In 1990 (at age 11) my parents bought me my first purebred Nubian, 4K Blackland Pandora N0757491. The family that we bought her from said she was "papered." Little did I know this doe, along with her papers would start a huge addiction. On the way home I kept asking mom and dad what all the stuff on her papers meant, and why any one would name an animal such strange names! To say the least, they weren't much help on what the AN, NO, GCH, *M, ++*B, AR, ST, CL meant, and as far as the names went, they told me that every one had different tastes. So I enrolled in 4-H thinking that I could learn something there! Come fair time I took "Pandora's papers (along with several others) all around the fairgrounds asking any one who would listen what all that meant. (I quickly got over being shy!) One person told me that I needed to look into her bloodlines and find out what her sire and dam had produced. That was an interesting concept, I thought. So, I begged mom and dad to breed this doe, just once I said, then after that, no more...famous last words. That year for Christmas I got a subscription to the Dairy Goat Journal. I started noticing that Price O The Field (Pandora's ancestors) lines appeared in there, in fact that seemed to be a "hot line." Pandora kidded in 1991 with a buck (2M Shadow of The Night N0864812) and a doe (2M Shiver Me Timbers N0864811). After the kids were on the ground I knew I was hooked, no lookin' back now! I also quickly figured out that I was never going to learn all that I wanted to know about goats in 4-H.
I noticed that one of the girls (Amy) in our 4-H club had some very nice Nubians and was always going to this or that open show. In 1994 for my birthday I received (from my parents) a doe named Bridget (Smiley's-Mill Bridget N0928887) and her wether son. Amy told me that my birthday present was enrolled at the next open show and that I would be responsible for getting her show ready! Yippee!!! Bridget also came with papers with some more of those "foreign" marks! By this time I had figured out the GCH/CH thing, but the rest, ...I needed more help! I went to my first open show with Amy (and Bridget), then I knew for sure, my first instinct was right...these long eared caprines had me hook, line, and sink-her! I quickly learned all about pedigrees/papers, genetics, etc. and so forth. In 1995, I began to really dig to find all the pedigree information I could about the animals I had, and those that were related to them. 1996 marked my first ADGA National Show trip to Springfield, IL, where I got to meet Price O The Field herd owner Barbara Rissler, among many others. This trip certainly fed my desire to learn and meet these people I had once only read about!
This pedigree research continued until I had a database of 1,000+ Nubians in 1997. 1997 marks the official start of the 2M Farms Pedigree Project. I collected it all, pedigrees, pictures, historical articles, etc. I decided that rather than just compile all this information for myself, I should make it available to other breeders at the shows, after all they were giving me some of the information. (A special thanks goes out to Leslie Sensing of Hagler Nubians in Tennessee for letting me borrow numerous performance books on numerous occasions.) I set them out on the tables thinking that few would be interested, but to my surprise, they were a conversation piece. "The books," as they became known, started generating a lot of questions such as: Who is the best buck currently in use?; What herds are producing top animals?; etc. I found these questions difficult to answer, because every one breeds a different style of Nubian and some for different purposes. (color, temperament, confirmation, milk production etc) I finally came up with one universal answer, "it would depend on what purpose and type of animal you are breeding for." Well that wasn't what these breeders wanted to hear! They wanted names and evidence. I began thinking how I could use the information I already had, to show breeders genetically superior, and productive animals. I really had a good sized stash of pictures, pedigrees, DHIR, LA information. Not to mention I knew many breeders across the country.
