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The Alpines
International Breed Club was founded in 1958 to develop, preserve
and promote the French and American Alpine Dairy Goat.
Another main purpose of this
nonprofit club was to form an information sharing, support network
for all who love this very special breed. Annual meetings are
held yearly in conjunction with the American Dairy Goat
Association's annual meeting.
Alpines International now
sponsors what are commonly known today as Alpine Specialty Shows all
over the continental United States. For these Specialty Shows
we provide special awards certificates and Rosettes. |
| Alpines in
the United States -
With the exception of a few Swiss and Rock Alpines, French Alpines
are the dominating variety in the United States today. All these
animals are directly descended from 19 does and 3 bucks imported in
1922 by Dr. DeLangle. He was an accomplished scholar, member
of the French Academy and personal friend of Mr. Joseph Crepin,
chief authority on capriculture in France at that time. In the fall
of 1922, these two chose the 22 animals, from among hundreds
descending from the summer pastures in the mountains to winter in
the valleys, and took them to Paris for shipment. Going by steamer,
they spent quarantine in Cuba and arrived finally in New Orleans,
from where they continued overland by rail to California. The
strength of French Alpines still remains on the west coast, where
they make excellent producers in the commercial dairies, with long
lactation even in the hottest of weather. They are rapidly
increasing in popularity on the east coast and are numerous in the
Midwest. Being very prolific, French Alpines now rank second in
annual registrations and have sufficient numbers to merit
considerable exportation to other nations, particularly in Latin
America. |