Recent Happenings at the Ranch

UPDATED 4/2/13

Awards Department Report

 BMR Goats Earn 13 Awards From INBA

4/2/13 The International Nubian Breeders Association (INBA) has announced the 2012 Merit and Awards winners. 

An overview of the BMR wins:

1 - Silver Milk Certificate

8 - Bronze Milk Certificates

3 - Excellence in Linear Appraisal Award

1 - Extended Lactation Award

Congratulations to all the hardworking girls!  What a great group of goats.  The individual awards will be listed on the lineage pages.

The full list of this year's winners can soon be found at: http://www.i-n-b-a.org/programs/merit-a-awards

The Sweet Life

BMR Kidding Season Is Here!

3/3/13  As the seasons change, so do the events at Black Mesa Ranch.  We are entering our Kidding Season.  Baby goats are being born now, jumping and cavorting around the ranch.  To read about the goats and their kiddings, please check out our Kidding Diary.

Another Awards Department Report

The Next Generation of Superior Genetics

11/20/12  Once again the American Dairy Goat Association has awarded the title of Superior Genetics to goats that score in the top 15% for production and/or conformation.  Six more of our does have now earned this prestigious title.  Congratulations to them!

Grace (left),  Legacy (center), Jackie (right)

 Harmony (left), Zoe (center), Tally (right)

Awards Department Report

USDA Announces the Latest Elite Does and Bucks

9/10/12  We are proud that 7 of our goats have made the 2012 Elite list from the USDA.  Poppy, Brill, Spring Thyme, Rio Grande, and Splash have once again made the list.  Yearlings Tally and Legacy have also been named Elite Does.

Poppy - 97%, Legacy - 98%, Brill - 99%

Spring Thyme - 96%, Tally 99%

Rio - 88%, Splash - 96%

Welcome Wagon Report

A Whole New Adventure Starts At BMR

9/8/12  Way back in our younger years we dreamt of moving out to the middle of nowhere and raising sheep.  Once our dream of moving to the country came true we started out with goats instead.  But now we have a chance to finally work with sheep.  Our starter herd of Katahdin hair sheep have arrived.  They are a meat breed that do not need shearing.  We have also added a new barn for the flock even though they will be out grazing our range most of the time.

Holiday Shopping Guide

BMR Gears Up For Even More Gourmet Candy Making

8/26/12  We've been making candy for several decades now.  It's a seasonal business for us since our ultra fine chocolate needs to be kept cool and our hot Arizona summers are too extreme for it.  Our candies have become so popular that this year we are expanding our line of confections.  Since we are just a two person operation, we decided we needed to get a few new pieces of equipment to help us out.  We will now have a chocolate enrober and an extruder, plus a cutting "guitar".  Our new candy line should roll into production by late October - weather permitting.  Check out our Market Page to see if they are available.

 Enrober, Guitar, Extruder

We also do corporate gifting with custom labels and cards.  Contact David, the candy maker, to discuss your needs. 

Taking Time Out For A Commercial Break

 Whole Foods Films Black Mesa Ranch

7/24/12  Earlier this month Whole Foods Markets sent a film crew out to the ranch for several days to make a video to promote our cheeses in their stores.  It was a fun event and we enjoyed the time.  The goats were very helpful, as always.  To view the video just click here. 

While the film crew was here, David made them a great meal of Pasta with Goat Cheese.  To see David in action, click here.

Another Awards Department Report

 2012 Linear Appraisal Results

6/20/12  We had our 2012 American Dairy Goat Association Linear Appraisal yesterday.  Linear appraisal is like a show but each goat is judged against the Ideal Goat.  Scores 90 and above are Excellent, scores in the 80's are very nice also. 

As expected our girls did really well.  Our average score for does 2 years old and up was 89, with 4 does earning 91 and 4 does earning 90. 

It was a very informative event and we thank the appraiser for doing such a great job.  We'd also like to thank Marshall Losey of M's Sagebrush Acres (www.SagebrushAcres.com) who did the goat handling for the appraisal.  Marshall also convinced the girls to pose for the photo shoot.  Mark Zieman (www.DrMyattsWellnessClub.com)  was the photographer and he did a great job.  Amanda Henderson,  Dana Myatt, and 4-H'ers Madison and Shelby also helped out with handling the goats and getting them milked out once they had been appraised.  Many thanks to all who volunteered their time to come help us out.

 Just a few of our lovely ladies.  Celeste VEEE90 (Left), Princess EEEE91 (Center), and Harmony VEEE91 (Right)

Awards Department Report

 BMR Goats Win 32 Awards From INBA

3/12/12  The International Nubian Breeders Association (INBA) has announced the 2011 Merit and Awards winners. 

