Phoebe is Grace’s full sister. The twins (two out of a set of triplets) were born in December of 2017. Their sire (Bell Hill Harley) was sold to a local family by Bell Hill Farm, and he was bred to the family’s unregistered milking doe, that I believe was a grade Saanen, which would make sense considering Grace and Phoebe’s size; they are both really BIG girls.

While the resulting doelings were gorgeous, the breeder was not a member of ADGA, and thus they were not recorded in the registry. However, their dairy genetics are very strong and definitely shine through. Their paternal granddam, SG Bell Hill Anna Mae (by Redwood Hills Foxtrot Buzz) was a fantastic milker. In fact, Anna Mae was given the honor of Superior Genetics (SG) by ADGA. According to the ADGA website, for this designation, “the animal must be in the top 15% (85^th  percentile ranking or higher) of their breed according to the Production/Type Index (PTI) ranking at least once during the life of the animal… Once earned, the SG or SGCH becomes a permanent prefix to the animal’s name and replaces show prefixes that may have already been a part of the animal’s name.”

Phoebe and Grace were recorded as NOA (Native on Appearance) Grade Alpines. In only three generations, their female progeny will be able to be registered as American Alpines; this is one of our goals for the herd. Phoebe has always been rather stoic, but she adores her kids.

Phoebe had three freshenings:

• 2023 (bred to Peter) – Rikki (Dawnridge Rikki Don’t Lose), still on our farm
• 2024 (bred to Peter) – Barry (wether) and Sherry (Dawnridge M-M-M-My Sharona)
• 2025 (bred to Dicky) – Dawn (Dawnridge RHKR Tequila Sunrise), still on our farm

Phoebe was retired in 2025 and sold locally as a pet along with both her sister and her only son, Barry. We will always consider Phoebe to be an important part of the foundation of our herd.

E/E – This doe has been DNA tested by the UC Davis Veterinary Genetics Laboratory for Alpha‑S1 Casein. The results help us understand how her genetics may influence the protein and fat levels in milk produced by herself and her daughters. Higher Alpha‑S1 Casein is associated with creamier milk and better cheese-making, while lower levels may be easier for some people to digest.