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Caprine Conformation Clinic

 

Evaluator:  Rebecca Nix

Senior Does 1

Senior Does in milk

Entry #1

Green Gables MB Lovely Luna (1).jpg

Generation:  2  Lactation:  9   Owner comments:

Evaluator comments:  Very correct angle to the shoulder blade and placement of the foreleg under the wither. She is very wide and powerful into the chest floor, however I would like to see the front end more evenly wide all the way up to the shoulder in the front view. Very nice head and ear for 2nd generation. Very deep in the heart with a lot of power and width to this doe, really appreciate the width to her rump, however would like to see the loin just a bit wider at the junction of the hip.

Over the top I’d like to see her a bit fuller in the crops. In feet and legs I’d like to see the canon bones both fore and rear longer. She has very strong pasterns for her age, and lactations. The rear legs are getting a little straight, however that is a normal trait as does age. She appears to have a smoothly and well attached mammary system, with a correct shape to the udder floor, and nice teat placement. I would like to see the rear udder held higher up into the escutcheon, as well as having more capacity to the mammary system to match the wonderful body capacity. Overall a very solid and balanced doe. I would breed her to a very dairy buck, with a long bone pattern yet correct front end structure.

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Entry #2

Generation: 3   Lactation:  7    Owner comments:  Difficult kidding single buck, production way down from normal.

Evaluator comments: 

Really correct side profile on this doe. Very correct length to the neck, sharp prominent wither, blending smoothly into the shoulder. She has a very correct shoulder angle and although the front view is not quite straight on, I can see she has balanced width from top to bottom of the shoulder. She has excellent stature being taller at the wither than the hips, with a strong straight back and nice length to the rump. I’d like the rump a bit more level from thurl to thurl and longer from hip to pin. She has exceptional rear legs, both side and rear view for her age and number of lactations. I would like the forelegs to be straighter from the front view and the fore canon to be longer. She has a very correct body shape, both side profile and over the top. The main thing over the top I would like to see the loin wider at the junction of the hip, and the rump longer from hip to pins. Mammary system is smoothly attached and has a very correct shape to the udder floor and teat placement, however would like to see the rear udder higher. Also more capacity to the mammary system even with a single and rough kidding. 

Another really strong doe, showing dairy strength and body capacity, so I think I would focus on udder qualities when looking for a buck.

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Entry #3

Generation:  4  Lactation:   6   Owner comments:

Evaluator comments:  This doe has a very correct length of neck, blending smoothly into her shoulder assembly. She has a correct shoulder angle when viewed from the side as well as great depth at the point of elbow. The forelegs are placed correctly under the wither and she shows exceptional depth of body back into the flank. I would like to see her stronger in stature with her being taller at the withers than she is at the hips, as well as being a bit stronger in the area of the chine. She has an adequate length of body and length of loin and length of rump, however I would like to see her rump more level from thurl to thurl . In the rear legs she's lacking a bit of angulation from the side, however from the rear she is fairly perpendicular from the pins. In the foreleg she needs to be longer in the cannon bone. In the head I would like to see her with a deeper jaw and more sculpting around the eye and a longer more bell shaped ear. In the mammary system she shows  adequate area of udder attachment as well as smoothness of blending in the fore udder and shape to the udder floor. I would like to see the teat placement more medial on the udder floor. Overall this is a very powerful correct doe and when selecting a sire to use I would focus on length of bone pattern, stature and mammary system traits.

Entry #4

Generation:  1  Lactation:  6    Owner comments:

Evaluator comments:  Very correct head and ear shape on this doe. As well as a nice long lean neck blending into sharp prominent withers. She could blend more smoothly from the neck into the wither, however her back is strong and straight and uphill to her withers. Her rump is lacking in length from hip to pins and could be more level from thurl to thurl. The shoulder blade could be less vertical and the shoulder assembly when viewed from the front needs to be wider at the top of the shoulder assembly. The forelegs are placed correctly under the withers and the foreleg is straight in side profile. The rear legs show a correct length of cannon bone and correct angulation to the rear legs when viewed from the side. I would like to see the forelegs point more correctly forward however in the front view. Over the top I'd like to see her wider in the fore rib, fuller in the area of the crops, and wider in the loin at the junction of the hips. The body shape on this doe is also affecting the placement of the mammary system on the body wall.  While it appears that she has a lot of body capacity the capacity is out to the sides and she lacks the depth into the flank that would naturally hold that mammary system further back under the pelvic floor between the rear legs more appropriately. In the mammary system she is lacking area of rear udder attachment into the escutcheon as well as the strength to the medial suspensory ligament that would also hold that mammary system more snugly to the body wall. The teat placement is too wide as well. For selecting a buck to use, I would focus on udder qualities and correct front ends.

