Welcome to Ladybug Hill Farm
Ladybug Hill is a small 8 acre
farm located in Rawley Springs at the base of the beautiful Allegheny
Mountain ridge, west of Harrisonburg Virginia. Once a horse farm,
Ladybug Hill is now primarily a hobby farm with a focus on raising Boer
goats and commercial rabbits, including some pedigreed New Zealands.
Our goal is to produce robust,
correct, fast-growing goats that adhere to the breed standards set forth
by the ABGA. We would like to promote the Boer breed as a sustainable
meat breed with high rates of reproductive efficiency and average daily
gains in kids.
We strive for a show quality
herd without sacrificing hardiness. Terminal animals will be used for our own consumption or sold to the local market. We
track Average Daily Growth for performance data and herd improvement. We do
show on a limited basis due schedule constraints, but bring in
improvement genetics by purchasing proven show
stock/genetics including several Ennobled bucks.
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Our History:
Twenty years ago, I
decided to get a couple of goats to help with pasture management and
weed control here on my horse farm. Having another species of animal
that is a compatible grazer can be a great way to control weeds and
parasites. The farm is not conducive to bush-hogging and we avoid
using chemicals to control weeds. The pasture improvement
was noticeable in a short time.
Our first goats were a couple of Boer/dairy cross does from a friend.
The original intent was to produce meat but with the dairy crosses we
were able to dabble in milking and cheese making. We have enjoyed
producing our own dairy and meat. Although the herd is primarily a meat
herd, we do have a few dairy goats on the farm and have even
milked our percentage and fullblood Boers. We use the milk for
bottle kids, and to make cheese and kefir.
Current Breeding Program: Show Quality
Boers with Top Pedigrees
Over the years, Ladybug Hill Farm has improved the herd dramatically and
continue to add high quality bucks. All of the goats are registered
with the American Boer Goat
Association. With my experience in breeding performance horses, I understood the necessity of producing top
quality offspring with proven bloodlines and sound conformation.
When bringing in new genetics, the focus is on productivity AND show
credentials. In order to keep the herd small, most kids produced each
year will be offered for sale.
In regards to conformation, I pay particular attention
to soundness of legs and feet. My ideal goat would resemble the
large, hardy South African goat that grazes over long distances and that
has a strong back and hind leg capable of allowing the goat to stand up
on its hind legs to reach higher browsing branches. The trend in
the U.S. show ring is to breed animals that can be posed beautifully but
that actually have shallow jaws, bad feet, front legs outside the frame, short hips, overly
straight hocks and unhealthy obesity. None of these
characteristics are desirable and U.S. breeders should consider the long
range impact on the breed type. I would like to see the successful
show ring type resemble a true
meat type with sound structure and optimal substance that can be raised
economically for its original purpose.
General Management
The goats at Ladybug Hill are raised on pasture
with very basic shelter from rain and wind. They are supplemented with
a good quality custom goat feed and goat mineral and hay all year round. I feed to maintain condition but
prefer my adult animals in "breeding condition" in order to prevent the
obesity illnesses so common in the American Boer. I believe in raising livestock
in as natural a way as possible. Any goat that cannot maintain condition on my simple
feeding program is culled. I do not deworm on a schedule but based
on need. This practice selects for resistance to parasites, a
highly desirable quality in meat goats. Many of the does are only
dewormed on average once a year.
Resources:
American Boer Goat Association
Virginia Department of Agriculture and Human
Services
Gestation Calculator
Saffron and my son
Photo by Jill Pariseault
