Last updated 15 May 2009
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This page should give you a general introduction and we welcome you to get to know us as we grow.
Herd name: Fair Skies
Date established: October 8, 2007
Breeds raised: Purebred Nigerian Dwarf dairy goats
We are very serious about bio-security!
The health of our herd and the preservation and longevity of the Nigerian Dwarf dairy goat is extremely important to us. Untested adult goats and sheep, or goats and sheep that have been in contact with untested, suspicious, or distrusted animals are never allowed on our property. Additionally, we only buy goats from trusted herds and we always quarantine new arrivals.
Date of last WHOLE-HERD NEGATIVE blood tests for CL, CAE, & Johne's: August 4, 2008
All goats over 6 months of age tested negative for CAE, CL, and Johne's! All adults tested negative for both CAE & Johne's while still at SilverAurora and My Kids Farm. SilverAurora and My Kids Farm test all adults annually and they have never had a CL-, CAE-, or Johne's-positive goat on-site.
No signs ever of CL, Blue Tongue, or Brucellosis, and we are in a TB-free state.
Copies of the test results for all goats are available upon
request.
The improvement of mammary (milk production) genetics is vital to the success of our chosen breed.
We are a member of the Dairy Herd Improvement (DHI) program through Langston University, with authorization to test all lactating does under the auspices of ADGA and AGS through the end of 2009. We have been testing since December 8, 2007 and prior to the establishment of our herd, our adult does were on test at SilverAurora and My Kids Farm.
DHI Herd #: 96007000
All of our goats are dual-registered in the American Goat Society and the American Dairy Goat Association |
AGS Member #: 11047
AGS tattoo: SKYS in right ear |
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ADGA Member #: 1509899
ADGA tattoo: SKYS in right ear |
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Kiddings to date: Seven
Kids produced to date: Twenty
Show experience:
showed in the Alaska State Fair in Palmer's Open Livestock Shows on August 23, 2008 in Palmer, Alaska. Thank you for the many awards and also title of Rookie of the Year 2008 for goat herder
volunteered as Ring Steward for Alaska Mini Goat Cache's and Alaska State Fair in Palmer's NPGA show and part of Alaska Mini Goat Cache's Open Wether Show
volunteered as Ring Steward for Alaska Mini Goat Cache's Open Obstacle Course at the Alaska State Fair in Palmer, Alaska
showed in the Alaska Dairy Goat Association's, Alaska Mini Goat Cache's, and Alaska State Fair in Palmer's August ADGA and AGS shows on August 21 and 22, 2008 in Palmer, Alaska. Judges were Daniel Considine and Rusty Repp - thank you, judges, for awarding SilverAurora TH Xbean Grand Champion Nigerian Dwarf Jr. Doe and Best Jr. Doe in Show, Fair Skies CC Yoohoo *S Grand Champion Nigerian Dwarf Jr. Buck (Considine), and MCH Sandy Hollow UK Chesire Cat *S *B Grand Champion Nigerian Dwarf Buck and Best Buck in Show (Repp)
showed in the Alaska Dairy Goat Association's August Harvest ADGA show on August 6, 2008 in Wasilla, Alaska. Judge was Heather Arts - thank you, judge, for awarding SilverAurora TH Xenya *S Grand Champion Nigerian Dwarf Buck and SilverAurora TH Xbean Reserve Grand Champion Nigerian Dwarf Jr. Doe
showed in the Alaska Dairy Goat Association's June Solstice ADGA/AGS shows on June 19, 2008 in Wasilla, Alaska. Judges were Tessa Maggiulli and Marie Layman - thank you, judges, for awarding MCH Sandy Hollow UK Chesire Cat *S *B Reserve Grand Champion Nigerian Dwarf Buck four times!
volunteered as Ring Steward for 2007 ADGA and AGS shows at the Alaska State Fair in Palmer, Alaska, assisting Judge Lynn Fleming visiting from Pine Bush, NY
volunteered as Ring Steward for 2007 Alaska Mini Goat Cache shows and obstacle course at the Alaska State Fair in Palmer, Alaska (Look for Heather to ring steward again at the 2008 NPGA show at the Alaska State Fair in Palmer August 20-22!)
volunteered as Ring Steward for part of 2007 Open Livestock Show at the Alaska State Fair in Palmer, Alaska
Other affiliations/associations:
Heather is Secretary, Webmaster, and Newsletter Editor for the Alaska Mini Goat Cache (NOT just for mini goat enthusiasts!) Next meeting scheduled for 2PM, 16 May 2009, Mat-Su Family Restaurant on Parks Highway, Wasilla
Members of ANDDA
Member of NDGA
We are part of the Buy Alaska program
We are Alaska Grown certified
We are part of Local Harvest
We hold license #2008-18688 to conduct business in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough through 12/31/2009. Additionally, we hold license #910451 to conduct business in the State of Alaska through 12/31/2010. You can also view our live license status with the
State of Alaska by clicking
here.
We pet, farm, house, & barn sit! We know you don't want to needlessly stress out your animals while you're away! Don't board them out, let us it for you! We are a responsible, professional, drug-free, alcohol-free, non-smoking, married couple with experience handling pets and livestock (cats, dogs, fish, turtles, rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, horses, goats, ducks, chickens, turkeys, etc.).
In addition to the basics of watching and securing your property, collecting mail and newspapers, watering plants, opening and closing window coverings, turning lights on and off, and tidying up, we can feed and medicate animals, clean litterboxes, collect eggs, milk goats, handle animals for the veterinarian and farrier, rotate turn-out, blanket animals, check fences, and more! We are familiar with off-grid power systems and wood stoves and we're also willing to learn with new animals and tasks. Your animals will be much more comfortable at home, on their same diets and routines, and you'll know everything is safe and secure.
Let us give you peace of mind while you're away. We're experienced and have references. Email us your approximate location, the month of absence (for your protection, please do not send your exact dates until we connect!), and a summary of your needs. If you have a budget in mind, please include this in your email. We'll do our best to help!
Need help setting up the perfect area for your new animals? We're always learning from our peers and we hope we can pass what we learn on to others to benefit their stock. If you would like to schedule a free site visit for a friendly chat and some helpful advice, please contact us. We can offer tips on general lay-out considering drainage, wind, and weather, shelters (stalls, barns, and lean-tos), turn-out pens (pastures or dry lots), feed storage, milking parlors, and general animal husbandry. We're also especially experienced at planning and building fencing (particularly electric horse fencing). At least we can welcome you to the community and put you in touch with others with common interests in your locale!