At first glance, a dairy goat show looks like a beauty pageant for goats. In reality, the purpose of a show is to select animals which come closest to the ideal of sound, productive type. Awards and publicity from shows encourage breeders to adhere to the ideal for continued improvement of the dairy goat.
Shows put quality dairy goats in the public eye to improve their public image.
And shows give dairy goat breeders recognition for long months of work in the barn, plus an opportunity to talk shop with fellow breeders. The judge at your show is a member of a very select community. Fewer than 150 people in the United States and Canada are currently licensed to judge shows sanctioned by the A merican D airy G oat A ssociation. To qualify for a license, applicants must pass stringent written and oral tests, demonstrating thorough knowledge of correct dairy goat conformation and the ability to organize and communicate that knowledge. Dairy goat judges must also requalify every two to four years in order to keep their licenses.