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Grandson, Aidan Backus, proudly
displays the
2011 Herd Achievement Award
Breeding LaMancha Dairy Goats in the early '70's was
a matter of taking what you could get
and making do with it. There were only a few herds with LaMancha
does offered for sale to those of us just starting out; and
consequently, we took the best we were offered.
The supply of "Basic" LaManchas was thin, and CAE infections of epidemic
proportions shortened the productive lives of those few animals which
were available for purchase.
ABOUT 'BASIC' LAMANCHAS-
Before computerization, the LaMancha registration papers were numbered
differently than the older breeds, (Alpine, Nubian, Togg, and Saanen).
Registration certificates were headed "AMERICAN LA MANCHA".
I don't know why, but ADGA started numbering from L-1 (Fay's Ernie).
When we purchased our first LaMancha [TOMAHAWK'S FRAN L-2171] the
total number of LaManchas registered was about 2000. For some
reason there were some numbers skipped in the first couple of hundreds.
The earliest registered LaMancha we owned was LAW-ZEL KING DAVID -
L-1168 which is padded out to 180001168 by USDA.
The registration numbers used on Gene Dershewitz's ADGA Genetics site
are the USDA numbers, as those were what were available to tabulate
production and appraisal scores. If one browses the records of
early animals, one finds a hodge-podge of these various systems of
numbers, and furthermore no consistency regarding the notation of
whether an animal was an "American" or a "Purebred".
With the establishment of ADGA computerization in the late 70's, the L-
prefixed numbers were padded out with leading zeros to fill the field of
six characters used in the first iteration of ADGA computer systems.
Concurrently with computerization, all the animals having four digit L-
registration numbers were down-graded to "Americans" and the uniqueness
of "Basic" animals and their offspring was blurred over.
Old-timers can sort it out.
I remember someone asking which of our animals we considered our
"foundation does" and replying
"We probably won't know for another five years or so." Now,
after nearly 40 years, and with the
invaluable help of Gene Dershewitz's ADGA Genetics site to refresh my
failing memory, it is
becoming clear which they were.
Our first couple of LaMancha does, Tomahawk's Fran and Evergreen Acres
Carob, left few progeny and our first purchased buck, MEADOW
GARDEN YEW made no great contribution to the breed except for being the
Dam's Sire of Mas Que Nada Marcello who appears in many Quixote
pedigrees.
The most important buck which we never used was probably K-Lou Primo,
purchased from the Erbes
by John and Betty Scheiberl [Capella Farms] and used to service
Laurelwood Acres Evelyn by Evelyn's owner Cindy Ballard [Ananda Hills].
THE ANANDA HILLS SHANNA and ANANDA HILL'S SHILOH were born on succeeding
years. Shanna and Shiloh were both bred to bucks which we owned,
although the most important breeding of Shanna was to K-Lou Golduster.
We purchased Shalla, Sheila and Rashana when Cindy Ballard graduated out
of 4H. QUIXOTE'S SHELILA was also purchsed from Cindy and her
mother Jo, although she carries the Quixote herdname.
This was probably due to some confusion in the ADGA office as Shelila
was purchased before she was registered, and 'Lila's sire was also owned
by us at the time of her breeding. It didn't seem important at the
time, and less important now.
NATIONAL SHOWS:
We have exhibited at the National Show only three times, always in
California. We have never grabbed the BRASS RING ourselves, but
there have been several National Grand Champions winners with either a
Quixote sire or a Quixote dam.
Our own NS Zenith was at our first Nationals in San Diego (Del Mar) in I
believe 1978.
By then we owned both Ananda Hills Sheila and Shalla, litter mates sired
by K-Lou Golduster.
The Erbe's borrowed both to fill out their Golduster Get, which was
either First or Second.
Sheila and Shalla were both somewhere within the top 5 in their class (2
years old)
One of our King David daughters was Jr. Ch there also. She
unfortunately never bred.
SPOTLIGHT SALE
Alladin was our Spotlight Sale consignment in 1982 in Reno. (our
first)
He went to Don and Judi's Lucky*Star herd and had 54 registered progeny
including some by AI.
We had two more Spotlight LaManchas later in that decade, although
neither went on to any great fame or noteriety.
Our most recent spotlight animal was Quixote Penuche, sold in 2001 in
Portland.
Milk Production and Top Ten Records
ADGA Performance Volume 24 [1977]
Evergreen Acres Carob L-3350
#1 Milk 3400#
#6 Fat 110#
ADGA Performance Volume 26 [1980]
GCH Ananda Hills Shalla L-4804
#3 Milk 3010#
#3 Fat 98#
GCH Ananda Hills Sheila L-4803
#8 Milk 2800#
#2 Fat 103#
ADGA Performance Volume 28 [1982]
GCH Ananda Hills Shalla L-4804
#1 Milk 4060#
#4 Fat 137#
Shalla's daughter Quixote's Collette 323976 was breed leader at least
once during succeeding years, however we don't seem to have any
documentation.
In 1985 Colette milked 4090#.
Thank you to Rex and Barbara Backus for sharing part of their history
with us. You can read more about the
Quixote herd history at
www.goatsleap.com/echo.html
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