Then one weekend while I was setting at Murray State University it hit me...I had the idea! I sat down and typed out my idea on the computer (without looking to see who or if any one would qualify), then I e-mailed a good friend of mine in Ohio, Deb Smith of Rimfire Farms Nubians. I simply asked her if something like this was even attainable, or if I was dreaming. I didn't use DHIR/LA in my own herd, however she did, so I thought she might be a helpful insight. She replied saying she didn't know why it wouldn't work, made a few suggestions, and from there "BSG" (the "Bronze, Silver Gold" Binders) evolved. I noted one thing over all these years of goat show and talk! Dairy goat breeders had one thing in common: They all wanted to produce an excellent quality milking doe! So what better to base the project on than that?!?! I took the idea and ran with it. I used the ADGA Performance Programs as my basis. Rock solid evidence of an animals ability to reproduce. I had about 20 animals in the project and was excitedly getting it ready to go to the NAILE, when Deb Smith instant messaged me asking a favor. She told me a good friend of hers Molly Saal (Us-And-Udders Nubians) was going to be at the NAILE in Kentucky, and she needed a showman, because something had came up and she (Deb) was going to be unable to go. Of course, I said no problem, be happy to, providing Molly approves of my showmanship skills. I packed up the truck and headed out with the BSG binder and "the books." Upon arrival I was talking to several breeders there about BSG, it seemed as though BSG answered their questions! Success at last! Molly, Larry, and I had a great weekend together showing goats and even eating dinner out one evening. I had had a wonderful weekend, but disaster was about to strike. I arrived back at my apartment in Murray, Kentucky and downloaded some 600 e-mails along with sending one to Molly to let her know I made it back okay. It was then I received an e-mail saying that Deb Smith had been in a horrible car accident and had passed away. No way, I thought, that can't happen! Deb and I had only met in person a few times, but we talked online a lot and our friendship was much more than just goats! I had so many things I wanted to tell her about BSG and Molly! It was sad but true, Deb was gone. For days I would sit there looking at BSG, thinking about what to do with it. I finally put it in a closet, every thing was to painfully fresh. I started thinking that was probably a good place for it to stay. However, after a few days passed I started getting e-mails from breeders that I had talked with at the show, with questions about BSG rules and regulations. I was also getting a lot of good feedback about BSG. I started to really think what Deb would want me to do. She was never one to just give up, and she too was a highly competitive person. I brought the book out of the closet, looked at it, and said "I don't think Deb would want me to give up on this!" I have made several changes after her passing, and added several new awards, but there isn't much time that goes by without her coming in to my thoughts! In 2003 Deb's personal goal was met, her sire, Rimfire's Gambling Mufasa ++*B (N0984602) was entered into the Gold Sires section of the project.
"The Books" and BSG literally go every where I go! I have attempted to make it to the ADGA National Shows and did in: 2002 (Colorado), 2003 (Iowa), and 2006 (Indiana). I also attend shows such as the Hoosier Classic. At the 2003 ADGA National Show several mentioned that they would like to see the project as a whole to incorporate all breeds. After I returned home, I dusted off my all breeds database disk and started the ground work for an all breeds BSG. BSG incorporated all breeds by 2004. I have thoroughly enjoyed every minute of the challenging work that has went into the BSG binders! They have also helped me in my own breeding program, along with many other breeders. Essentially BSG is every thing I hoped it would be. The rules and regulations are not impossible, but at the same time they are very prestigious awards for animals and breeders alike to win!
Sincerely Yours,
Miranda J. Tarr
BSG Forward: The �Nuts and Bolts� of the BSG Project
BSG is a project I started in 2001 and is exclusively based on the ability of a sire or dam to produce milking daughters. BSG was started to identify animals that I feel are showing the ability to reproduce themselves. I based the entire project on concrete facts, by using the ADGA Performance Programs as my basis. Below I am going to discuss the �nuts and bolts� of BSG and why each award was created along with the goals for each award.
The Honors Dam Award was created as the only award in the entire project that was not based on a does ability to reproduce. This award only looks at the doe herself. I also use this award to help identify sires producing high quality daughters.
The Bronze Dam Award was created so that I could identify a doe early in her life, hopefully before she turns 4 or 5 years old. I wanted this to be something that was prestigious, but at the same time gave the doe credit for the ability to reproduce herself. I also use this award to help identify younger sires based on the daughters he is producing. I have found that this award doesn�t do exactly what I wanted it to do, and if I could re-do the entire project and re-create this award I would. Even after saying that I still feel that this award is a good way to identify animals that are short lived, don�t produce many daughters, or have produced animals that have been influential to the breed.
The Silver Dam Award was created to credit does that have a produce of dam. This means that the doe is producing 2 daughters (out of 2 different sires) that meet the criteria. I feel that this shows that a doe is somewhat consistent no matter what sire she is bred to.
The Gold Dam Award was created to separate the �girls� from the �ladies,� I guess you could say. These are animals that I feel are genetically passing traits to their daughters time and time again. Generally they are living long productive lives and really making a contribution to the breed as a whole. I feel that these animals are a credit to their sire, dam, and to the breeder.
