Buttercup’s Udder
Buttercup’s udder in 2019. Buttercup gave a bit over 6 lbs./day last year at a month fresh. Her dam and sister both have milk stars. She has very rich milk.
Buttercup in 2020 nursing a single doeling. This is her first 12-hour separation for the year. We were hoping to get her a milk star this year, but 2020 happened and no one got stars.
In 2021, she did earn her star! Certificate below.
In 2021, we finally had the opportunity to put Buttercup on milk test. She earned her star!
Buttercup’s Kids
Buttercup was pregnant when we bought her. She was bred to Mini Ranch Arizona (his information below) and produced triplet doelings. They turned out to be awesome girls, and you can read more about them below. Because JC’s Bluebelle 3*P and JC’s Snowdrop 3*P have become very foundational for our herd, Arizona’s information is provided below.
Arizona sired Buttercup’s 2019 kids. His genes are rich with high milk producers, and his daughters are great!
Arizona’s Pedigree
Mini Ranch’s BC Bambi’s May:
Arizona’s dam’s udder
Lone Cottonwood PM Macy May: Arizona’s dam’s dam’s udder. This doe is Green Gables’ Thunder’s dam’s full sister.
2019 Kids
Buttercup delivered triplet doelings—not without a LOT of drama, especially for us first-time newbies! You can read that story here. Below are pictures of those triplets Bluebelle, Snowdrop, and Heather, two of whom remained with us to deliver kids of their own here!
2020 Kid
In 2020, Buttercup was bred to Green Gables E Asher *B, and had one large, moonspotted, golden girl, whom we named Storybook’s Daffodil. She has an ear that would not retrain after being folded in the womb—therefore her barn name has become “Daffy!” She was sweet, and I loved to see Buttercup snuggling with her as she did with her triplets. Daffodil found a great home in Maryland as a yearling.
2021 Kids
In 2021, Buttercup was paired with Bellhouse’s Rigel *B. They produced two stunning girls (during a decided buck year!) on Valentine’s Day. We retained both of them: Storybook’s Valentine and Storybook’s Chocolate Kiss.
2022
Buttercup was bred to Bellhouse’s Rigel *B again and conceived three bucklings. However, 21 days early she delivered these boys. Only one survived, and he only 36 hours. She was very sad. We think probably a butting incident sent her into early labor.
2023 Kids
In the late fall, after being bred to Storybook’s Prince Valiant, Buttercup developed a pinched nerve in her cheek that caused her to lose its normal function. The cheek became a pouch that fills with cud and chewed forage. We have to manually clean her out regularly, and she barely survived bringing her two final kids to full term, then nursing them for 10 weeks. We are monitoring her as winter sets in. She may not be able to handle the cold, given the small number of calories she can process. In any case. these are her last two kids: beautiful and healthy herdsires! Storybook’s White Pine and Storybook’s Tiger Maple.
