber-producing experience is very limited, and my judgement is undoubtedly influenced by my feelings about my animals, I value the expert opinion of professionals.

For maximum educational value, I sent fiber from some very different goats. When the cards and fiber came back, the judges' notes were as informative as hoped for, and while some supported my own opinions, others showed me areas that I need to consider in future breeding plans.

And then there were some flat-out surprises, and I think this is the part my readers will find most interesting...

Remember Vinca and Dara? Here they are, during combing season last Spring. Gosh, just looking at this picture makes me tired!



By comparison, here's what they looked like in June:



At the Maine show, in a class of 5 first-year wethers, Dara's fiber won a 4th place ribbon! Aw, Dara! Who's a lovely boyo, then?

"Me?"


And you know Lily's daughter Azalea, right?
Here she is greeting baby Fern back in April:


At the Maine show, in a huge class of 14 first-year does, Azalea's fiber won a 3rd place ribbon! This made me very happy indeed, because I've always had a good feeling about this girl and her cashmere.

And of course you know LeShodu, Herd Matriarch. Here she is, in a photograph taken seconds after the one at the top of this post:

"Yes, that's right. Still The Boss."

CRACK!

I interrupt this Report for a little background on the herd:
~~~
I did not breed LeShodu; she was one of two mature does I bought in 2010, hoping to slowly build my cashmere herd from a solid foundation of their genetic input. Both does were producing excellent fiber in great quantity, but their kidding histories were unclear.

LeShodu presented me with two beautiful kids the following Spring, but unfortunately I couldn't seem to get the second doe bred. Even so, if she had been a pleasant, easygoing animal, she'd still be here today: not producing kids, but hopefully making cashmere, and eating her head off every day. But after about a year and a half of my increasing frustration with her attitude, I made the decision to return her to her prior herd.

Which left LeShodu as my sole foundation doe, and every goat on the place is related to her to some degree. It's very tempting to breed her one more time, especially since cashmere quality often declines as an animal ages, but LeShodu is still producing lovely cashmere and lots of it. But I made the decision to retire her from breeding after her 2014 kids, and I'm sticking to it, even though she is looking very well and would undoubtedly be interested in Mr Right Buck.
~~~
We now return to our Report:

Since it wasn't my breeding that produced LeShodu, I hope you won't think it's bragging when I tell you that at the show in Maine, in a class of 7 does in her age group, LeShodu took the 1st place ribbon.

LeShodu, Spring 2014

So. Three of my five goats were in the ribbons in Maine. Totally unexpected. Kind of fun! And I must admit, it made the prospect of the Canadian show even more interesting.

I discovered that Dara could not "compete" as a wether in Canada. But his fiber could still be assessed by the judge, which is what I wanted anyway, so I gladly paid his entry fee.

In Canada, Azalea was in another big class: 12 first-year does. And she again won a 3rd-place ribbon! TOTAL BRAG ALERT: I am thrilled to bits about this. Not just because two judges think Azalea is showing real promise as a cashmere producer, but because that's what I think, too. When I looked at the first comb-full of fiber from Azalea back in the Spring, I stopped combing and hugged that little goat. Who turned around on the stanchion and indicated that, while a hug is all very well from time to time, a handful of oats is always welcome.

Azalea standing on tiptoes at the barn door,
supervising the next goat being combed.



And last but never least...LeShodu. 

"You got the second part right."

In a class of 11 does of her age group,
LeShodu's fiber again took the 1st place ribbon.
(Which, by the way, is red in Canada. As in Britain.
Fun fact for the US "blue ribbon" folks.)

And then, as a class winner, LeShodu (in the form of a bag of cashmere) went on to compete against the winners of the other Adult Doe classes.

And she became Champion Senior Doe.

"Surely you're not surprised."

And then...cough, cough... 

she was declared Grand Champion Doe.

There was fiber from about 70 does at this show, and LeShodu took the rosette. I feel awkward writing about this because I'm afraid it must sound very braggy, but I take absolutely zero credit for this goat. I have already congratulated her breeders.

But LeShodu has been at the center of my goatherd-life every day for years now. And even though she could not possibly care less about the color of a ribbon - being far more interested in the color of a carrot - it does makes me smile to think that she entered her first show at the age of eleven, faced significant competition, and was judged to be top doe.


