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

 

All content copyrighted Ladybug Hill Farm 2019