Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Chasin’ Aces

It’s always exciting to hear about the accomplishments other breeders have with their Sparking Acres animals.  Sparkling Acres Chasin’ Aces currently resides in the Kori-Brook Herd of Centre Hall, PA.  Chase may have been the only Oberhasli at the DelMarVa Buck Expo last weekend, but that didn’t stop him from being named Best Buck in Show… in not only one ring, but in BOTH rings! (Judges were P. Kempe & A. McKeever-Clagget) Way to go Chase!

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Appraisal Day

We’ve been wanting to start a blog, just haven’t made the time to do so.  We figured that today is as good a day as any to start!  Our appraiser was informative and educational and we learned a lot from her.  No matter how many times you appraise, we find that there’s always something to be learned.  ALL of our mature doe scores went up, as did our bucks, who are now both EX90…and we appraised all our kids…which were V’s and Ec’s.  We were disappointed with our yearling scores, but we see definite improvement in udders, so we’ll let them mature a little, give them a 2nd freshening, and see what next year brings!  Take a look at individual pages for our scores.

Our 2010 kidding season got off to a great start on February 18th with a set of twin does!  Meet our kids and check on their availability status here.

SPARKLING ACRES DANCIN’ IN DIXI
Sparkling Acres Dixie Sunshine  x  CH Sparkling Acres Highland Rebel
Doe.  Dark bay with correct black markings
DOB: February 18, 2010
Status: Available for sale

SPARKLING ACRES DIXIE’S CHARM
Sparkling Acres Dixie Sunshine  x  CH Sparkling Acres Highland Rebel
Doe.  Dark bay with correct black markings
DOB: February 18, 2010
Status:  Charm will be retained in the herd

SPARKLING ACRES FOXI TREASURE
Sparkling Acres Treasured Rose x Sparkling Acres Oliver Twist
Doe.  Medium bay with correct black markings
DOB:  February 21, 2010
Status: Foxi will be retained in the herd

SPARKLING ACRES TREASURED LOVE
Sparkling Acres Treasured Rose x Sparkling Acres Oliver Twist
Doe.  Black!!
DOB:  February 21, 2010
Status: Sold

SPARKLING ACRES  RA TAMPERPROOF
Sparkling Acres April Wishes x CH Sparkling Acres Highland Rebel
Buck…11 pounds! Medium bay with correct black markings.
DOB: February 26, 2010
Status: Sale pending

SPARKLING ACRES SAMS REBELLION
Sparkling Acres Samantha Jade x CH Sparkling Acres Highland Rebel
Buck…12.5 pounds!   BLACK
**May only be registered with ADGA as Experimental
DOB: February 27, 2010
Status: Sold

SPARKLING ACRES REBELS PATRIOT
Sparkling Acres Faith’s Promise x CH Sparkling Acres Highland Rebel
Buck..11 pounds!  Medium bay with correct black markings
DOB: February 27, 2010
Status: Sold

SPARKLING ACRES DREAM SEEKER
Sparkling Acres Sweet Dreams x Sparkling Acres Highland Rebel
Buck.  Medium bay with correct black markings.
DOB:  February 28, 2010
Status: Sold.

SPARKLING ACRES JACKS ARE WILD
Sparkling Acres Julianna Jade x Sparkling Acres Oliver Twist
Buck. Dark bay with correct black markings.
DOB: March 8, 2010
Status: Jack is available for sale.

SPARKLING ACRES ZACK
SGCH Little Orchard BR Lily x CH Sparkling Acres Highland Rebel
Buck. 1/2 Oberhasli, 1/2 LaMancha…Will make a teriffic 4-H dairy wether or pet!
DOB: March 14, 2010
Status: Sold

SPARKLING ACRES CALL ME RILEE
SGCH Little Orchard BR Lily x CH Sparkling Acres Highland Rebel
Doe. 1/2 Oberhasli, 1/2 LaMancha.
DOB:  March 14, 2010
Status: Rilee will be retained in the herd.

SPRING…..(Lamb)
Madison x Rudy
Dorset ewe lamb.
DOB:  March 13, 2010
Status: Spring is available for sale.

GCH Sparkling Acres Rae of Hope was recently awarded her
4*M status!

Congratulations to Hope and the Kori-Brook herd for such a wonderful accomplishment!  It’s always rewarding to breed a beautiful doe, but to have her excel in another herd and have her owners so proud and dedicated to not only her, but to the development of the Oberhasli breed, is an honor!

Listed below are links to the herds of some good friends of ours…
Friends who we consider family, and  wish were our neighbors!

Kapri-Acres Nubians
kapri-acres.com
Lori Varga
Nubian Dairy Goats
Columbus, NJ

Kori-Brook Dairy Goats
koribrook.com
LennieRae Vangorder & Josh Cox
Oberhasli, Nubian, & Alpine Dairy Goats
Centre Hall, PA

PH-Oberjoyed & Dynamic Obers
oberjoyed@oberjoyed.com
Patty Hanson
Oberhasli & Alpine Dairy Goats
Madera, CA

Welbian Farms
welbianfarmdairygoats.com
Glenn and Donna Pearce & Mike Binion
Oberhasli, LaMancha, Toggenburg, Saanen, Alpine, & Nigerian Dwarf Dairy Goats
Peru, NY

Two years ago, we appraised in the middle of a hurricane.  Last year, we appraised with the bucks in rut and the does haunched over and cold on a blustery fall-like day.   This year, we are looking forward to an exciting and rewarding appraisal!  The bucks and does look good and the kids are maturing nicely.  Our appraisal date is Tuesday, May 18th…a bit early to have anyone clipped, so we’ll stay cautious, and just trim them.