Because I am a sap.

~~~~~

30 comments:

  1. WTG Congratulations to You All!
    This is exciting tearing up news. You may not have bred LeShodu, but your care surely makes the difference.

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  2. What a wonderful post! Congratulations to you and all your goats--prizewinners and supporting cast! Surely they have landed in goat heaven.

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  3. You might think it's bragging, but you are just stating the truth of what happened. Nothing wrong with that. I would venture to say that it's not just breeding that makes LeShodu the grand champion, but the fact that she is well taken care of and loved. Plenty of goats out there are not given the same attention and might have the best breeding but not the right conditions. You treat your goat family with love and compassion and that's very, very important. Congratulations!

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    1. Thanks, Tammy - I do try my best, but sometimes it's hard to know what "best" is. And I think LeShodu in particular believes I could always do a little bit better! ;)

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  4. I am sooo happy for you and the results of the judges--judges are tough--so you did a wonderful job in raising and caring for them to earn these ribbons--enjoy-
    smiles, di

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  5. I know nothing about goats or their cashmere, but I was very glad for you and your girls. Miss #1 doe is gorgeous even to me who know's nothing. I like Azalea too, she seems very inquisitive. I like your blog, don't stay away so long.
    Congratulations
    Tonia

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    1. Thank you, Tonia. I think LeShodu does manage to convey that "look at me" quality whether a person knows goats or not.
      Thanks also for your nice words about my blog :)

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  6. Wonderful news! Gosh I feel as if I have to bow now! This marvelous reporting really will reverberate in the cold chores of winter. So worth it. Will there be press coverage? NPR interviews, for all of you?

    And thank-you for captioning the gangshot up there. I like to keep my goats straight.

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    1. Hahaha! No, haven't heard from NPR. Unless...wait a minute...Piper had one of the cordless phones in her bed the other day when I came in from chores. Uhoh. I think I know who took the call from Scott Simon!

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  7. I know nothing about cashmere goats but I know that LeShodu is quite majestic and I am not at all surprised that she is now a Grand Champion Doe. Bravo on the others who ribboned here and in Canada. You deserve to brag a bit, even though I did not take it that way at all. I find your blog very interesting.

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    1. Thank you so much for your comment, Vicki - much appreciated!

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  8. Sap? I don't think so!!! Woo hoo!!! There should be tons of carrots and whatever else goats like served up on a daily basis!! Congrats to your lovely goats and you too (and yes, you're entitled to brag on them!)

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    1. Thanks so much :) Yes, carrot pennies are coin of the realm around here!

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  9. Oh my GOSH! Wow. Not that LeShodu is surprised...but I'm IMPRESSED. Congratulations to you and all your wonderful goats!

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  10. Oh my goodness!!! I love your attitude, not being into the competition. But then winning all sorts of things. Grand Champion Doe!!! Holy moly - I bet she's the boss of everyone and everything!!! I am thrilled for you, especially for the amazing younger goats who you bred! Wow!

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    1. Thanks, KB! Yes. LeShodu definitely sees herself as the Queen of Everything :)

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  11. HOLY MOLY!!! Congrats on the BIG wins. I LOVE that you don't actually have to truck them around, but just send bags of beautiful hair. You ROCK, my friend...all those cool goats! XOXOXOXO OK, PS and a stupid question...do you ever spin and sell that wool???

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    1. Yes, there are shows where the goats have to appear in person - like in VT - but I'm much happier with sending the fiber and keeping the goats at home.
      And I'm planning to send all my raw cashmere - several years-worth - to a specialty mill for spinning into tiny little skeins of awesome. Just waiting to see the yarn that friends are having spun at a new mill, before I make the decision of where to send it.

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  12. WOW! Quinn, congratulations...it shows the hard work of taking care of your animals...Very Well Done! I'm proud of you and your herd.

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    1. Thank you, Sandra. Do you think I should pin the ribbons up somewhere that will catch my eye every morning in February? ;)

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  13. Yay, congratulations! You should be very proud of yourself and your herd.

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  14. I know zero about cashmere fibers, but WOW! you have a champion herd! Congratulations on all those ribbons!! Nothing wrong with bragging about your kids, you should be proud. And I think you should take some credit for that regal leShodu's cashmere ... you're the one who has fed her all that healthy stuff which certainly helps produce a healthy coat. I just loved your captions under the photos, they really show the goats personality.
    Wendy

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    1. Goats do have plenty of personality :) Someone asked me the other day if I can "tell them apart" and I about fell over laughing ;)

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  15. Champion Senior Doe. I would love to earn even honorable mention as a Senior Doe, myself.

    Belinda would be chuffed to bits for you and LeShodu. xoxoxo

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    1. And Iman would twitch one ear. Just one. Very slightly.
      (Thanks, Kay.)

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