Rainhaven's

purebred Swiss Toggenburg dairy goats

(one year old bucks Rogue, Nova & Rover)

Herdsires

ADGA's Superior Genetics program

In late 1999 I began to learn about linear appraisal and the on-line USDA AIPL database websites, and how to read type and production statistics of what bucks passed on to their daughters. Other than that first breeding season in 1999, I have relied completely on artificial insemination until 2005, when I kept some of the boyz from my breeding program to use. Most of the bucks I choose have been deceased for over a decade and are already well-proven thru many daughters to increase production quantity and quality and to make the structural improvements each individual doe needs. I have a special appreciation for lines that include the Shagbark, Bell Boy and Robla/Whispering*Hope herds, and polled bucks in particular.

*B It'l-do Ira's Ivan T1077201, D.o.B. 2.26.98 USDA data pedigree

For my first breeding season in November 1999, I used Ivan via live breeding, a young unproven Togg buck owned by a local breeder. I am very pleased at how he crossed with Jazmine; he improved rear udder height and dairyness in daughters Violetta and Izadora. He did drop Izadora's rump angle a bit, but considering how much he improved her rear udder height (dam Jaz's RU Ht = 25, Iz's = 40, Vi's = 35), I consider it a good trade-off. Iz's milk production is improved by at least 50% over her dam's, whereas Vi's production is the same as Jaz's.

After that year, I used Artificial Insemination (A.I.) exclusively until the fall of 2005 when I used some of the bucklings born earlier that year who were the product of a few generations of AI breedings using Old Dead Frozen Guys.

SGCH +*B Whiterox Socrates T0622967p, D.o.B. 3.19.85 pedigree

Socrates is a Superior Genetics buck!

Sunshine x Shagbark lines

Socrates spent his entire 9 years of life in Connecticut on the farm that he was born on, owned by George & Jan Whiterock and family. I have used him frequently and consider him my "foundation buck"; I can rely on him to make solid improvements to structure and production, and greatly improve udder structure. He has always given my herd especially good legs and feet, strong medial suspension ligaments, great foreudders. Rainhaven offspring Jake and Lily are polled; Velvet, Opal and Pearl are disbudded. The type of poll that Socrates passes on is very high and wide. He passes on a short even coat generally, and may remove wattles since he had none. Socrates is listed on ADGA's Superior Genetics program.

+*B Pasha PCB Sir John T0762765p, D.o.B. 2.22.89 pedigree
++*B Pasha Charlie Brown x GCH Pasha Regal Lady Jacqueline 5*M

Sir John is pretty much an "unknown" buck; when I acquired his semen for AI he only had data for what kind of structure he passed on, no data for milk production. But, I loved what his granddam, dam and sister had in the way of production records, and the structure data collected so far was producing details that I wanted in my herd and didn't have the same combination from any other buck: bringing the teat placement considerably closer together under the udder (I have a lot of does whose teats end up on the far outside of their udders), and he also tends to bring up rump angles and make them quite level. Like Socrates, Sir John also passes on an extremely increased area of udder attachment, with an exceptionally strong medial ligament. Something the data didn't tell me that has been a big "plus" is the delicate texture he has so far given his Rainhaven daughters' udders, and indeed their milk production has exceeded my hopes. Claire is sharp and dairy like her dam Izadora and has her sire's polled head and dark chocolate coloring; Fiona is lighter and disbudded and has a well rounded body style; Olympia is polled and dark chocolate brown. The style of poll that John passes on is "low" and delicate on does. John had two wattles; and I suspect had hair a bit longer than usual.

++*B Antique Acres Belles Superstar T0587665, D.o.B. 4.9.1984 pedigree
++*B Shagbark Swagman (Shagbark Chikaming Bethman son) x GCH Antique Acres Adorabelle 5*M (Bell Boy's Comander daughter)

I have wanted Shagbark Chikaming Bethman woven into my herd's bloodlines for some time, and when I found him combined with Robla and Bell Boy bloodlines all in one buck, I had to have him in my collection of Old Dead Frozen Guys. I have a bit of fun with his name and the fact that he is used via A.I.; his kids have the "surname" of Starfrost in my herd. Sometimes though it takes a few experiments before finding just the right doe x buck match; I neutered the first 3 bucklings he sired but Claire's son Nova had the total package I wanted and he has remained a buck. I bred Nova to one of my Vida Blue daughters, Valentine, and got a daughter Vanessa and a son Donovan that I have left as a buck. Nova is polled like his dam Claire, as are his kids Vanessa and Donovan like both their parents. Superstar was a good match to Claire in adding more Strength of bone and I expect butterfat % in Vanessa to increase.

SGCH +*B Whispering*Hope Vida Blue T0391509p, D.o.B. 3.19.80 pedigree

Vida Blue is a Superior Genetics buck!

++*B Stonybrook Nomad x GCH Whispering Hope Vida F. 5*M

Blue is in the top 5% all time Togg sires for milk production improvement for daughters, and also has high rating for structural improvements - all of which earned him admittance to ADGA's Superior Genetics program! What I have found in my herd is that his daughters Angel, Valentine and Diva are very feminine and delicate, looking like fine Egyption Arabian horses. His son Rogue also is very refined; Rover has more of the Pasha rounded body type and exceptionally silky hair. This is my first year to finally have his daughters Valentine & Angel freshen and I am hopeful that he has greatly increased their production over what their dam Vi. Rear udder height in his daughters is improved, but teat placement is to the far outside of the udder. All 3 daughters and Rogue are polled like their sire. The style of poll that Blue passes on is "low" like John's and delicate on does and closer together with a rounded forehead on bucks.

