What are we striving for in our animals?  STRUCTURE:  We strive for dairy animals with solid and beautiful structure.  We are not afraid to wait for growth patterns to progress to see that happen.  It is not our goal to show our animals to grand championships by the age of 2.  It would be fun once in awhile, but we really love seeing animals getting those GCH legs at 3 years or older.  We like seeing the does go through an immature and steady growth pattern to maturity in order for them to have the longevity they need to remain productive even as aged herd members.   Nothing thrills us more then to see breeders with healthy, aged animals on their websites, along with the daughters and granddaughters, that are still structurally sound.  We wish to strive for a balanced herd of mature and young stock.  MILKING ABILITY:    We breed for solid milkers with steady and strong lactations, that can take us all the way to the end of the season and still be able to give us something worth milking.  We are not striving for 20lb a day milkers and the management issues that can sometimes come with that.  Strong, sustainable lactations are what we are trying to strive for in our lines.  We are also interested in breeding animals that can be milked through a winter season and not necessarily need to be bred again in the fall.  That is a goal that is in process for us. GENETIC POTENTIAL AND TRANSMISSIBILITY:  We strive for high transmissibility of good, solid traits.  We desire that our does and bucks would produce progeny as good or better than themselves on a consistent basis.  Once in awhile a breeding won't click, but our goal is to breed animals that are mostly consistent with passing on good or improved traits.  It is better for us and better for clients that wish to purchase kids from us.  Consistency is very important to us! HERD MANAGEMENT:   Our herd regimen is fairly simple.  Milking does and dry yearlings are fed Eastern Oregon alfalfa.  Milkers also receive a 16% custom blend dairy concentrate.  Kids are raised on an orchard/alfalfa blend and receive a small amount of grain with coccidiastat until around 6 months of age, then they are moved onto straight alfalfa with out grain. We vaccinate with Covexin 8, and run a fairly aggressive Bo-Se program.  Deworming is done twice a year or as needed.  We do utilize a CAE prevention program for our kids.  We also test for CAE each January before kidding season starts and do not own any positive animals. All in all our highest priority is not to forget to enjoy our animals!  We truly feel we enjoy their value.  We hope this gives you an idea into our breeding philosophy.  With that in mind, please enjoy viewing our site!  Skip and Teri Hamilton