Entry #5

Generation: 2   Lactation:  3    Owner comments:

Evaluator comments:  Nice depth of the lower jaw on this doe with a clean lean neck, set correctly onto her shoulder assembly, however I would like to see the shoulder assembly wider at the top and she is really lacking depth into the heart girth and chest floor. While she appears to have a lot of width between the forelegs she really lacks depth of chest from the front view. The foreleg appears to be placed correctly under the wither, however I would really like to see the foreleg straighter from the side, as well as the pasterns to be stronger both fore and rear. She shows increasing depth into the flank with adequate length of body and length of rump. Although the rump shows adequate length from hips to pins, the rump is very narrow and the thurls are set too low. Over the top view shows her lack of fullness in the crops and width to the loin at the junction of the hips. Rear legs rear view shows that the rear legs are not perpendicular and she is lacking a bit of angulation to the rear legs. In the mammary system I would like to see the udder more balanced in width from top to bottom and the rear udder higher up into the escutcheon. The teat placement could be a bit more medial as well. When selecting a buck I would focus on body capacity particularly the front end assemblies and rump structure.

Entry #6

Generation:  5  Lactation:   4   Owner comments:  Dry in these pictures - gave her a break this year after having quadruplets the last three years!

Evaluator comments:  Nice long lean neck on this doe. I would like to see the ear longer and more bell shaped, as well as the lower jaw to be deeper. I believe the side profile photo is quite skewed to the left making her appear more downhill than she really is. However if you look at the level of wither to hip she is not taller in the wither and she could be a bit stronger in the area of the chine. She does have nice length to her back, however her rump is a bit short and the thurls are set too low. She has very clean and straight forelegs, and the rear legs are well angulated from the side, and nice and perpendicular from the rear. The forelegs are placed correctly under the wither. Although she appears to have a lot of width to the chest, I feel her legs may be set too far out making the front end look weak from the front. She has adequate depth of heart girth and has a nice wedge shape to her body back into her flank. She has really exceptional feet and pasterns. I would like to see the fore canon bones a bit longer and that would help her stature. She is nice and clean in the escutcheon with out-curving thighs. Although she is dry , I can still see she has a strong medial suspensory ligament. I would like to see her have more lateral  attachments to the rear udder and more delineation to the teats. Over the top she has great fore rib shape and spring to her rib, however would like to see the loin and hip wider and the rump longer from hips to pins.  For buck selection I’d be looking for strong heads, long bone patterns, and strong mammary systems.

Entry #7

Generation: 2   Lactation:  4    Owner comments:

Evaluator comments:  Very nice neck placement into the shoulder assembly on the doe. Smoothly blending into the withers and shoulder has correct angle from the side as well as the shoulder assembly being balanced from top to bottom in front view. The forelegs are placed correctly under the wither and she has a nice extension of brisket, depth of chest floor and depth at the heart girth. I’d like to see the foreleg canon bone longer and to see her straighter in the knee when viewed from the side. I'm not sure of the age of this doe, but assuming she is four years old, I would like to see her have more wedge shape to her body. In stature I’d like to see her a bit taller at the withers, however she does have a nice strong straight back, and correct length of rump from hip to pins. I would like to see the rump more level from thurl to thurl. The rear legs appear to have the correct angle from the side, although I think she may have been mid step in the side profile photo. In the rear view pic she is fairly perpendicular, however she does slightly roll over on those rear pasterns. Over the top she shows a nice spring to the rib, however her fore rib  needs more shape, she does have a nice wide loin and wide and balanced rump, would just like to see that rump more level from thurl to thurl. In the mammary system I’d like to see more capacity to the rear udder as well as more width at the top of the rear udder. The mammary system is set a bit low. The fore udder does appear to be smoothly blended and well attached, however would like to see the teat placement more medial and the medial suspensory ligament stronger. For buck selection I’d be looking for a buck with strong dairy strength, long bone pattern and strong mammary systems.

