Mamm-Key Mango's TangieBack to Home Page 92 EEEE 03/09/1999 - 12/29/10
“Tangie”A Family milk supply becomes my Special FriendMy start in goats came, much like many others that now call these lovable creatures friend, with my family’s desire to produce our own milk. We had moved to the country a few years before and thought that it was time to step beyond just poultry. My family was going through over a gallon of milk a day and we wanted to produce it ourselves. We think that to love and care for the animal that produces your food is a noble thing. After a year of prodding from me, dad went looking for a few goats for milk. We talked with our 4-H leader and asked if she knew where we could get a good milking goat or two. She gave us the number of a goat keeper who was moving. She needed to downsize her herd before the move and might give us a good deal. We made an appointment to go over and visit her. We pulled in the driveway and right up next to the barn. I stepped out of the van and walked up to the goat pen. It was late June and the whole family was outside playing. The breeder walked us around and showed us all her goats. She answered all of our billions of questions... what do you feed them, how do you milk, what kind of barn do we need, what kind of fences are best, etc, etc?.. She let us milk one of her goats and we tasted some goat milk and yoghurt. She said that she had just what we needed, and in our price range. She had a very nice four year old Alpine that she no longer needed and would let us have her for $75. Since a goat should not be kept alone she would give us a dry yearling Nubian to keep her company. We thanked her and went home to prepare a home for our new goats. On July 4 2003, I will always remember that date, we brought home the newest additions to our farm. The Alpine’s name was “Mamm-Key Mango’s Tangie” and the Nubian’s name was Rainbow. I was so excited I could barely contain myself. As all of you know it takes some practice to get the hang of milking. When evening milking time came I tried my hardest to milk that full udder. It took me almost an hour that very first milking and Tangie produced 8lb that evening! Breeding season rolled around and we found ourselves in need of a buck to service our does. Again we talked with our 4-H leader (who was an invaluable resource to us) and asked if she knew of any alpine bucks in the area. She put us in touch with a breeder who had what we were looking for and we eagerly watched Tangie for signs of heat. One day I saw the goats acting funny and we called up the owner of the buck to make an appointment to bring Tangie over 18 days later. Day 18 arrived and we loaded Tangie up in the family van, we had no other way of moving her, to take her to her “boyfriend”. It was the day before Thanksgiving and it had just snowed the night before. We pulled up to the breeder’s barn and took Tangie out of the van. As soon as she set foot outside she caught whiff of the boys, and so did we! Whew, did they ever smell. We took Tangie over to the buck pen and the breeder helped us pick out which buck would be best to breed to Tangie. We bred her and loaded her up to take her home. Five months had never gone by slower, after waiting what felt like years kidding day finally arrived. Tangie delivered triplets, 2 does and a buck. I took Tangie and her daughters to the county fair that year and was bitten by the show bug, I just had to attend more shows. I attended my very first ADGA sanctioned show the next year when I went to the Colorado State fair. I met some wonderful people, had a great time and was encouraged to attend more shows. Tangie and I competed in many showmanship contests together, she would set up beautifully and stand perfectly still. We were at a show on my 18th birthday and Tangie gave me a wonderful present that day. I won my first showmanship contest that day. Tangie has held up very well as she ages. One year a number of judges mentioned that she looked like she was only 4 years old instead of the 9 years old that she really was. In 2008 I took my little herd, now consisting of Alpines and Nigerian Dwarfs, over to a friend’s house to participate in the Linear Appraisal program. I was ready to go and was asked to present my animals first to give my friend more time to prepare her goats. This was my first linear appraisal. Tangie was first up and the appraiser walked me through all the different aspects of the process as he scored her. When he had finished he looked at me and announced that Tangie’s score was 92 EEEE, at nine years old, not bad for a $75 goat! Later that day Tangie’s daughters scored 89 and 90, I was so pleased. In 2007 I took an AI class, bought a nitrogen tank and AI equipment. I attended the 2008 ADGA National Show as a spectator to learn about the different bloodlines out there, and to find a few lines that I wanted to work with. That fall I took the plunge and bought the semen from the bucks I had spent so long researching. I tried my very first AI on Tangie. Unfortunately she lost the pregnancy on Christmas Eve and needed a C-section to save her life. The vet said he had never seen a more difficult C-Section before. She was carrying quads, 2 girls 1 boy and 1 we could not make out as it had rotten inside her causing her to lose the pregnancy. It took a month before Tangie could hold a steady temperature. For the next month she spent nights in the downstairs bathroom, just a few feet from my bedroom, as she could not handle the temps outside until she had regained her strength. The vet did not think Tangie would ever get pregnant again. Nevertheless I tried once more, she cycled in late July and I AI’ed her. She took! I was so happy. Not only had she overcome her difficult C-section but she had also taken AI. A few days after Christmas she delivered one beautiful buckling, I had waited two years for this boy and he was finally here, he will be used in my herd for many years to come. Over the years I have had a number of different goats but none quite as special as my “Tangie girl”. I am now 22 years old and she is now almost 12. She has watched me grow up and I have watched her grow old. She was my very first goat and has carved out a special place in my heart all her own. She has taught me more about goats than any person ever could have. I have learned so much about life from her, but more important than any other thing I have gained from her. I have gained a friend. Update- 12/29/10 I lost my old friend Tangie today. She had developed a large cancerous tumor on her neck. Today when she started to suffer from the cancer I put her down. It was one of the hardest things I have had to do with my goats. I did not want to see her suffer. Words can not explain how much she will be missed. Rest in peace my “Tangie girl”. Home | Nigerian Sr Does | Nigerian Jr Does | Saanen Doe | Alpine Jr Does | Bucks | For Sale Return to top |
