Spotted Nubian Goats-Beaver Dam Goats

Over the last few years I have turned more and more to dairy goats, eliminated cattle and reduced the horses. This seems to work far better for my aging back and legs!! This is my third farm-and by far the smallest and "tamest" one as well. While I am not interested in showing my animals (been there, done that with 4H horses), my goal is to raise quality animals who will produce milk, with somevery showable ones --for someone else to show! I have settled with Nubians, although I have had some others along the way - they just seem to do better in these hot and humid southern summer days, and I love the color variations. I have tried to combine the Cadillac and Faith Farm lines back to the Hallicienda Frosty Marvin bloodlines, also with a lot of Foxwood in my herd (goes back to Cadillac and Faith Farm as well). My favorite of all time, however, are those of the Sidney Chinsucker background-there was size there, milk there and yet still dairyness. I have been able to participate in three Linear Appraisals sessions over the years, with most scores reported below from the April 2008 appraisal, with appraisal probably not done again til 2011.

For those that have visited me, or my website, in the past you will notice a DRASTIC reduction in animals by the end of the 1010 year due to my age (HAH!!), past history of a couple of terrible droughts and the decision that I really am supposed to be retired.

Towards the end of the 2002 season I decided to begin with some artificial insemination with now a tank full of exceptional fellas.for the 2003 year, and have added many good bucks to my "tank" I have not used this as extensively as I wish, findinding my eyesight to be more of a prblem than anything-but now have avet available to help. Thus, much of the semen I have may be for sale in small quantities. Most of my pictures are "home grown" - actually, most of the goats look far better than my pictures!

My herd as 2010 is moving along consists of four senior Nubian does, one junior Nubian doe, one senior buckling, 1 baby buckling born January 2010 and two Saanen babies. Although I had made plans to move during 2008, but with the drop in property prices and many personal issues, it does not look like this will happen.

I currently have four guardian dogs for my goats, two obtained through Rescue. Lass, who started this all, was a Great Pyrenee, who I lost the summer of 02 at age 13 1/2. Originally from a pygmy goat farm in South Carolina, she helped train the two older female dogs I now have. Pogo (1/2 Pyr and 1/2 Anatolian Shepherd), was adopted eight years ago, and is now turning about ten-she believes in reorganizing anything she can carry-never know where she will have moved anything that can fit in her mouth!! I purchased a female pup, Sara, Great Pyr,, now almost nine, who is the lead dog. I added another female, Sylvie, 1/2 Pyr 1/2 Anatolian rescue for Sara to train, now almost six years old.

The joy right now around here, is FoxFire Willow-a Central Asian Shepherd/Central Asian Ovtcharka. A relatively rare and little known livestock guardian breed in the United States, used mostly in Tadzhikistan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Afghanistan and Uzbekistan--some have even come home with our U.S. soldiers stationed in those areas. She is a highly intelligent addition to my life, guarding all that she considers "hers"-which includes the animals as well as me!!

Herd Health: In November of 2003 I had achieved a Certified Brucellosis Free Herd status and a herd Acrcredited as Tuberculosis Free through the USDA, which was continued until N.C. was declared a state freee of these diseases. I also do yearly CAE testing.

Sales/Reservations: I prefer to sell most of the kids that are for sale by two to three weeks of age, although I will raise any to weaning with appropriate deposits. As my herd has tested CAE negative for many years, I am no longer raising kids on pasteurized milk. I will raise any kid with a deposit, however, on pasteurized milk, at the purchaser's request. Prices for most kids range from $350-450, with a $75-100 additional fee if raised until weanning age. As I specialize in spots and colored patterns, often there may be a really good deal on a solid colored baby. My prime male animals are kept as buck kids, with many others wethered and later sold as pets, pack animals, or for meat. Some years I also also have a couple of milkers for sale, as when I decide to retain a kid for my herd, another must go as I want to maintain small numbers. Since I culled so heavily these last two years, I don't expect to sell any milkers in 2010. If you are interested in reserving a kid for next year, please contact me and arrange a deposit for the dam of your choice, or a specified color pattern! If a 4H student in Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina or Tennessee needs a baby to show, please have your 4H goat leader contact me as a discount may be available. Please note specific sales list at end as well. I do reserve the right to "first choice" for herd replacements, unless otherwise specified in the sales contract.

Sales Guarantee: Animals leave here eating well and healthy. I am not usually able to check out where they are going, and thus can only offer a very limited replacement guarantee, as the type of homes, pastures and fencing they go to vary tremendously. If an animal becomes sick within a week of purchase, please contact me IMMEDIATELY!! If a baby dies within 6 months and a vet certificate ascertains from necropsy that there was a defect the animal will be replaced or money refunded. If an animal by age three has not reproduced, a vet certificate stating the cause of infertility or sterility as a genetic one (and not environmentally caused) will usually result in a replacement animal or other adjustment.

Beaver-Dam Goats, Owner Paula F. Gavitt

update 7/10/10