An overview of the BMR wins:

2 - Silver Milk Certificates

9 - Bronze Milk Certificates

4 - Top Production By Age

5 - Outstanding Sires

4 - Excellence in Linear Appraisal

7 - Lifetime Achievement Awards

1 - Top Ten Milk Production Award

Congratulations to all the hardworking bucks and does!  What a great group of goats.  The individual awards will be listed on the lineage pages.

The full list of this year's winners can be found at: http://www.i-n-b-a.org/programs/merit-a-awards/merit-a-award-results/228-2011-maa-winners

 New Life on the Ranch

BMR Kidding Season Has Begun

3/4/12  Our 2012 Kidding Season was kicked off by China Doll and her triplets.  Marlyn followed her with lovely twins.  That's two down and only 31 does left to kid!   To read about each birth and see pictures of the newborns, please check out our kidding page by clicking here.

From The Awards and Recognition Department

BMR Named 2012 Edible Phoenix Local Hero!

2/15/12   For the second time, Black Mesa Ranch has been named as an Edible Phoenix Food Artisan Local Hero!   We are thrilled with the award and so pleased that people in the Phoenix area appreciate fresh, local, high quality food.  We appreciate all those people that voted for us, and especially appreciate those that support us by purchasing our products.

 From the Edible Phoenix web site, here is more information :

Edible Phoenix is a quarterly publication promoting the abundance of local foods in Phoenix and its surrounding Valley communities. We celebrate the Valley’s farmers, food artisans, chefs, and food-related business owners by sharing their stories with consumers and building ties within the community. Filled with engaging stories and enticing photography, Edible Phoenix is at the forefront of the Valley’s culinary awakening. Isn’t it time you knew about the farmer at your local farm stand?

If you are interested in:

Eating delicious, locally grown, seasonal foods

Getting to know the people who grow, produce, cook and sell our food

Supporting school gardens, food banks and other food-based community programs

Learning more about the Valley's dining, markets, food events, festivals, classes, cookbooks, and day trips

Edible Phoenix is for you.

http://www.ediblecommunities.com/phoenix/

 In brief:

BMR Herd Continues To Test CAE Free

2/10/12  Once again our dairy herd has tested 100% CAE free. We test every goat every year just prior to kidding (we pulled and submitted blood samples from 43 goats this year). With the test results in, we can feed our kids delicious raw milk with all it’s benefits, instead of having to pasteurize it to prevent CAE.

CAE is an incurable, debilitating disease that is passed on most frequently dam-to-kid through milk and colostrum. Keeping our goats free of this disease is one of our top priorities, not only because the disease decreases production but because of the suffering it can cause the goats afflicted with it.

Population Explosion on the Ranch

The First Babies of the Year

1/5/12   Little did we suspect when Anatolian Livestock Guardian Dog (LGD) Mattie came to work here last November that she had a secret.  However as the weeks went by we eventually guessed that secret.  On January 3rd Mattie took some time off from guarding her goat herd to whelp 9 beautiful, healthy puppies.   Mattie and her new family are doing great.  Papa is a working Akbash LGD.  These pups are going to be awesome livestock guardians once they grow up.  You can see more about the puppies by clicking here.

Quality Matters

More Superior Genetics Awards For Our Herd!

11/16/11   Once again the American Dairy Goat Association has awarded our goats with their Superior Genetics titles.  This award is given to goats that are in the top 15% of goats for production and confirmation.   Congratulations go to Tyler, Joy, Spring Thyme, River, and Brillosa.  What a great bunch of girls, we are proud to have them here.

Tyler and Joy

Spring Thyme, River,  and Brillosa

From the BMR Department of Homeland Security

Our Anatolian Livestock Guardian Dogs Have Arrived!

10/24/11  We've had reports of a mountain lion killing livestock in our little valley, plus some new coyote packs have moved into the area.  We are very glad to have several new faces here at the ranch to help protect our animals.  Pierre, a strong, hardworking 4 year old male, Kailin, a 3 year old female dedicated to protecting her herd, plus two of their 8 week old pups who are already learning their jobs.  One pup will be staying here for awhile before heading off to a different ranch to work.  The other pup will stay here at Black Mesa Ranch.  So far these wonderful animals are settling in well and already have adopted the goat herd as their very own. 

The puppies (left), Kailin (center), and Pierre (right)

Playing It Our Way

YouTube Video of the Ranch!

