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Eillen Dorsey Dill's a little goat farm.

Nigerian Dwarf Goats-Dairy Side
(facebook group post)

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May 24, 2019

Let's talk about appraisal shall we. Every group I've looked at over the last couple of days, that's all everyone is talking about. BORING.... It is...it's boring. As an ADGA director, I hear a lot of "stuff" too. Gobs of it. So, even though I know exactly what appraisal is supposed to be used for, I don't want to talk about that. I want to talk about FINAL SCORE! The one thing everyone says you shouldn't be using the program for....and actually, I agree. The final score is not the purpose of the program....but how many of you are actually using it as intended? I imagine the number of enlightened are few and far between. At any rate....let's have a little chat about final score. How many of you pay attention to that little chart over on the right hand bottom corner of your sheets? Most of you I'm guessing. But I'm also going to jump out there and ask you if you're really truly seeing it. It goes something like this...Excellent = 90 and above, Very Good = 85 to 89, Good Plus = 80 to 84, Acceptable = 70 to 79. And of course the ones most of us prefer not to see at all are Fair = 60 to 69 and Poor = 59 and below. We spend so much time chasing 90s we forget what the other numbers mean. There's nothing wrong with chasing excellence...I do! But don't get yourself so wrapped up in that number you can't see what else is standing out there. Or get offended because the appraiser didn't appreciate Ms. Fluffy Butt as much as you thought he/she should have. Take your ego out of the equation. There's no place in an educational program like Linear Appraisal for your ego. Check it at the door! Do y'all have any idea what "acceptable" actually means? Acceptable means she's a decent animal and in my opinion, very worthy to be in your program. There is absolutely nothing wrong with having a selection of acceptable animals standing in your barn! Good plus means she's better than just "acceptable" so she's moved up a notch beyond decent and worked her self into better then just a good doe. After that, we have very good! "Oh my gosh! These mashed potatoes are VERY good!" Any cook would find that highly complimentary. Well, it's a high compliment when your appraiser gives your doe a V also. People a 70 and above are good decent does to work with! I have a plethora of yearling ffs (they look like senior kids with udders) with scores ranging from 80 to 83. Wouldn't trade them for anything! In fact, if I get a yearling that scores high...86 or above, I get rid of her. Since I know my genetics better than anyone, I know that high scoring yearling is going to end up coarse and over done by the time she's 3 or 4 while my low 80 does are going to turn into lovely dairy does that score 89, 90, and above. Quit getting mad at your appraiser because they gave you an accurate final score. Look at it, see what it really means....and build from there! After all, Rome wasn't built in a day!

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