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The Dairy Goat Society of
Australia (Victorian Branch) has a Herd Recording scheme, run in
conjunction with the Maffra Herd Improvement Co-operative. Whether you
have a few milkers or a hundred, you may officially record lactations
for a minimal cost.
WHAT IS INVOLVED?
Once a month the milk from a
24 hour period, evening and morning milking is weighed and a sample
taken for butterfat and protein testing. This sample and the completed
form are posted for processing.
WHY BOTHER?
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For your own information -
records of actual yields of litres, fat and protein for individual does
and also herd totals and averages: month by month, over whole
lactations and over does lifetimes. You will get some surprises as to
which ones really produce the goods!
You will become more aware of the influence of management, and how
weather, general health, age and especially feeding affect your does
milk yields.
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For the information of
other goatkeepers and the dairy goat industry as a whole - both in
compiling general information, perhaps on performance of different
breeds and ages, and in the identification of specific individuals of
merit. Your herd's performance is of course confidential.
It is important to realise the actual amounts yielded matter less than
their relation to the herd average. Management will determine to a
large degree the actual amount: genetics will determine which animals
perform best in a given herd.
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Your does (and bucks) may
qualify for official Dairy Goat Society production awards. Refer to the
Herd Recording section of DGSA Rules. You will find Herd Recording an
interesting and rewarding part of your goatkeeping.
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Cost:
$45.00 annual herd fee plus $8.00 per doe per year.
Contact:
Rhonda Patton, 131 McGlone Road, Drouin Vic 3818
Ph: (03) 5625 2995
email: topazpark@optusnet.com.au
****AVAILABLE
TO INTERSTATE MEMBERS TOO****
An extra fee of $8.00
annually for interstate members to cover the cost of
Vic. Branch newsletter which contains HIPA information.
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