Your Source for Kinder Goats

It seems to me that humans are very worrisome folk.

I had freshened twice before this and had raised two lovely little broods — one of three and the other of four. You see, I’m a Kinder (and indeed very proud to be one) and multiple births tend to run in my honorable breed. Another thing significant about Kinders is that they are known for their ease of kidding. Well, as I say, humans are very worrisome folk.

They first became alarmed the day I was bred. On that day they introduced two new goats to our cage and the four of us went through the routine status-placing rituals of head-butting and the like. Anyway, by the time they were ready to take me to the buck, I was feeling rather dizzy, it being a very hot summer day and all.

Well, they put me in a cage with this little tyke — one of last year’s kids they said — and to me it seemed that such a short little whipper-snapper would not suit me well enough. But, he was very nice by way of conformation and I’d heard say that he wouldn’t take milk away, which was something I was very grateful for, being, as I am, very proud of my heavy production and 8% butterfat. At any rate, I was quite willing to put up with him, but my head! It ached so from all the head-butting going on! The world began to spin around me and then I stumbled and fell! I tried to stand up, but my knees kept buckling out from under me and it seemed that the whole world was spinning at an alarming speed! And that silly buck! He paid absolutely no heed to my awkward predicament!

The humans who were there with me — you know, the lady and her oldest girl — they panicked. I heard them say something about heat stroke and then they began spraying me with cold water. Well, anyway, that was five months ago and I’ve been quite well since then.

Now the humans were getting panicky again. My tail head was fully dropped, my cords had disappeared and I had drastically lost my appetite, not to mention the opaque discharge that made them think I was in labor 15 days early. Of course I knew that I wasn’t in labor, but they paid no heed to me when I tried to reassure them.

They put me in this pen filled with straw and even though I was comfortable, I really missed my friends. The days passed and it seemed that those humans had nothing better to do than sit around and watch me. I sort of liked being the center of attention, but I was feeling sooo big and walking was a big chore indeed. Of course I knew the reason, but I could never make those humans understand.

On a Friday, six days before my due date, the oldest girl and a few of the younger ones stayed down with me all day. They said I was breathing “funny”, and indeed, I had a good reason to! The babies had never seemed so active and the load pressed heavily against my lungs, making me take funny little panting breaths. I tried to tell them that I wasn’t in labor, but my cries seemed only to excite them more. Finally I gave up and went to sleep. It was well past suppertime when they left.
Next day, they came down to milk much earlier than usual and when they tried to see if I was in labor, I was too sleepy to tell them that today was going to be the day. They left right away too — fancy them leaving me at a time like this! Of course, they couldn’t know that this was going to be the biggest day of my life and that it would always stand out in their memories too.

I just wasn’t feeling myself and I tried calling them, but they must not have heard me. I heard them saying later that they were at a 4-H Presentation Day, or something of the sort.

Finally, the big moment came — it was time to push! The humans still weren’t there, but I tried to reassure myself by reminding me that I had done this many times before. The first kid came and I began to clean him up. Another one came, and then another and another. There were six kids in all and each one was as cute as you please. I loved each one dearly and cleaned them up and helped them find the milk that would be essential in keeping them healthy.

At last the humans came. The little one came first and she ran to call the two bigger ones. “Lissy kidded!” I heard her call. “She has two babies!” Now, wherever did she get that idea, I wondered, because, of course, I knew the truth.

They came running and the older girl jumped into the pen.”They’re awfully tiny for just two” she said excitedly as she approached me. Then she saw the two that were lying by my other side. “She did have more than two! She had four!” In time, she found the fifth one and boy, was she excited! “She tied the record! She tied the record!” they said in evident excitement. Just then Jr., the oldest of my small brood, came around the corner and then everything happened at once. They started dipping cords, and than do you know what those humans did? They took them away! Just like that, can you believe it?!

I’ve seen them several times since then and they are doing fine and getting big. The humans are still real excited about it and they treat me like a queen. I’ve heard tell that the highest recorded birth is five and yet, even I , an humble Kinder broke that record. I have a hard time believing it myself, but I am filled with a noble pride that I was able to bring such a good name to my breed, my family, and…my humans.”YES, THEY’RE ALL MINE’

Melissa Kelly…and Alyssum
Gloryland
Santa Maria, CA

(NOTE: As it happened, Alyssum tied the record – did not break it.)

Note: Zederkamm Sweet Alyssum’s 1998 breeding was so successful that she was re-bred to Zederkamm Karnival for a late January 1999 kidding. Alyssum’s DHIR for her first lactation was 1,370 lbs in 305 days as a yearling. Her butterfat average was 7.36% and her high, 9.2%. Protein average was 4.84% and high was 6.0%. Her 1998 kidding record is being verified by Guinness Book as the largest, recorded live litter.