Doug Backhurst

I am sorry to report the current death of Doug Backhurst, after a relatively long disease. It is a loss of among our old time goat characters, and many individuals who kept goats in the 1970s, 80, and 90s will keep in mind Doug.

His partner Pam reproduced the Norbrook herd of dairy goats. They resided in Normandy, extremely near us here. At that time there were a variety of us keeping goats in an extremely little location, and all of us utilized to assist each other out, goat sitting, inspect weighing and even assisting each other out with milk materials to stay out clients going when we were still able to offer fresh milk from our holdings.

Pam reproduced up an exceptional herd from a number of extremely non descript cross types and developed an extremely beneficial herd, primarily white AOVs and a couple of bachelor’s degree types that all milked well and were competitive at the programs. She and Doug were routine advocates at the regional programs. Doug did a lot to assist at the programs, bringing a gas boiler to offer a lot of warm water for all of us and handling the amounts of milk that would be produced by as much as 100 milkers.

Doug was likewise MD of his household organization, C P Backhurst & & Co. This started as a little hay and straw merchant however broadened into the basic market of animal feeds. Not everybody understood that Doug was extremely certified in the field of animal nutrition. He established among the very first, if not the very first, correctly well balanced feed blends specifically developed for dairy goats, well balanced and with all the appropriate minerals in the appropriate percentages. He comprised various blends for the various requirements of milking, dry and growing stock, and business provided the mix to numerous goat keepers everywhere.

Along with the concentrate feed Doug likewise provided hay and straw to a lot of us. He sourced terrific red clover hay from farmers on the South coast, where the hay appeared to grow so well in the sea air. He provided this by the truck load to numerous goat keepers everywhere throughout the nation. Much of us count on him for this for a number of years up until the farmers retired or moved over to more rewarding crops than the clover.

The memory of Doug brings with it numerous memories of a golden age for a lot of us goat keepers, and advises us just how much individuals of his generation contributed, not simply to the goat keeping fraternity however to the neighborhood as a whole. I make certain that members join me in sending our finest dreams to Pam and the household.

Nick Parr