TMGR Conformation Clinic
An Educational Service Provided by The Miniature Goat Registry
Caprine Conformation Clinic
Evaluator: Virginia Johnson Gruver
Senior Bucks
Entry #1
Owner comments: American 2011
Evaluator comments:
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In general appearance this buck exhibits smoothness of blending throughout, standing uphill with the withers slightly higher than the rump. The head shows a lot of breed character. For the front end assembly he is showing a tight point of shoulder. This buck would benefit by being deeper in the chest and showing more extension in the brisket. In picture #1, it appears there may be a slight dip in the chine but I am going to give the advantage to this buck since the picture was taken down on the buck rather than level with the buck. The rump is strong, wide and level from thurl to thurl with the slope from hips to pins being acceptable for a mini Nubian.
This buck would benefit from standing on a rough surface where he could get a better grip with his feet and he would stand more securely. Plywood is slick and can throw the goat’s stance off. The rear leg is not showing the angularity I would expect to see and this may also be in part to the slick surface he is standing on. I admire the tight toes on this buck. In dairy character he would benefit by having more length of neck and body which would help to balance this buck in the dairy character category. This buck is showing good angularity with increasing depth of body from the heart girth to the flank when viewed from the side. When viewed from the rear the escutcheon is high but would benefit with more width in the escutcheon. In body capacity he is deep in the heart girth and carries that depth into the barrel. As an aged buck he is still competitive and must be commended for his correct conformation which has helped him to remain competitive.
Entry #2
Owner comments: 2011
Evaluator comments:
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I would like to start my evaluation on this buck by saying he would show better if he were caring less coat. When an animal has this much coat it is helpful to be able to feel under the coat for the anatomy. You can judge an animal with a lot of coat by watching how the coat lays and moves on the body while he is on the move. In general appearance this buck is slightly higher in the withers than the rump and it appears the top line is level. At the elbow it appears to show a gap between the elbow and the body which may be due to the way the buck is standing or the excess coat. In picture #2 the chest is wide and well developed, he is standing on strong legs that are wide apart and square with tremendous width in his chest. Picture #1 side view, the rump appears to be too steep from hips to pins, I am assuming the buck is in rut and when in rut this steep rump is not unusual. Picture #4 the rump is strong, wide and level from thurl to thurl.
Picture #1 side view, the front legs are straight but I am unable to get a clear view of the pasterns. He would show better if he were standing on the ground where the feet and pasterns were visible. The rear leg is lacking angulation when viewed from the side probably due to the leg’s backward extension. The backward extension of the leg does not allow me to see the set of the rear leg. This buck would show better if his rear legs were placed in line with the pin bones or slightly behind the pin bones. In dairy character in picture #1 he appears to lack length of neck and body but in picture #4 when viewed from above you can see the length of the neck and body. Also in picture #4, I can see the withers appear sharp and wedge shaped. When viewed from the rear this buck would benefit by being higher and wider in the area of the escutcheon. In body capacity this buck exhibits tremendous width in the chest floor and carries that tremendous width back into the area of the flank, he also stands with a lot of width between the hocks. He is also showing tremendous depth in the heart girth and carries that width back into the barrel.
Entry #3
Owner comments: 2012
Evaluator comments:
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This buck is very masculine, well muscled, smoothly blended throughout and showing a lot of breed character about the head. He would benefit from more extension in the brisket. His withers are slightly higher that the rump. He would benefit by being more level in the rump from hips to pins but he is most likely in rut so the steepness I am seeing should resolve after breeding season. Bucks may also be straighter in the hind leg when in rut. The rump appears to be strong, wide and level from thurl to thurl. In picture #1 this buck appears to have a problem with his right front leg but none of the other pictures are showing this. I am assuming picture #1 is throwing a shadow on this leg giving it the appearance of a deformity.
He is showing a lot of strength in his rear legs but would benefit with more angulation of the stifle. On the side view he is standing nearly perpendicular from the hock to the pastern. Due to the length of the straw/grass I am unable to evaluate the toes and hoof. In dairy character when viewed from the side I am seeing the increasing depth of body from the heart girth to the flank. This buck is showing excellent length of the neck and body when viewed from the side and top. He is showing good depth and spring of rib, the withers are sharp and wedge shaped. I would like to see the area of the escutcheon set higher and wider.
