Monday, April 9, 2012

A Little Experiment


Early in the fall, my son and daughter-in-law were down at the farm and we were discussing how to get a clone of Cora Belle (my favorite goat ad nauseum). They, being both scientists and well-versed in genetics, suggested I breed Cora Belle's daughter Wedding Belles to her son Easter Island. They have different fathers so it wasn't a straight brother to sister breeding. I know it sounds Yuk but it's called line breeding in the goat world.
That was exactly what I did then waited the five months to see what we would get. Wedding Belles wasn't very big and I expected a single buck kid.

Here is Cora Belle as a kid. My goal.



When Wedding Belles went into labor last Tuesday, I was pretty pleased to help her deliver a lovely little doeling that is almost a carbon copy of Cora Belle.





And if that wasn't enough...an almost (a little more black) carbon copy of Cora Belle's full sister, Boxcar Betty.



Here is Betty as a kid. She lives and works at Herron Hill Dairy .



I'd say our little experiment was a success. I love science.

8 comments:

petoskystone said...

Nicely done!

Teresa said...

They are all adorable! I love the genetics too, especially when the results are so cute.

Marigold said...

Whoa! Nicely done! Did you get a carbon copy Peanut as well? :)

Brenda said...

Amazing! They are beautiful. I'll have to give this some thought in breeding my does this next season. Hummmm .....

Lindsey at NW Backyard Veggies said...

That is fantastic. Cora Belle is such a pretty goat, more of her is definitely a good thing.

Terry said...

Did the personality breed true as well?

goatgirl said...

No little Peanut, Marigold. Maybe next time.

Too soon to tell Terry. Though they are very mischievous and brave.

small farm girl said...

Wow! They ARE like clones!