Jericho Bloodline
The goats, originally brought to the farm and cared for by a Man who worked for the family, had been ranging freely from pasture to mountains, paying no heed to fences. Many times, the goats stopped traffic while jumping pasture fences to head to the mountains. Mrs. Rudder began to select for meatier goats within her closed herd. This herd has all the great characteristics of the Spanish goat: great mothers, clean udders, extremely hardy and parasite resistant. Their feet rarely need attention, they have adapted remarkably well to highhumidity and wet conditions. These goats are unique in that they are native to Alabama and have no other genetic influence. They are meaty, easy fleshing goats requiring little to no maintenance. Mature nannies reach around 130 pounds, while billies will go around 175. The colors vary, at one time having quite a few solid reds, but tend to be black or brown, usually with a badger face and a light tan to grey also with a badger face. We have the occasional white or red that go back to the original herd where red was more common. We do not manage for color only for meat and hardiness color is a bonus. We were blessed to be entrusted with this herd when their owner decided she could no longer take care of them. We are working to preserve this herd as the only Alabama endemic Spanish Goat and continue the genetic uniqueness of this herd. Goats from this herd were featured on the front of the Goat Rancher Magazine as a part of its Spanish Goat Articles.
Broken Diamond Livestock strives to produce a hearty Spanish meat goat that thrives in the South East. We work to conserve the Spanish goat by breeding pure Spanish goats to continue the heritage bloodlines started by the foundation ranches. We are founding members of the Spanish Goat Association and have a DNA Registered goats and SGLLC certified Spanish herd as a part of the Spanish Goat LLC. Any goats purchased from us can be registered with the Spanish Goat Association and the Spanish Goat LLC (SGLLC). Broken Diamond Livestock has several bloodlines of Spanish goats including Jericho, Devils River, Kensing, Weinheimer, and Sawyer. We also cross pure Spanish goat bloodlines to produce a goat with hybrid vigor, adaptability, and meat production. Our goats run in the pastures along with our cattle where we expect them to thrive with little care. We only retain and sell the best in parasite resistance, mothering, hoof quality, and growth. We have the only herd of Jericho Spanish Goats. The roots of the Alabama Jericho Goats can be traced back to the original goats left in the Deep South by Spanish Explorers. As Southern Plantations developed, these now indigenous goats became a cheap food source for Slaves and landowners alike. Stevenson Alabama, in Jackson County lies at the foot of the Appalachian Mountains. Here rolling pastureland meets steep, limestone rich mountains with many springs, an ideal place for goats to thrive. In the early 1970’s Mrs. Rudder began to concentrate on improving the family’s goat herd.
