Notes from The NorthbranchBeginning with the End in Mind
We all have it in us to achieve excellence. Certainly it requires planning, diligence, and a discerning mental attitude. But it's not just the AMOUNT of time you devote to a project that makes it worthy, so much as it is the QUALITY of time and energy invested, from inception to goal, start to finish.
When I first decided to reject my urban life and crawl down the homesteading rabbit hole, I decided to take the transition slowly, and introduce one species of livestock at a time. Within the first year, I was discussing with my spouse the possible addition of a couple of dairy goats, an idea which he promptly dismissed. Like so many other folks with a dearth of education on the matter, Jeff had preconceived and wholly unfounded notions about the "nastiness" of goat milk (and of goats in general) and tried very hard to discourage my wistfulness.
My exhaustive pro-and-con research of classes of dairy goat left a singular breed on the table: the American Nigora. I selected this breed because of their small stature, duality of purpose in the production of milk and fiber, and the fact they are just SO DARN CUTE. My husband, on the other hand, flatly insinuated that I was making a mistake I would later regret.
At that time, the trouble with my original plan was a privation of Nigora breeders in my area, (or even on the whole East Coast, for that matter) however, I discovered, not far from me, a breeder of Angoras who was in the habit of making an occasional Angora/dairy cross, in order to have, at her disposal, the extra milk for orphans or rejected kids. And so, regardless of the grumbling protestations from stage left, I brought home two adorable Angora-cross doelings who later (as luck would have it) scored out as perfect foundation animals for the Nigora breed.
The first breeding season, my main focus was to get my girls "in the family way," so as to jump start their proclivity to lactate. But so impressed was I with everything about these little darlings, that I soon turned my research goal to learning what it would take to breed for full-fledged Nigoras... on purpose. I happen to have a rudimentary understanding of genetics (an untapped predilection that was meant for veterinary school but got left to the wayside when I sought a BFA instead...) but thanks to the vast knowledge of Ann Acord and ML Richardson, the (former) administrators of the American Nigora Goat Breeders Association (ANGBA) who tirelessly donated their time and expertise for the betterment of the breed, I became wholly captivated.
Although Nigoras have been "a thing" since the early 1990s, they are, as yet, not a legitimate breed - a coveted title meant only for breeds that have had the trial-by-fire testing which is accomplished through successive breedings up to the F6 generation. I was shocked to learn the breed, though in the process of being recorded, was still only (just) at F3, a level after which it becomes increasingly difficult to attain the next level, and the next. F6, therefore, becomes the brass ring to reach for, attainable... but with great difficulty - especially if the intent is to have few (if any) common ancestors in the pedigrees. Nevertheless, in this way, the breed becomes standardized according to type, so the progeny present correctly and predictably.
Thanks to the current trend towards processing and spinning natural wools and fibers, the Nigora is beginning to realize a surge in recognition, sparking many other aficionados to cross over to this lovely breed. However, those breeders who concentrate their efforts to improve the fleece of their goats without regard to the dairy side are missing the point. For in a world where there are many species which produce either milk OR luxury fiber, the Nigora is the ONLY goat which has the potential to excel in BOTH and it would be a disservice to strengthen the natural genetic tendency of only one of these traits, in my opinion.
As to my first dairy goats - both were nearly half Angora, with the balance of their genetics being Nigerian Dwarf, Sanaan, and Toggenburg (excellent dairy breeds all). The percentages of the different breeds were such that they didn't qualify as Nigoras, and their fleeces were nothing special.But Rachel and Minka were superb milkers, and as foundation stock, they infused some awesome milking genetics into my original Nigora line. I was lucky in finding my next two F1 Nigora bucks, who offered increased fiber potential to offset the girls' lack of such.
Since those early days I have committed to becoming a serious breeder whose long range goal is to produce Nigora goats with a very low inbreeding coefficient (in other words, no inbreeding or line breeding). For now, I have focused on achieving my short range objective of building two separate lines of quality Nigoras (without ending up with too many goats - lol) and finally, through stringent culling and selection, I am breathless with anticipation to welcome the arrival of F3s next spring, with the possibility of F4s within two years!
I hope to reach F6 in my lifetime.