CONNOQUENESSING TWP - Tina Bryner, superintendent of dairy goats at the Butler Farm Show, gets a number of questions about the ears of the LaManchas from visitors to the Farm Show.

As the only breed developed in the United States, it was bred to have small ears during a fly epidemic, she said.

"They have teeny-tiny ears," she said.

It's just one breed of goats Bryner has on her Connoquenessing Township farm.

Bryner gets up early on the farm she and her husband, Bruce, run to start milking chores. They separate the herd, line up the animals, clean the udders and start milking the goats for their 8 pounds of milk per day.

There are 65 Alpine, Saanen, LaMancha, and Oberhaslis goats on the farm.

"A lot of people have the idea that goats eat tin cans and that," she said. "Actually, they are very personable. They're just like dogs; they'll be your best friend."

About 20 of her goats will go to the Farm Show this year.

The show runs Aug. 8 to 13 and will have hundreds of other animals beside the expected 75 goats. Almost 500 rabbits, 200 dairy cows, 103 beef cattle, 101 lambs, 137 pigs and 63 horses will compete for awards and admiration from spectators.

The ears of dairy goats, even curiously small ears, hold some important information about the breeding of the dairy goats. The right ear has the herd number of the animal designated by the American Dairy Goat Association. The left ear has a letter of the alphabet corresponding to the year of its birth. This year is "V" for 5 and the sequential birth order number for that year.

Bryner said the farm keeps kids coming, increasing milk production.

The milk has smaller fat globules so it's easier to digest and is often better for people who are lactose intolerant, she said. It is the only farm in the county licensed by the state to sell goat milk and the license requires that people come to the farm to buy the milk, she said.

To keep the license, the milk and water used in the dairy is inspected regularly. In addition, an inspector can visit the farm at any time to see if it is following regulations, such as ones on water temperature.

Bryner said because the water used to sanitize equipment must be 180 degrees. The farm has to use a special hot water tank to keep the water temperature that hot.

After the milking equipment is cleaned, the goats are given feed, fresh hay and a bottle if they are young enough for it.

A dairy goat eats between 1 and 2 pounds of feed per day, but Bryner said she's not strict with her goats.

"My girls are spoiled," she said. "They get as much feed as they want."

Taking care of the farm gets a little more hectic during the week of the Farm Show. She, her husband, and her two daughters who live at home have to do farm chores at home before they head to the show grounds.

Then there's more milking to do of the goats at the Farm Show and housekeeping of keeping the stalls clean. For the rest of each day during the week, she answers questions from people about the goats. Especially, she explains those tiny ears.