10/11/11  To commemorate our 11th anniversary of moving to Black Mesa Ranch, David has produced a wonderful YouTube video of our dairy goats, cheese making, and our lovely ranch.  Please join us in celebrating our life out here with the goats.   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2aqY0sWN0s 

In the News

ADGA Announces Sire Development Program Bucks

10/3/11  Our girls Harmony (bred to Marco), and Cinnamon (bred to Splash) have produced bucks with the excellence to qualify for the American Dairy Goat Association's Sire Development Program! These fellas are going to be ones to watch.  Congratulations to Rocky Lacey of Country Road Ranch for owning Harmony's buckling, Dave, and to Hazel of Witch Hazel Dairy for owning Cinnamon's son, Nebula.  We wish you great success in using these outstanding fellas.

Proud mother Harmony, Dave playing at his home at Country Road Ranch

Cinnamon (left), her son Nebula (right)

Humanely Raised and Handled Certification Renewed

9/30/11 After over 5 hours of interviews and inspections (not to mention the hours spent filling out applications) Black Mesa Ranch has once again been certified as Humanely Raised and Handled.  This certification is endorsed by more than 36 humane organizations and is nationally recognized as the Gold Standard for certifying animal welfare.

This is what the inspector said in her report: "Extremely well managed goat dairy.  Compassionate and very knowledgeable owners, deeply committed to the welfare of their animals."  We love our animals and it shows!

To find out more about what this certification represents please check out the Humane Farm Animal Care website at: http://www.certifiedhumane.org/

Networking

BMR Is Now On Facebook

9/10/11   It's all new to us, but we are trying out facebook as a means of staying in touch with people and letting folks know about what is going on here at the ranch.  Please check it out and let us know if you "like" it.

Click here to follow us on facebook

New Product

BMR Goats Milk Caramel Sauce

8/22/11   Our new Goats Milk Caramel (aka Cajeta/Dulce de Leche) is a delicious, thick caramel sauce/topping/dip made from fresh Goats Milk (from our own herd of Nubian dairy goats, of course), cane sugar, creamery butter, pure vanilla and salt.  No high fructose corn syrup or added artificial preservatives, flavors or colors.  Sold in 12-oz net weight glass jars.  Try it over berries or ice cream, as a dip for apple slices or cookies, or use as a sweetener for your coffee!

Now also available: Chocolate Caramel Fudge Sauce!  Truly decadent. 

Click here to check it out and order some today!

USDA and ADGA Report

BMR Elite Does and Superior Genetics Buck

8/10/11   Another one of our fine bucks has been awarded his Superior Genetics title indicating that he is in the top 15% of Nubian bucks for production and confirmation.   Congratulations to Six M Galaxy Make a Big Splash.  Splash was also named an Elite Sire, scoring in the top 2% of Nubian bucks.

Three of our does have earned their Elite Doe titles - Poppy, Brill, and Spring Thyme.  This award is given to does that fall into the top 5 % of Nubians for confirmation, production, and the genetic ability to pass those traits on.  Brill actually scored in the top 1%!  This is the third time that Poppy has earned the award.

Spring Thyme (Top left), Brill (Top right), Poppy (Lower left), Splash (Lower right)

Musings of a Gourmet Chef

The Kitchen Chronicles

1/24/11   We tend to produce most of our own food here at the ranch.  Since David is a trained and experienced chef working with high quality, ultra fresh ingredients our meals are nothing but exquisite.  If you would like to read about David's culinary adventures, check out his new blog at: http://thekitchenchronicles.blogspot.com/

           Homemade butter, marinated home grown pork ready for smoking, homemade Jack cheese

 Reaping Rewards Report

David's Garden Tour

  8/6/10   David's garden is in full swing, growing well, and already supplying us with great produce for our table.  His garden is a 50' by 50' area filled with eggplant, squash, asparagus, cornichons (pickling cukes), broccoli, herbs, sunflowers, tomatoes, peppers, beets, and much more.

 Chives (left), Broccoli, and Basil (right)

Tarragon (left), Parsley, and Jalapenos (right)

Eggplant (left), Patty Pan Squash (right)

Bell Peppers

For more information about our garden, click here.

 Webmaster report:

BlackMesaRanchOnline gets Downsized!

   7/7/08 After years of dreaming, research, and just plain impatient waiting, we've finally been able to acquire the domain name BlackMesaRanch.com.  The "online" part of our old domain name has been dropped.  Web site access and email addresses will work with either the new or old name for now, but soon we will change over to the shorter version - so please update your favorites list!