Distinctive Ears ~ Exceptional Dairy Goats

Few dairy breeds are as instantly recognizable as the LaMancha. Known for their extremely short ears, LaManchas are an American-developed dairy breed valued for their dairy character, adaptability, productive potential, and generally calm, people-oriented personalities. Their unique appearance may be what gets your attention—but their qualities as dairy animals are what have made the breed a favorite among dairy-goat owners across the country.

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A Uniquely American Dairy Breed

The history of the LaMancha is unusual. Short-eared goats have been documented in different parts of the world for centuries, and short-eared goats were present in the western United States long before today's breed was formally established. The modern American LaMancha, however, was developed in the United States. Breeder Eula Fay Frey played a major role in developing the breed in California, selectively breeding short-eared goats while incorporating genetics from established dairy breeds. The American LaMancha was officially recognized by the American Dairy Goat Association in 1958. 

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It's All About Those Ears

The Feature Everyone Notices First

LaManchas have two recognized ear types: 

Gopher Ear - Very little or no cartilage, with the end of the ear turned up or down. The maximum length is approximately one inch.

Elf Ear - A small ear with some cartilage and a maximum length of approximately two inches.

For registration purposes, bucks must have gopher ears. Does may have either gopher or elf ears.

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More Than Their Ears

A True Dairy Goat

Their ears make them famous, but LaManchas were developed to be dairy animals. 

They are standard-size dairy goats with strong dairy character and the capacity for substantial milk production.

DAIRY PRODUCTION
Bred to be productive working dairy animals.

TEMPERAMENT
Often valued for their calm, personable nature.

ADAPTABILITY
A versatile breed found in dairy herds throughout the United States.

PERFORMANCE
LaManchas can be found in family milk herds, performance programs, and competitive show herds.

 

Our LaManchas

A New Chapter at Goodwin Family Farms

LaManchas are an exciting addition to Goodwin Family Farms as we continue developing a dairy herd centered around production, structure, longevity, and animals we genuinely enjoy working with. As with the rest of our breeding program, our goal isn't simply to produce more goats. We're interested in making thoughtful breeding decisions that result in productive, functional dairy animals capable of contributing to the next generation.

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What We're Breeding For ~ Function First

Whether we're evaluating an Oberhasli, LaMancha, or one of our Experimentals, many of our priorities remain the same.

MILK PRODUCTION - Does capable of producing useful quantities of milk throughout their lactations.

MAMMARY SYSTEMS - Functional, well-supported udders designed for the job they're expected to perform.

STRUCTURAL CORRECTNESS - Sound animals with the feet, legs, strength and dairy structure needed for longevity.

LONGEVITY - Animals capable of remaining productive members of the herd for years.

TEMPERAMENT - Dairy goats have to be handled every day. We value animals that are enjoyable and practical to work with.

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Performance Matters ~ More Than Pedigrees

We believe pedigrees tell us where an animal came from. Performance helps tell us where the breeding program should go next. Our herd participates in performance programs such as DHI milk testing and Linear Appraisal, giving us additional information to evaluate milk production, components, mammary systems, structure, and overall progress. This information, combined with pedigrees and everyday hands-on evaluation, helps guide our breeding decisions.

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BRED WITH PURPOSE. BACKED BY PERFORMANCE

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