Overview
This lecture covers the 2025 ADGA (American Dairy Goat Association) Unified Scorecard, explaining the point system and evaluation criteria for dairy goats, showmanship, and herdsmanship.
ADGA Unified Scorecard Purpose
- The scorecard helps select dairy goats built for long, productive lifespans.
- It assigns points to physical traits and show skills to ensure efficient animals.
General Appearance
- Focus on an attractive, strong frame blending femininity (does) or masculinity (bucks), length, and smoothness.
- Head: clean, proportional, alert eyes, strong jaw, meets breed standards.
- Front End: arched withers, tight and smoothly blended shoulder, deep wide chest.
- Back: straight, tall at withers, level loin, smooth hips.
- Rump: wide, nearly level hips to pinbones, tail set properly, normal reproductive anatomy.
- Legs/Feet: strong, straight, well-positioned, flexible pasterns, deep heels, tight forward-facing toes.
Dairy Strength
- Goats should have long, angular bones, openness, clean structure, and show milking ability.
- Neck: long, lean, blending into shoulders.
- Withers: wedge-shaped, slightly above shoulders.
- Ribs: flat, long, wide apart.
- Flank: deep but not fat.
- Thighs: arched into escutcheon, wide apart.
- Skin: thin, loose, with lustrous hair.
Body Capacity
- Proportional size, age, and lactation/breeding status, showing vigor and strength.
- Chest: deep, wide, clean-cut, well-sprung foreribs.
- Barrel: long, deep, wide, increasing depth into flank.
Mammary System (Does)
- Udder: strong attachment, elastic, balanced, and high capacity for prolonged use.
- Medial ligament: defines udder halves, keeps it snug, well above hocks.
- Fore Udder: wide, full, extends forward.
- Rear Udder: high, wide, arched, deep.
- Symmetry: capacity distributed evenly around the leg, balanced halves, soft after milking.
- Teats: uniform, medium size, cylindrical, point mostly down, placed for ease of milking.
Showmanship
- Exhibitors should wear clean, preferably white clothing; animal clean, trimmed, and clipped.
- Lead animal on left, use appropriate collar, walk naturally.
- Pose animal for best advantage; ensure feet are properly placed.
- Respond quickly to judge, maintain poise and sportsmanship at all times.
- Showman should know goat parts, breed standards, and the scorecard.
Herdsmanship
- Pens: clean, well-bedded, attractive decorations and signs.
- Exhibitor: knowledgeable, courteous, clean and appropriately dressed.
- Goats: clean, clipped, trimmed feet.
- Aisles and equipment must be neat and organized.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Doe — Female goat.
- Buck — Male goat.
- Withers — Ridge between shoulder blades.
- Pastern — Part of leg between hoof and fetlock.
- Escutcheon — Area below the vulva, part of rear udder attachment.
- Medial Suspensory Ligament — Ligament supporting udder, separating udder halves.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review detailed breed standards before showing.
- Practice leading and posing animals according to scorecard guidelines.
- Prepare goats and pens as outlined in herdsmanship and showmanship sections.