Welcome to the virtual home of Bearly Alpines. We hope you enjoy the website and, even more so, the goats!
The farm is nestled against the Blue Ridge Mountains in beautiful Sperryville, Virginia. Situated on 25 acres, we raise goats, hogs, guinea fowl and chickens. Five wonderful Anatolian Shepherds watch over the property. We share our goats’ milk with the hogs and use it to make cheese, ice cream and a variety of other goodies.
As it seems, the goats are the primary attraction here. Beginning with our original wether, Jake, up through the present collection of Alpines all have had unique and endearing personalities. The herd has grown from a small 4-H project to a somewhat larger, elite herd of American and French Alpines. The first two Alpines were purchased in 1999. Currently, we breed about ten does annually. The goal of the breeding program is relatively clear-cut: to produce healthy, consistent animals that perform well in a variety of settings. Dairy character and structural correctness are the essential bases for reaching such a goal. The herd was on DHI test through 2008 and has been appraised multiple times. Many of the DHI records are abbreviated due to other committments in life and a desire not to dump milk as we lack any commercial outlet. Each year, we attend several shows. Whenever possible, we make the trek to the ADGA National Show.
In the effort to breed and market productive animals, herd health is of utmost significance. Our herd is certified and accredited. The entire herd is tested for CAE annually and we've not had a CL abcess. Everyone gets vaccinated for CD & T and Rabies on a regular basis. Routine deworming is accomplished based on fecal results and weather conditions. In the spring and summer, we practice rotational grazing. The goats have access to dry and airy barns and spacious pastures. They are supplemented with an 18% protein grain, beautiful orchard grass/timothy hay, and alfalfa when appropriate. Loose minerals are always available.
If you have any questions about the goats, please contact us.
Highlights from 2008
While rising fuel prices and attending college abbreviated the show schedule, the does have continued to milk and do well on the sporadic trip from the farm. The early spring saw Alex complete a 305 lactation of 4330 lbs. Fernie almost tipped the 4000 lb mark with 3990 lbs milk and 144 lbs fat. Both cracked the Top Ten with these lactactions, Alex in milk and protein, Fernie in butterfat. Two club shows this spring netted 6 GCHs, 4 RGCHs, and 2 BISs. The highlights of the summer came in July. At the National Show, every goat made the cut, Fernie won the 305 High Fat Award, and Maggie, Bijou, and Fernie combined to place 4th in Best Three Senior Does. In the Youth Events, Ryan showed me up and placed 5th in Junior Showmanship! For a fourth year, I won the Steven Schack Outstanding Youth Award as the premier youth Alpine exhibitor. A week after returning from Louisville, on a *very hot* Sunday afternoon, the herd was appraised for the sixth time. The does' average Final Score was 90.9; none earned anything less than Good Plus in any structural category; all with two or more freshenings scored EX. At the one show we attended this fall, Bijou finished going GCH and BIS in the youth portion while Fernie went GCH in the open. The year was capped off by the announcement that I was awarded one of the annual ADGA/Jim Morrison Scholarships.
Highlights from 2009
I freshened only eight does this year and many of them later in consideration of my final term of senior year at the University of Virginia. Midsummer brought the exciting news of Provence's acceptance in the Spotlight Sale. She is a fancy doe who should perform well in her own right and reproduce her strengths. The genetics are proven! As of the latest type and production evaluations, she has positive PTI's for both type and production. In July, I flew out to the National Show in Sacramento. The youth events went well. Thank you to Abby Carlson, Sarah Hazeltine, and Tori Kennedy for being great teammates in the fitting competition and working towards a first-place finish. Thank you to Sheila Nixon for her hospitality during my stay at Cal-Expo. Finally, the Alpine show was a pleasure to watch. The productivity and structural soundness of the champion lineup was inspiring. On to other topics... For the first time in three years, I have brought in an outside buck. Nate is Nodaway breeding and lined up on some historic animals. Though not on test this year, Fernie qualified a second time for the breed leader list based on last year's lactation. Out of the ordinary, the herd was appraised in September, an ideal time to measure goats for their true dairy quality. The session went well; average Final Score on the milking does was 90.8. October brought Convention and the Spotlight Sale. Bearly TRI Provence sold to Laurie Acton for $1600. Many thanks to Laurie and others who bid on Provence and also to everyone who helped prep animals and put the sale on. The news of the year broke shortly after Convention: I accepted a position on the dairy at Redwood Hill Farm and Creamery in Sebastopol, CA. I am excited about the opportunity and looking forward to the year ahead though it will bring changes to the herd here in VA. My mom, Sue Garvin, and younger brother, Ryan Garvin, will be taking over full-time management and care of the goats. They plan to freshen out a comfortable number of does and hope to be in Louisville for the National Show come June.