Entry #8

Generation:  2  Lactation:  4    Owner comments:

Evaluator comments:  This doe is nice and uphill to the withers, with her neck smoothly blending into the shoulder. In the side profile picture it is at a poor angle, however based on the placement of the rear foreleg the forelegs look to be placed correctly under the wither. Her foreleg is nice and straight from the side, however I would like to see the fore pastern a bit stronger. She has a strong straight back and correct length to the rump from hips to pins. The rear leg is correctly angled from the side, however would like the rear pasterns stronger as well. In the front view her fore legs are nice and straight, and she appears to have adequate width and depth to the chest floor, however would like the top of the shoulder to be wider, to match the width of her chest floor.  Over the top she shows a nice length of body and correct length and width of the rump, however she is lacking width to the fore ribs. From the rear view she is correctly perpendicular in the rear legs, with nice flat bone and balance to the length of bone. In the mammary system I would like to see the rear udder higher and more balanced in width, from top to bottom. She is lacking a little lateral attachment to the rear udder, as well as lacking medial suspensory ligament strength and teat placement. The fore udder appears to be smoothly blended, yet lacks width and fullness to the side. For buck selection I’d be looking to add mammary system qualities and body capacity.

Entry #9

Generation: 1   Lactation:  4    Owner comments:

Evaluator comments:  Very nice side profile on this doe. She is nicely uphill to the withers and has a correct straight back and has the correct balance in length of rump from hip to pin. The forelegs are placed very correctly under the withers and the rear leg is correctly angled with strong pasterns. I would like to see the fore pastern a bit cleaner and stronger. Her shoulder is a bit vertical in side profile, however from the front she shows a nice balance of width to the shoulder assembly and the forelegs are correctly placed and straight in the front view. She has very correct depth and width to the chest floor, and she shows great depth and fullness at the heart girth and carries the depth back into her flank. Over the top she shows the correct shape to the fore rib and spring of the rib. Also shows correct shape to the rump. Only thing I would like to see would be more width to the loin at the junction of the hip and to have the thurls higher. In the mammary system she is lacking the width and “arch” shape to the top of the rear udder, as well as lacking some area of attachment to the rear laterals. She does have a very nice shape to the udder floor, and teat delineation. Her fore udder shows nice extension and smooth attachment. I would like to see the teats placed more medial. For buck selection look for correct rumps, length of bone and mammary system strengths.

Entry #10

Generation:  5  Lactation:   3   Owner comments:

Evaluator comments:  This doe has a very nice shoulder assembly, both in side profile as well as front view. In front view though, I would like to see her deeper in the chest floor. She does appear to be deep in the heart girth and full at the point of elbow . Also over the top she shows correct shape to the fore ribs and spring to the rib, however she is extremely narrow in the loin. The rump shows nice width and nice levelness from thurl to thurl, however the rump is extremely short from hip to pin in relation to the rest of the doe. The forelegs are placed correctly under the wither, however I would like to see the forelegs straighter in the side profile. The rear legs are nicely angled in side profile, however she does appear to be close in at the hocks which is causing the rear feet to turn outward, instead of staying perpendicular to the pin bones. In the mammary system she is lacking rear udder lateral attachments and the udder could be held higher and more smoothly up into the estuchen. She does show nice balance to the width of the rear udder from top to bottom. In the fore udder she is lacking in fullness and smoothness of attachment. She does have a nice balance and symmetry to the udder when viewed from the side and nice teat placement. For buck selection look for strong feet and legs, strong mammary systems  and width throughout.

Entry #11

Green Gables Banana Muffin (3).jpg

Generation:  4  Lactation:  3    Owner comments:

Evaluator comments:  The side profile photo of this doe is a bit difficult to interpret with the shadows, however from what I can see, she has a nice depth to the heart girth and chest floor, with correct extension of brisket and placement of the forelegs under the withers. She has a nice length of neck and the blending into the wither and shoulder. I would like to see a little more angle to the shoulder blade in the side view. I’d also like to see her with more correct stature, being a bit more uphill to the withers. The foreleg shows a nice length of canon, however I would like to see both fore and rear pasterns stronger. I would also like to see the rear legs more balanced in length with the rump. The rump is a bit short from hips to pins and could be more level from thurl to thurl. Over the top view shows she is a bit narrow in the fore ribs and also narrow in the loin. She has a nice balance of width to the hip and thurl. In the mammary system she shows nice balance and symmetry to the udder when viewed from the side. She has a very nice fore udder shape and extension. Would like to see the top of the udder more arch shaped and balanced in width from top to bottom. She has a nice shape to the udder floor, however would like to see the teat placement more medial. For buck selection I would focus on strong feet and legs, stature and mammary system qualities.

 

Entry #12

Generation:  6  Lactation:   3   Owner comments:  Pictures were taken 5 months into her 3rd lactation.

