The herd

Continue to milk record all our female goats using modern and hi-tech methods of recording, maintaining of records and analysing of data.

Test the progeny of our males for type, yield and milk solids.

Source herd sires from top pedigree breeders.

Maintain our high herd health status ( CAE accredited since 1998 and Scrapie monitored ).

Maintain the highest standards of goat husbandry and veterinary assistance.

Continue to produce very clean milk.

Employ only the best and most knowledgeable staff.

Herd foundation

The herd was founded in 1995 with a group of 50 females from a British commercial herd.

These females were from bloodlines that included the progeny of

§§263/233 † Ashdene Nimbus BS036981D (ex CH RM263 Ashdene Nefertiti Q*3)

§§236/171 † Ashdene Meteorite HB058781D (ex CH RM320 Ashdene Metaphor Q*2)

§§320/171 † Ashdene Metic HB062400D (ex CH RM320 Ashdene Metaphor Q*2)

From the outset the aim was to breed the very best quality females and to this end the first Givendale Herd sires included, as its own males:

§§190/199 † Nutknowle Hawker BS036923D (ex AR190 Myddlewood Lovage Q*3)

§171/178 † Willowdown Gemboy BS036829D (ex R171 Willowdown Gem *4)

§245/271 † Bailmhor Vennao HB068753D ( ex CH R245 Bailmhor Vennea Q*) joined the herd in 1998.


Males currently in the herd
	Details of the males responsible for the recent expansion in herd numbers, are shown on the males page, together with their pedigrees and some photos. We have more than a dozen breeding males (and two more to arrive this year) and a similar number of vasectomised teasers. The males in the picture have recently completed their work for the time being (April 2003).



Numbers of females
	The female lines have been selected for type throughout the herd history. In 2004 the herd runs at around 1200 head including 800+ milking females, rising to 1000 in the near future. In the picture a section of Yard H shows 3rd lactation goats, recently served (April 2003), relaxing contentedly and looking well. All of our milkers are kept in conditions like this.




Production levels The rolling herd average is just less than 1400 Kilos in 365 days, including first kidders, at 3.8 % BF and 2.8 % PR .


Breeding policy We continue to breed for type and milk yield, culling when necessary. Currently we are using sires that have high butterfat and protein figures in their breeding as well as breed type. This has lead to the introduction of British Alpine, British Toggenburg and Saanen males to the herd from carefully selected blood lines.

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