Entry #4
Owner comments: American 2013
Evaluator comments:
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In general appearance his buck is smoothly blended throughout, he is well muscled and is standing with his withers higher than his rump. Being an American he is showing lots of breed character about the head. In the front end assemble his withers are prominent and appear tightly set at point of shoulder and the elbows. In picture # 1 is showing a well developed brisket he would benefit from increased depth and strength in the chest floor. His rump is strong, wide and nearly level from hips to pens in picture #1. In pictures 3 & 4 you can see he is level from thurl to thurl. He is standing on strong pasterns and his fore legs are set square and wide apart. His hind legs are straight and well angulated when viewed from the side. He is also nearly perpendicular from the hock to the pastern and shows strong tight toes.
In dairy character he is showing a lot of angularity with the increasing depth of body from the heart girth to the rear flank when viewed from the side. He is showing good depth and spring of rib. In pictures #1 & 4 you can see the long lean neck which is smoothly blended into the shoulders. He is also showing a lot of length in the body. He is sharp in the withers. In body capacity He is deep, wide and full in the crops and the heart girth when viewed from the side. He is showing a strong, long deep and wide barrel when viewed from the side. In picture #3 this buck is high and wide in the area of the escutcheon. This buck is the closet to ideal in this group.
Entry #5
Owner comments: American 2013
Evaluator comments:
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For general appearance this buck is taller in the withers than the rump and he shows good breed character about the head. On the side view I would like to be able to see the brisket but this picture was taken more from the rear and not enough from the side. When viewed from the side he appears steep in the rump but he may be in rut and again, the long coat may be deceiving. When viewed from the side he is clean at the knee and standing on straight fore legs with strong pasterns. The rear legs are straight and well angulated when viewed from the side and nearly perpendicular from the hock to the pastern.
When viewed from the front he would benefit if his front legs were sitting more squarely under him. He would benefit by having his hooves trimmed; long toes force his toes open. In dairy character, when viewed from the side he is showing angularity with the increasing depth from the heart girth to the flank, he has length of body and length of neck. In body capacity when viewed from the front he would benefit by being wider and deeper area in the chest. He is deep in the heart girth and has a long, wide and strong loin area. In the area of the escutcheon he would benefit from a higher and wider area in the escutcheon.
Entry #6
Evaluator comments:
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This mini LaMancha buck has a long winter coat and may be in rut. In general appearance his withers are slightly higher than his rump. It appears he has a level top line. The rump is slightly steeper from hips to pins than is desirable, but if he is in rut the steeper rump is to be expected. The front legs are straight, clean knees and set wide apart. He would benefit by having his front legs placed squarely under him. This picture was taken from the side and back making it hard to evaluate the front end from the side.
He appears to be standing on strong pasterns but I unable to evaluate his toes and feet due to the deep straw/grass he is standing on. The rear leg from hock to pastern is nearly perpendicular. In dairy character, when viewed from the side he is deep in the heart girth and having increasing depth of body back to the flank In picture #4 when viewed from the top it still appears that the neck needs more length to balance this buck out In picture #3, he would benefit from a higher and wider area of escutcheon.
Owner comments: 2015
Entry #7
Evaluator comments:
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In general appearance this buck is standing with his withers slightly higher than the rump. In the area of the top line he would benefit by being more level in the area of the chine and the loin. He would benefit by having more depth in the chest and having his front legs set squarely under him. The rump is long and he would benefit if his rump were not as steep hips to pins when viewed from the side. Bucks in rut tend to be steep in the rump. When viewed from the rear he would benefit by having his hind legs placed closer together. He is standing on strong legs and even though the straw/grass is deep this buck appears to be standing on strong pasterns. Due to the high straw/grass I am unable to evaluate the toes and feet.
