Over the last few years several goat clubs have developed the practice of holding "back to back shows". One venue and set of penning can be used for 2 shows held on consecutive days.

The usual procedure adopted is for there to be 2 milking competitions, one on each day. The drawback to this is that goats entered in both milking competitions may not leave the showground until after the milking has been completed on the second milking of the second milking competition.

The committee has considered this issue and the possibilities of allowing the second day of showing to end earlier, thus allowing exhibitors to leave a little earlier and have a more comfortable - and safer - journey home.

The regulations require that each milking competition must:
1. be held within 24 hours,
2. be based on 2 milkings, one in the morning and one in the afternoon,
3. with an interval of not less than 10 hours, the second milking being completed not more than 24 hours after the competing animals have been stripped dry.

There is however no requirement that the first milking take place in the morning. Therefore on the first show day the morning and evening milkings can be used for the competition. For the second show the evening and morning milkings can be used providing that the 10 hour minimum interval and 24 hour total times are strictly adhered to.

An example of how this might work on a back to back weekend show is as follows:
1. Friday afternoon, goats arrive and stripped out by 7 p.m. for the first show.
2. Saturday morning, goats milked and milk weighed and sampled for the first milking competition. Milking to be completed by 9 a.m.
3. Saturday morning, goats stripped out by 9 a.m. for the second show.
4. Saturday evening, goats milked and milk weighed and sampled for the first milking competition. Milking to be completed by 7 p.m.
5. Saturday evening, milk weights used and second sample taken for the second milking competition.
6. Sunday morning, goats milked and milk weighed and samples taken for the second milking competition. Milking to be completed by 9 a.m.
7 Sunday afternoon, goats may leave the showground when judging has been completed.

There is no obligation for shows to follow this procedure.

Nick Parr