Hi folks,

Does anyone know where to get 1/2-gallon canning jars near Everett, Washington? Also, does anyone know the diameter of those jars? I'd like to use them to chill and store milk, and they have to fit inside my Donvier ice cream maker insert. I haven't been able to find one to measure.

Also, there seems to have been some interest on this forum in a mid-size dairy goat. I have a very nice Oberhasli doe and a very nice Nigerian Dwarf buck, both from excellent milking and show lines. I was thinking, since I have to breed her anyway, of breeding the doe to the Nigerian buck, hopefully resulting in a productive, mid-size goat. Does anyone have any thoughts on this? Would anyone have any interest in a doeling, presuming I get one or two? I'd welcome any input, for or against, regarding this venture. Thanks.

-- Laura Jensen (lauraj@seedlaw.com), August 15, 2000

Answers

Just my opinion, and we goatkeepers are always a little opinionated! :), but Oberhaslis are already on the small side, and their numbers are small, too. They are even considered to be a rare breed. I'd keep her kids pure. There will be more demand for them, as Obers tend to be popular, they'll milk better, and you'll have done something to help keep the obers from dying out. The Oberhasli does that I have seen are smaller than alpines, more like Toggenbur size, though the breed standard says they should be between Togg and Alpine size. if buck service to another Ober is a problem, there is always AI.

-- Rebekah (daniel1@transport.com), August 15, 2000.

Hi Rebekah. Thanks very much for your input! I guess I know about goatkeeper's opinions, having a few of my own. ;) The Obers are kind of small, but my doe still gives a gallon and a half a day, which is way too much for us. Also, I had her bred last time to a very nice buck and have two beautiful, three-month-old, weaned doelings. I had an add for them in the Little Nickel paper all last week and got one call from one woman who wanted companions for her horses. Honestly, I don't know why these goats aren't more popular! My doe is beautiful, gentle, docile, affectionate, quiet, a good milker with tasty milk, a good mother, and an easy kidder. What more could anyone want?

-- Laura Jensen (lauraj@seedlaw.com), August 15, 2000.

IMHO, I think that you should sell those doelings to me, if their sire is Ober. I am in Kingman, AZ. You would'nt be coming down this way by any stretch of the imagination are you? I would love them as an addition to my Ober stock. I love my Obers, they are some of the best milkers in my herd, I am a ADGA breeder and I agree completely w/Rebekah. Please don't cross breed, If you can't use that much milk I would trade you a very nice Milker from my herd that does not produce as much milk! She would have a nice home here in Kingman........Sigh~Wants more Obers~Have fun!

-- Lawannea S. Stum (Whitedov1@citlink.net), August 15, 2000.

Re: 1/2 gallon canning jars. I picked up a whole lot of them free at a garage sale. They are 9 inches high, 14 3/8 inches around. I use them for milk too. I've never seen them since that one sale, but if I do I'll get them and post to the list. I live in Oregon and can ship them to you if you're interrested. If you dont want them I'll keep them, they are much easier to use than the gallon jars. Since I'm typing, I'd have to give my vote for the pure Obers. You might have better luck finding a buyer on an Ober forum on the net. People in your area might not be familiar with them. Good Luck,

-- Julie Capasso (julieamc@excite.com), August 15, 2000.

I recently sold several 1/2 gallon Ball blue glass canning jars through eBay. Size was 9 1/4" tall by 4 1/2 " in diameter. Check out eBay at www.ebay.com. Use the search routine and search both title and description for canning jars. You can refine the search from there.

-- Ken S. in TN (scharabo@aol.com), August 15, 2000.

I just bought 2 1/2 doz wide mouth 1/2 gallon Ball canning jars from the amish store I shop at. You can order them from the Ball canning co. they have a website at www.homecanning.com and a toll free # 800- 240-3340. They will send you a catalogue or you can order the jars direct. I dont know how expensive they are when you arent ordering in large quantities like a store. I bought so many because I havent been able to fine the wide mouth ones anywhere. My milk straining contraption...2stainless canning funnels, one inside the other...really doesnt fit the regular jars. The also sell plastic lids that are easier to work with than the two piece. So far I've been successfully able to sanitize them with bleach. Hope this helps. Blessings Peggy

-- Peggy (wclpc@cookeville.com), August 15, 2000.

Your trying to sell 300$ animals in a thrifty nickle paper, something is wrong with that unless you are very well known for the quality of your animal. The first of the year I place a 30$ add in my large city paper about an hour from us, Houston. In this add I state that I have Nubains, show, milk and stud. I have goats year round please keep this ad. I get calls year round from this. I also advertise in Countryside, (36$ this year)I sell family milkers from this ad, they aren't good enough to make it on my show string, but for a family milker, that milks, is personable, Cae Cl and Johnes negative. Sure beats the nanny down the road with questionable lineage, questionable health, and an udder hanging to the ground! You have to get your name out there with your animals for sale, there are hundreds of goat boards, and lots of them have classifieds. Advertise these animals, you aren't doing yourself any favors by breeding down to a pet quality animal you will get even less for. Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), August 16, 2000.

Haven't seen 1/2 gallon canning jars around here in a while, new ones in stores anyway. I bought some Golden Harvest (they make canning jars, too) 1/2 gallon jars (canisters?) at my local dollar store for $1 each to store dry beans in. They have a plastic lid. Wide mouth canning jar lids will not fit them. I think they would be good for milk because the top is big enough to get a dipper in to skim the cream - can you skim cream from goats milk?! The bottom of the jar is 4" across both ways. Opening of the jar mouth is 3 1/2" radius.

-- Polly (tigger@moultrie.com), August 16, 2000.

You might try putting an ad in the paper wanted 1/2 gallon canning jars. I always seem to have good luck with wanted ads of all sorts. Probably someone has a boxful collecting dust in the basement. I got a couple hundred quart jars that way. Good luck Tami in WI

-- Tami Bowser (windridg@chorus.net), August 17, 2000.

Since Oberhaslis are rare, it would probably be better to breed your doe to an Ober buck, but if you did decide to breed her to your Nigerian Dwarf, who knows, you might start a new breed, like the people that started Kinder goats by crossing pygmy goats with Nubians! I'm too far away (NH) or I would offer for any resulting doe kids.

-- Kathleen Sanderson (stonycft@worldpath.net), August 17, 2000.

they sell them at Buris Fruit stand in Puyallup. This is on the old river road that goes into tacoma. I bought mine there a few years ago and don't remember the price. It is the only place locally that i have found them.

-- terry theckston (tterrym@hotmail.com), February 06, 2001.