Conformation Matters

Conformation Matters because Form follows Function

 

In his 1896 article 'The Tall Office Building Artistically Considered' Architect Louis Sullivan wrote:

“It is the pervading law of all things organic and inorganic, of all things physical and metaphysical, of all things human and all things superhuman, of all true manifestations of the head, of the heart, of the soul, that the life is recognizable in its expression, that form ever follows function. This is the law.”

Over many years both dairy cattle and dairy goat authorities have evaluated certain physical structures of dairy animals and have been able to correlate those which data has shown to be consistent with increased longevity in the dairy, health, and production.  These qualities are ones that are observable - and form the basis for what comprises 'Poor' to ' Excellent' quality conformation in Dairy animals.

'Type' refers to structural correctness. The perfect dairy goat would have all aspects of 'ideal type' based on the Scorecard used for judging dairy goats at Registry sanctioned shows.

Shows are designed to highlight animals that show the most correct "Type" expressed by a particular animal in each class. As such, they represent the animals most desirable in a breeding program designed to enhance and create more correct and more productive animals in future generations.

This blog will discuss type and structural correctness in all mini dairy goat breeds.

The TMGR Score Card establishes type based on traits that represent characteristics shown to enhance health and productivity in all Miniature Dairy Goat breeds. Both breeders and buyers would benefit from a better understanding of the traits that highly productive animals possess.