In the rear legs I would like to see them more angulated when viewed from the side. The rear leg shows a proper set from hock to the pastern being nearly perpendicular. When viewed from the front he would benefit by having his front legs pointing forward. In dairy character when viewed from the side this buck has a deep heart girth and he has increasing depth of body back to the flank. When viewed from the front, I am unable see the length of neck and body, but when viewed from the top, I can see the length of body and the length of neck. In body capacity, when viewed from the front I would like to see a wider, deeper area of the chest. When viewed from the side he has a deep heart girth with increasing width carried back to the flank. In the area of escutcheon he is high and wide.
Owner comments: 2015
Entry #8
Evaluator comments:
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In general appearance this buck is standing higher in the withers than the rump he is smoothly blended throughout. He is long and level on the top line with the exception of the rump which is steeper from hips to pins than is desirable. He would be better balanced with a more level rump but may be in rut. He is level from thurl to thrul. For the front end assembly he has prominent withers and appears to be tight at the point of shoulder and elbow. He is full in the crops and when viewed from the side he shows a well developed brisket. He shows good breed character about the head. He would benefit by having the large scur removed as the scur will be counted as a moderate fault. He has appropriate black marks with the bay coloring on the rest of the body.
He is standing on straight fore legs but due to the deep straw/grass I am unable to evaluate his pasterns on his front legs. This buck would show better if he were standing with his hind leg set back in line with the pin bones or slightly behind the pin bones. I am unable to evaluate his toes and feet due to the deep straw/grass. In dairy character when viewed from the side he has a deep heart girth with increasing depth of body back to the flank. He is free of excess fleshing. When viewed from the front I am unable to see his length of neck as he has his head turned. He would show better if he was facing forward so we could see the goat from the side. When viewed from the top, he is showing great length of body but would be more balanced with a longer neck. Withers are sharp and wedge shaped. In body capacity he is showing appropriate width in the chest floor, as well as having depth of body in the heart girth and the long strong deep barrel. The area of the escutcheon is high and wide.
Owner comments: 2015
Entry #9
Evaluator comments:
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This Mini Nubian buck appears to be uncooperative and not willing to show. He would show better if he were to stand squarely. In general appearance the front end assembly appears to be tightly set at the point of shoulder and the elbow. This buck would benefit with more extension of the brisket when viewed from the side. When viewed from the side he is steep in his rump from hips to pins which may be corrected if he were standing correctly. In pictures #3 & #4, this buck is level from thurl to thurl, he is standing on strong pasterns. His fore legs are straight and clean about the knee. I am unable to evaluate the toes and feet of this buck due to the length of the straw/grass he is standing in.
In dairy character this buck is free of excess fleshing and has sharp withers that are wedge shaped. He is incurving in the thigh. In picture #4, the buck shows length of body but he could use more length in his neck to balance him out. Just looking at this buck you can see the dairy character throughout. In body capacity this buck has lots of width between the front legs and carries that width back to the flank area. He is standing with lots of width between the hocks. He is full in the crops and shows tremendous length and depth of body from the heart girth to the flank. In picture #3, this buck is high and wide in the area of the escutcheon.
Owner comments: 2016
Entry #10
Evaluator comments:
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In general appearance this buck shows tremendous strength with the long, smooth top line. His front end assembly is tightly set at the point of shoulder and the elbow. He is full at the crops and has a well developed brisket. In the area of the rump he is showing a lot of strength with a nearly level rump from hips to pins, he is level from thurl to thurl. He is standing on strong and straight forelegs; clean about the knees and standing squarely. He would benefit by showing more width between the front legs. In the side view his rear legs are straight and nearly perpendicular from the hocks to the pasterns. He would benefit by having more angulation of the rear leg when viewed from the side. This buck is standing on short¸ straight pasterns, his toes are tight and he has depth of heels.
In dairy character he is deep in the heart girth with increasing depth from the heart girth to the flank. He is free of excess fleshing. He is showing tremendous length of body but would show more balance with more length of the neck. In body capacity he is wide in his chest and carries the width back to the area of the hocks. When viewed from the side he is wide, long, strong and deep in the barrel. In the area of the escutcheon he is wide. He would benefit by being higher in the area of the escutcheon.
Owner Comments: 2016