Evaluator comments:  Very nice head and ear on this doe, perhaps would like the ear just slightly more “bell” shaped. She has a long lean neck, however would like it to blend a bit more smoothly into the wither. The shoulder assembly is correct in both side and front view, however she could be slightly wider at the top of the shoulder. She has nice depth in the chest floor, however she actually loses some depth at the heart girth and fullness at the point of elbow. She is very weak in the chine. She is very unbalanced in length of canon bone with the fore canon in particular, which is not helping her stature and strength of chine. In the side profile she also lacks depth into the flank. The rump has somewhat correct length, it could be longer, however it is very narrow when looking over the top. In the mammary system she looks to have nice udder texture. The rear udder is lacking attachments to the lateral and she lacks strength of medial suspensory ligament. The teat placement is too wide, as well as the curled shape to the teat end which can increase susceptibility to mastitis, and difficulty with placement of inflations. The fore udder is lacking fullness to the sides and smoothness and security to the fore udder.
For buck selection I would be looking for strong toplines, strong mammary systems and correct breed character.

Entry #13

Generation:  5  Lactation:   3   Owner comments:

Evaluator comments:  Nice head and bell shape to the ear. Would perhaps like to see a little more length to the ear, however she has a very nice head. Nice long lean neck leading to a sharp, prominent wither. Very correct shoulder assembly both from the front and side profile with correct placement of the foreleg under the wither. She has a nice set to the foreleg when viewed from the front, however would like to see her a bit deeper in the chest floor and deeper in the heart girth with more shape and fullness to the foreribs. Very correct back and rump. She could be a little wider at the hip but she shows the most correct rump with the levelness from thurl to thurl. The rear legs are nice and perpendicular to the pins. The rear legs are also very correct in side profile, as well as length of pastern and hoof shape. In the mammary system she has a very correct shape to the rear udder, particularly the shape to the udder floor, teat placement and shape. The only thing to improve on the rear udder would be height and perhaps more area of attachment. The fore udder is nice and full to the side, however I would like to see it a bit smoother at the junction of the body wall. Very correct doe, in all categories. For buck selection look for mammary systems, and body capacity, and a buck who will “do no harm”.

Entry #14

Generation:  6  Lactation:  3    Owner comments:

Evaluator comments:  I’d like to see the ear a bit more bell shaped and with less control. Also in the head she is a bit shallow in the lower jaw, and pinched in the nostril, she also lacks some sculpting around the eyes. She has a nice length of neck that blends smoothly into the wither. The foreleg is placed correctly under the wither, however the shoulder is very vertical in side profile. She is also lacking depth into the chest floor. She has nice width between the forelegs from the front view, however the shoulder is not balanced in width from top to bottom. In the over the top pic you can also see that she is prominent at the point of shoulder and lacking some shape to the fore rib and spring to the barrel. She actually has pretty correct length of bone in the legs, with balance and length of canon bones. I would like to point out that correct hoof trimming is also important. In the side profile she is lacking a bit of depth back into the flank. Looking over the top she is lacking the length of rump from hips to pins, as well as being extremely narrow and having a high peak to the dorsal process.

Looking at the rump structure when evaluating mammary systems is very important, because particularly in this doe, it really illustrates how when the rump is too narrow and steep you can not physically get the udder to be held appropriately up into the pelvic girdle. This rear udder is extremely low. When looking from the side, the rear udder is only slightly higher than her hocks. When looking at udder floors, you want the udder floor to be well above the hock. This udder, although set much too low, has a very nice shape to the udder floor as well as nice teat shape, placement and delineation. The rear udder is also lacking some area of attachment. The fore udder is lacking in fullness to the side, as well as extension and smoothness to the fore at the body wall. For buck selections, you really need to focus on stature, rumps and mammary systems.

Entry #15

Generation:  1  Lactation:   2   Owner comments:  97% Nubian

Evaluator comments:  Very nice length of bone pattern throughout on this doe. Would like the neck to be set more correctly on the shoulder and blend more smoothly into the withers. Very straight back with nice length of rump from hip to pins and levelness from thurl to thurl. The forelegs are placed a bit forward of the wither and the shoulder is lacking in length and angle from the side. She is very long in body , however really lacking in depth and width throughout. The rear legs rear view are too close in at the hocks, however the rear legs in side view are correctly angled. Over the top she just shows a lack of width from the chest, all the way back to the rump. In the mammary system she has a decent shape to the mammary system, however lacks in capacity to the mammary in comparison to her large frame. The top of the rear udder is high, yet it lacks width at the top up in the escutcheon. For breeding selections, definitely want to look for a buck with lots of body capacity and substance of bone.

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