SG +*B Bell Boy's Calypso T330165, D.o.B. 2.16.79 pedigree

Calypso is a Superior Genetics buck!

++*B Stonybrook Nomad x GCH Bell Boy's Connie T185425 6*M

Another Stonybrook Nomad son, Calypso has remained in the top 2% all time Togg sires for milk production improvement for daughters, and also has very high rating for structural improvements, earning him a Superior Genetics listing. The data for structural tendencies showed that he generally takes away a substantial amount of "bone", so I waited to use him on Lily who has plenty of Strength and who also has a phenomenal area of udder attachment and strong medial to support the high milk production in Calypso daughters. Lily gave birth to twins in June 2005: a daughter Charisma and son Caruso who has remained a buck (+164 production, +82 type). Charisma freshened with twin mini-Togg bucklings on June 3, 2006.

Comparison Chart

Rainhaven's
Blue Irish Rogue AI T1357156p pedigree
& Blue Irish Rover AI T(pending)

Littermates: D.o.B. 4.30.05

Rainhaven's Cocoa Fiona T1265432 X SGCH +*B Whispering Hope Vida Blue T391509p

Rover (photo on right) has their dam Fiona's rounded heavier bone Pasha body type and a very long overall hair coat; Rogue (photo on left) is more refined from Blue's influence. I used Rogue on 3 does (Vi, Velvet & Angel) and will be keeping his two daughters, Veronica and Leah. Rogue is polled and a dark warm brown; Rover is disbudded and a very pretty silvery latte taupe color with lots of long silky sunbleached hair. Both of these boys are for sale.

Rogue's 2006 kids: Veronica & Quinn out of Velvet; Leah out of Angel; wethers Pat & Rick out of Vi. Pat is the only polled offspring.

Rainhaven's
SuprNova Starfrost AI T1357155p, D.o.B. 6.5.05

Rainhaven's Chocolate eClaire T1265431p X + +*B Antique Acres Belles Superstar T587665

This combination of Claire x Superstar was worth waiting for.... the last straw out of 10! Nova has more strength and width than his dam and has a nice "just right" levelness to his rump angle. Nova is polled. Nova has a very lush abundant hair coat, and his beard is profuse, even his cheek hairs are quite thick and long. He is chocolate brown under sun-lightened long guard hairs. Two wattles.

2006 kids: Vanessa & Donovan out of Valentine; wether Buddy out of Pearl; Ben & Jerry out of Claire. Buddy and Jerry have been disbudded; the other kids are polled.

Rainhaven's
*B Calypso Caruso AI T1357153, D.o.B. 6.05.05

SG Rainhaven's Lily White Sox 2*M T1265438p X SG ++*B Bell Boy's Calypso T330165

Littermate: Charisma, freshened with twin mini-Togg bucklins on June 3, 2006

Both of Caruso's parents are listed as Superior Genetics dairy goats with the American Dairy Goat Association! Caruso is listed at the top of the 2006 Young Sire Developement list for Toggenburgs - +164 for production and +82 for type. Caruso (aka "Ru") is a bit longer boned than Rogue and Rover and Nova. His dam Lily is my most productive doe so far (gave over #3,000 in the first 305 days of her first lactation with a single kid) and his sire Calypso has generally been in the top 2 percent for Togg production; and udders from both sides of his pedigree have been up to the task. Caruso has no wattles and is disbudded, although he ended up with a scur that looks a lot like a stem on a pumpkin. The one thing I would like to change about Caruso is to bring up the angle of his rump slope.

Rainhaven's
Nova Donovan T(pending)p, D.o.B. 3.1.06

Rainhaven's Blue Valentine T1265435p X Rainhaven's SuprNova Starfrost T1357155p

Littermate: Vanessa

So far, Donovan has the refinement of Rogue but with a bit more width. Donovan is polled and has two wattles. Donovan will be available for sale.

Mini-Togg Buck

I will be keeping one of Charisma's mini-Togg bucklings, and selling the other.

Rainhaven's
Poncho
& Pablo
D.o.B. 6.03.06

Rainhaven's Calypso Charisma X AJUD LD Senor Bandido

Charisma gave birth to twin bucklings Poncho & Pablo on June 3, 2006. These little cuties are sired by purebred Nigerian Dwarf buck AJUD LD Senor Bandido. Poncho & Pablo have almost identical coloring - they have their sire Bandido's very light tan back & butt with a bit of dark roaning, and his white "bib" down the front of their necks and chests, added to the typical Togg brown with crisp white markings. Pablo has a white star on his forehead. Their dam Charisma is very balanced throughout with a good deal of "bone". Her udder at just a few days fresh is showing excellent medial suspensory ligament support for her growing udder, with good teat placement of teats that look like they will remain a bit smaller than her dam's. Charisma's dam Lily gave over 3,000# of milk in 305 days in her first lactation; Charisma's sire is a purebred Togg buck who has been in the top 15% (usually Top 2%) of all Togg sires for both production and type - Bell Boy's Calypso. Both of Charisma's parents are listed as Superior Genetics dairy goats with the American Dairy Goat Association! Her brother littermate Caruso is listed at the top of the 2006 Young Sire Developement list for Toggenburgs with +164 for production and +82 for type.

SG Rainhaven's Lily White Sox T1205638p X SG +*B Bell Boy's Calypso T330165

Charisma's Littermate: Rainhaven's Calypso Caruso T1357153

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