Caution paid off, and despite the nasty, rainy, cold day, appraisal went well!  ALL of our mature does went up in score…including Lucy, who appraised EX92!  Both of our bucks appraised EX90.  Two Rebel kids appraised Ec, and all our other kids were V.  We were disappointed with our Acclaim daughters yearling scores, but now know where we stand with them.  We may have taken a few steps back on confirmation, but feel we took multiple steps forward with udder improvements!  We’ll evaluate them again after their 2nd freshening.

Unfortunately, it took us losing some of our best does to find out that we should be supplementing our herd with copper.  A special thanks to Donna Pearce and Mike Binion (Welbian Farms, NY) for explaining their supplement methods and getting us on track.  Since so many other breeders have since asked about how to supplement with Copper, we thought we’d post what we do and where we get the materials.

Jeffers  Livestock Supply Company
www.jefferslivestock.com
1-800-533-3377
—12.5 gm. Copasure Copper Boluses…item #: MG-C1
—Gel Caps (for mature animals)

Your local pharmacy
Triple zero size gel caps (for kids)

For adult animals: Empty the copper out of the Copasure Boluses.  Using the larger end of the clear gel caps, fill it with copper.  Close with the smaller gel cap end.  Administer with a balling gun.  Give one bolus to bucks and does before breeding and again after kidding.

For kids: Open the small gel caps.  Fill the larger end with copper and close.  Administer with a balling gun.  Give one bolus at 2 months of age.  Give another before breeding.

We were thrilled with the results we’ve had with supplementing copper.  Although it is not recommended for all herds, it has certainly worked for us!

Sparkling Acres dairy goats can be found in 13 states AND Bermuda!

Tamara Woitas, New Jersey, Welbian Farms, New York; Kori-Brook Dairy Goats and Stonecroft Farm, The Tinney Family, Wordens Acres, Pennsylvania; W&C Farms, Karen Taylor, Maryland; Rinaldo Family, Connecticut; Udder View Farm, Maine; Karen Jarret, Rhode Island; Maple Hollow Farm; Summerduck Farm, Candlelight LaManchas, Virginia; Ivy Patch Farm, North Carolina; GGG Dairy Goats, Colorado; Kathy Carlson, Arkansas; LuAnn Tuttle, Utah; Kathy Autry, Florida; Gerry & Aletha Wilmot, Bermuda.

Sparkling Acres Dairy Goats are doing well in other herds across the US!

GCH Sparkling Acres Rae of Hope 4*M

Owned by: Lennie Rae Vangorder, PA
LA: 2-06   88   VVVE
2008 Nationals: 13th place 2-year old
Dam: GCH Sparkling Acres Kiara Twist 3*M
Sire: *B Tonka Tails Highland Regiment

Hope, Kiara’s last daughter, is taking over where her dam left off.  Hope is a BEAUTIFUL doe!  She easily finished her championship as a yearling in an AOP class, showing against alpines and saanens.  As a finished champion, Hope continues to dominate the showring wherever she goes!

Burlington County Fair

Congratulations to Tim, Kristie, and Kellie for their accomplishments!
July 22, 2009
Kristie & Lucy… GCH LaMancha & Best Senior Doe In Show
Tim & Dreamer… GCH All Other Breeds
Kellie & Sammi… 1st place Novice Showmanship!

Mercer County Fair

Way to go Kristie, Kellie, & Tim!
July 31,  2009
Kristie & Lucy…Best Sr. Doe In Show
Kellie & Julianna…Best Jr. Doe in Show
Tim & Dreamer…GCH Oberhasli

NJ State 4-H Dairy Goat Show

Yahoo Tim!  Super job!!
August 20, 2009
Tim: 1st place Senior Fitting & Showmanship!
Kellie: 3rd place Novice Fitting & Showmanship!

Kristie & Lucy…1st place aged LaMancha
Kellie & Sammi…GCH Oberhasli
Kellie & April…Jr. CH Oberhasli
Tim & Dixie…Reserve CH Oberhasli
Tim & Sweet Dreams…Reserve Jr. CH Oberhasli

Ring 1:  Sam Whiteside, Judge
Best of Breed:   SGCH Sparkling Acres Winter Rose 3*M

Ring 2: Paul Kempe, Judge
Reserve Jr. Champion:   Sparkling Acres Treasured Rose
Best of Breed:   SGCH Sparkling Acres Winter Rose 3*M

Judge – Erin Griner
Combined Doe Show
Junior Champion:   Sparkling Acres Sweet Dreams
Reserve Junior Champion:   Sparkling Acres April Wishes
Senior Champion:    Sparkling Acres Samantha Jade
Reserve Senior Champion:    Sparkling Acres Faith’s Promise
Grand Champion:    Sparkling Acres Samantha Jade*
Reserve Champion:    Sparkling Acres Faith’s Promise

*Sammi received her 1st Championship leg at this show!