My husband and I chose to educate all three of our children at home. Proudly, all
are now successful young adults “making their own way in the
world." Over the years our interests have been varied but we never veered from our dedicated commitment to
“raise up” our children to love and honor GOD and to believe in Jesus Christ as LORD
and SAVIOR of their lives. We also taught them to respect their fellow man and to
have pride in the fact that they are Americans because of the freedom it offers to
them and that this freedom was paid for by the sacrifice of many. We believe our
chosen “back-to-the-country” lifestyle proved itself to be the perfect “tool”
for the teaching of these ideals.
Animals have always been a part of our lives. Our primary interest and continued
goal has been in raising show quality dairy goats. Of course, we enjoy other
species of animals as well. We have a Jersey cow, a Miniature horse, chickens and
a few retired registered show quality Mini Rex rabbits. We have pet dogs, African
Ringneck doves, and too many cats (but that’s only because it is hard for me to turn
away a cat in need). You will also see we have Great Pyrenees Livestock Guardian
dogs.
I hope you will stay at our website and visit the various places we have here for
you to see. If we can answer any questions or be of any help to you after visiting
with us, please be in touch.
Great Pyrenees Livestock
Guardian Dogs
It was in 1987 that I lost my small herd of dairy goats to a 13 member dog pack
attack. Those dogs got all of my chickens too, of course. This was a horrible
experience and one that I determined would never happen to me again. I thought, at
the time, that I was simply not going to keep goats as part of our small farm
operation. Then, I found out about Livestock Guardian Dogs. What new hope I had.
I read, researched, studied and ventured forth to find my first Great Pyrenees
Livestock Guardian Dog.
It didn’t take me long to find our first little
puppy – a five week old female we named Grace. Over the years, Grace proved herself to be invaluable. How we loved
that dog. We later purchased a huge, gorgeous male that we named Judgment and call
“Judge.” These two gave us three litters of puppies over the years. We retired
Grace and after a short span of dealing with cancer, she died in 2002.
“I love a Jersey Cow. I suppose it’s their eyes that make me love
them. You all know we had a cow when I was a girl………”
I heard my sweet momma say these words more than once in my life. I had many years
of hearing the stories from my momma’s childhood. Some were of when she and her
brothers and sisters were responsible for the chores of milking the cow, tending the
chickens, and other events from the days of the depression. I would listen and try
to imagine what it might have been like to live during those times.
In later years, I remember Momma going to “get fresh cow’s milk” and how much she
enjoyed the raw milk and buttermilk “every once in a while.” Otherwise, I don’t
remember that Momma ever drank milk.
The day after Christmas in 2001, we lost my sweet Momma very unexpectedly and then,
late in 2003, I found Eva and I just couldn’t resist the temptation of having her
come to live with us. I call it “my Momma thing I did.” I can’t look at Eva
without enjoying thoughts of wonderful times spent with my Mother as she told us
girls her life stories.
Here is what we have found out about “Eva, the Cow” after we got her home with us:
Registered Name: Ignacio Eva of Gloryland
Farm Call Name: "Eva"
DOB: 5/3/00
Eva is registered with the American Jersey Cattle Association
Eva's great grand dam (SDD) is the infamous Duncan Belle who is first on the Jersey
Cow "Great Cow List." She has an appraisal score of Excellent - 92%. Duncan Belle
has a lifetime production of 101,402 lbs of milk with 5,626 lbs. fat and 4,306 lbs.
protein with an average daily production of 48.3 lbs. milk, 2.7 lbs. fat and 2.1
lbs. protein.
Duncan Belle was the Reserve National Grand Champion in 1993 at the All American
Jersey Show. She was Grand Champion of the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in 1992
and 1993. She is a 12 Star Brood Cow in Canada.
Bet my Momma would love this cow!!
We are using an AI breeding program with Eva. We are blessed to have a dairyman living near
us who has been more than willing to help AI Eva. Thank you, Bob Robinson, for your more
than capable help given to us in getting Eva bred and for your giving spirit and continued
help in maintaining the health of our sweet Jersey cow, Eva.
Eva’s first breeding date here at Southern Touch Farm was on May 16, 2005, to Sunset Canyon
Matrix – P – ET who is a son of ISDK FYN Lemvig. We were so excited to hear from the vet the
following July that she had indeed settled. In February of 2006, we witness the thankfully
uneventful birth of a bull calf. Eva did a great job!! We took the little bull away from
her and settled him down providing him with his first bottle of
colostrum we had waiting for him. What fun it was to raise Renegade, our first calf. We have included some pictures of
Renegade for you to see what a nice looking fella he turned out to be. Renegade moved to
Southern Alabama as a bottle calf.
