Last updated: 09/26/2008 06:39 PM

Donny, Tara, Sierra and Deana Strader ~ Southeastern Ohio ~ 740.236.1393 ~ email: eaglebendfarm@roadrunner.com

2008 Artificial Insemination Program & Goal

Our breeding program will undergo a face lift for the fall/spring 2008 Kid Crop!  During the spring of 2008, after completion of an Artificial Insemination Clinic by Superior Semen Works, as well as participation in Langston University Reproduction & Reproduction Technologies modules, our breeding program has the potential for major undertakings!  We plan to utilize the skills we acquired, and with a little luck should have a good outcome. We have been excited about learning the skills to perform AI, and will continue forward full steam. The AI & Natural breeding program that our farm will utilize will team up some very nice bucks with carefully selected does to produce nice offspring.

We have chosen to document our plans on the site to allow others to understand how, what, and why we are doing what we do. We choose not to throw a buck in the field and let mother nature run its course. We are interested in the diversity of multiple bloodlines, selection of past performers, and teaming up bucks with does that can have a positive outcome. We are a small breeder who values improvement of the breed in many factors, as well as overall herd health/maintenance. We will document our events and notes as we hope to help others by preventing mistakes as we learn and maximizing efforts, time and money as we try to produce a better boer goat.

Our  2008 AI Program goals:

• To use the very detailed data of the does we have collected over the last few years to select appropriate sires to breed to, wether AI or natural. (I.E.: ease for birth, quantity & quality of milk, number in birth, conformation of doe & previous offspring, birth weight of kids, and potential improvement of progeny by buck selection)

• Utilize the current (3) herd sires for natural breeding, as well as a selected few sires to purchase semen from for AI.

• In the breeding program AI (5) does to (3) select bucks we currently have semen in the tank from.

• Have realistic goal of 3 does successfully bred by means of AI.

• Accurately monitor does estrus cycles to increase the success of AI.

• Keep accurate, detailed records for reference. These records will be a valuable tool for determining what went right/wrong in the AI program.

• Maintain our bucks to a optimal level to achieve a successful collection in the fall of 2008.

• Evaluate the 2008 AI Program and make necessary changes for 2009 AI Program.

We have carefully planned out who to match up for AI & Natural breeding.

In no particular order, our selection is based on a number of factors:

1. Improvement of progeny: careful selection of what qualities can be matched up for the best possible progeny

2. Timing of delivery: time of year for delivery, show season, reconditioning of the doe after kidding for preparation of showing, preventing overcrowding of birthing pens

3. Genetics: Improvement of progeny pedigrees due to past proven performers in the progenies genetics.

4. Maintenance of bucks: Maintaining the bucks is very important to us, by not overworking the young bucks, and properly preparing the buck for collection by having does to breed prior to collection. Pre-collection preparation of the buck needs more attention than in the past.

5. Market: Understanding the timing to have quality animals available for market project animals, as well as ethnic demands, and for market.

6. Dam performance: Using the detailed data we have collected on the does regarding milk production, rate of gain of kids, quality of milk, birth weights, ease of delivery, and ease of recovery (post kidding).

Our Steps to Selecting a Buck/Doe combination for breeding:

1. We will use a buck that can add something to its progeny that could be missing from the doe selected to breed for higher quality animals.

2. We will use does that are ready for breeding that have a high body condition score to achieve the greatest possible success.

3. We will use bucks that are sound, and best carry on the breed standard as outlined by ABGA.

Proposed AI Breeding Plan:

(Please note: Breeding planner is tentative & is subject to change.)

Proposed 2008 NATURAL Breeding Planner:

"Our current Herd Sires"

We have a diverse collection of bucks to team up with doe's based on genetics, color, and anatomical correctness to produce progeny we are looking for. We now have progeny from Jeronimo, and he did not let us down, but his kids will be teamed up with one of our two junior bucks to give us the best opportunity to grow what we are looking for, a quality boer goat that meets our standard.

(Please note: Breeding planner is tentative & is subject to change.)

MONTH	JERONIMO Sr. Herd Sire ID: 10316735 DOB: 01/28/06 Color: Traditional	NV Jr. Herd Sire ID: 10416415 DOB: 01/30/08 Color: Red	BONU$ Jr. Herd Sire ID: DOB: 03/19/08 Color: Non-Traditional
AUGUST (JAN. DELIVERY)	Big Red Blackie Bonnee Caddi Chevy Mini Wendy Pinto Rona Rosie Sprinkle TR	PATCHY	Tulip
SEPTEMBER (FEB. DELIVERY)	"FALL BUCK COLLECTION" 7003* DAISY SPLATTER	"FALL BUCK COLLECTION" 7007* Blaze Bling Bricky	"FALL BUCK COLLECTION" 7006* Avalanche CaCa Dandi Rose
OCTOBER (MARCH DELIVERY)		Candy
NOVEMBER (APRIL DELIVERY)		Dazzle
			Spicy
DECEMBER (MAY DELIVERY)

*Doe's selected for August will be cycled to come in to heat in September to breed, so the bucks can flushed of old/dead semen and receive a week of down time prior to buck collection the end of September.

2008 A.I. Journal

This journal is a reference for us to look back to see what did or did not work, and to determine why.  We decided to make it public so fellow breeders/producers can see the labor, timing, and efforts of A.I.. We are not veterinarians, and do not endorse any technique, procedure, or medicines listed that we use. It is only an "open book" journal for reference in how we have utilized the A.I. procedure.

Copyright 2008 Eagle Bend Farm - All rights reserved