The Bronze Sire Award was created in an effort to identify sires young and perhaps get their name out there enough that the usage of these sires would increase. I was also hoping that people would realize that if a sire won this type of award he was worthy of collection and being stored in an AI tank for future use. I feel that this award has been a success as for the most part sires are moving out of this award and up the BSG ladder!
The Silver Sire Award gives Bronze Sires a little something to strive for, without being impossible even for a small herd. I think it shows the sires ability to reproduce consistently.
The Gold Sire Award certainly separates the �boys� from the �men!� The goal of this award is to show sires that I feel are genetically superior. These sires have generally been used in numerous herds and their influence has been spread across the United States. Many of these sires are still available AI, even today, even though many are 15+ years old. I feel these sires have been very influential and are the �greats� of the breed.
The next several awards are what I would call �stacked� awards. Simply put, the animal has to be involved in BSG in order to attain them. Although these awards are extremely difficult to attain, I feel that they are the ultimate of consistency.
The first one I would like to start with is the Triple Elite Sire and Dam Award. These are animals who, for 3 generations in a row, have qualified for Gold or breeders Trust Awards. Please visit the website for more information on the specifics of this award. I really feel that this award shows strong sire and dam lines in a pedigree! These awards do not supersede awards on the other levels of the above BSG awards or Breeders Trust. These are simply other awards that an animal can attain.
The next one is Golden Royal. This award promotes the animals whose sires and dams are also Gold or Breeders Trust. I feel this highlights the triangles in a pedigree for breeders. These awards do not supersede awards on the other levels of the above BSG awards or Breeders Trust. These are simply other awards that an animal can attain.
BSG Breeder Awards are meant for breeders who have shown time and time again that their animals are achieving high levels in the books. Breeders get points toward this award for every animal that makes the BSG Project. I feel this is a very prestigious award for a breeder to attain!
The final and most prestigious award that I feel the project offers is Breeders Trust. This award encompasses 4 generations and puts the term consistency and the animals who have achieved it in the spotlight. The Breeders Trust award does supersede any other award an animal attains! Any animal that attains this award is given a certificate.
BSG Goals
Goals for the project in general are:
One, I would like for the project to benefit all breeders and all breeds!
Two, I want the project to be well known and something accepted by beginner breeders and seasoned breeders alike. With the advent of the BSG website I think many more people are aware of the project.
Three, I want the awards this project has to offer to be prestigious to the breeder/owner and animal alike. I do not want the awards to be impossible, but at the same time I want them to be challenging. I want these awards to show that an animal has made a true accomplishment, possibly above and beyond what ADGA would require.
Four, I would like to print it some day! Yes, guys I would love to do this, however it would be very costly. I would never get out of it what I have in it. I have spent approximately 2 hours a day for the past 8 years on this project. I am afraid that breeders would not be able to afford the price tag of a book such as this.
BSG Website
The website is a valuable asset to the project however it does not represent the project as a whole. The main problem I have with the website is that it creates an illusion. For example Gold Dam A produces 3 daughters that have their *M�s and 2 of which are permanent GCH�s. One of which goes on to LA 91. Gold Dam B produces three daughters who all get their *M. The point here is that there are animals in the project qualifying at different levels, even within the same level of BSG. This is what I was trying to show above with Gold Dam A and B. I feel that by getting the names of sires and dams out there, that are involved in the project I am at least publicizing for the animals and breeders who have qualified for the project. I also feel that if some one is looking to add a high quality animal to their herd or use AI, these would be names of which to do some research to find the animal that would suit you best.
Satelite BSG Binders
One of the biggest drawbacks to the BSG Project is that I am only one person. I can only do so much to promote it myself. So I am going to create soldiers of my own so to speak. I want the people who buy into this to really understand the project and feel strongly that it is indeed a project for the betterment of the breeds to which it encompasses. With that said, I am going to try something new in 2007! They will be called little Satelite BSG Binders.
A Big Thanks!
This year, 2004, I have sold all of my Nubian Dairy Goats, and currently don�t have a one to my name. I was forced to sell out due to herd health issues that couldn�t be resolved even with the help of numerous Veterinarians, and tests. However, I promised myself that I would never give up on what I have always loved the most, and that is BSG! I am glad to see that breeders have confidence in the criteria I have set up for the project, and that they too feel that it is a project for the betterment of each of the respective breeds.
Sincerely Yours,
Miranda J. Tarr
Copyright 1997-2009 2M Farms Pedigree Project. All rights reserved.
Page last updated 1/15/09
