I first compiled this document for publication in Homesteader Connection magazine, Summer 1997 issue.

Dr. Pence with the first imported Oberhasli does into the United States, November, 1936.

Oberhasli were imported to the US as early as 1906 by Fred Stucker. In 1920, yet another importation of the breed occurred by August Bonjean, but neither of these were bred true to type, as they were mistakenly called 'Swiss Alpine', and attached to the Alpine herdbooks. In 1936, Dr. H. O. Pence made the last importation of Oberhasli to the US from Switzerland stock. One buck and 4 does were imported, 3 of the does bred to Oberhasli bucks in Switzerland. This foundation herd became the nucleus of all the purebred Oberhasli in the US today.

A photo of Dr. Pence with 3 does graces the cover of the Nov 1978 OBA newsletter. A few letters from Dr. Pence to the Switzerland dairy goat association, stating that while he was in Berlin, Germany and Vienna, Austria doing post-Graduate work, he toured the European goat dairies with the intention to purchase the best he could find.

A portion from a letter from Dr. Pence:

The Goat World, Feb 1937

Letter from Dr. H. O. Pence: (Archived in Oberhasli Breeders Of America Newsletter Vol 14 No 3, 07/91)

"In France, I found our favorite French Alpine goats. In England, I found different breeds similar to ours except the Alpine which was much different to our breed. Altho they were very good milkers, they were not of the long lactations as I wanted.

I was particularly interested in pure blooded animals, long lactations, large quantities of milk with extra fine quality. this I found in Switzerland. The goats were in the Alps. The secretary of the goat association personally conducted a tour of 10 different herds of hundreds of goats of different breeds. After seeing the herds of the various breeds, I chose the Swiss Alpine, which are a rich chamoise in color with black inside of ears and tips with black stripe down the entire back, black feet. They are hornless and have been for over thirty years period. In different parts of Switzerland there are white Alpines that have horns. The difference being due to the climate and surroundings. I selected four does which are coming three years old and were milking at the time that I was there. Each was the best doe from that herd. These are not related and were bred from unrelated sires. I chose a full grown buck from an entirely different herd than the does were selected. This will give me a greater number of unrelated goats to build my herd from.

These goats had to be shipped down the Rhine river to the Atlantic Ocean, being changed from one boat to another without touching land or having feed from any source except from which they came. They will be milked and cared for on the entire trip. From the "Pence papers" - OBA Archives.,, OBA newsletter, 7/91

He viewed dairy herds in France, England, and finally settled between the two major breeds in Switzerland as being superior producers with long lactations. He chose the Swiss Alpine because they had the added benefit of having been bred polled for over 30 years.

In 1941, Dr. Pence sold all his goats in a herd dispersal sale. Two groups of 5 animals each were sold, but no clear records of the buyer of either group. Speculation is that Chuck and Vern Calkins of Milwaukie, Oregon bought one group, while Mr. J. H. VanBuren of Belleville Illinois purchased the second group.

In 1945, Mr. VanBuren's herd was sold to Miss Janet Sagendorph of Spencer, Massachusetts. At this time, the 5 in the original group from Dr. Pence's dispersal had grown to 12 does and one buck. Her herd name was Alta Crest, however most of her herd offspring were sold to outside herds and not bred pure Oberhasli.

In 1947, an ad appeared in Better Goatkeeping magazine for 'purebred Swiss Alpines' for sale by the Rancho Derry-o herd owned by Joe Thomas and Sons in Bell California.

Also a clipping from an interview of Mrs. Albert Christener stating:

"I can assure you that my interest in Swiss Alpines is far more than superficial, as my husband was born and raised in the very valley in Switzerland from where this breed (now called Breinzer Multen) has been deliberately envolved with the well-known Guggesburger goat as foundation. In the past fifty years in which this breed has been kept a pure strain, it has justified the Swiss breeders' hopes and expectations, and is now recognized second in value in Switzerland. (to the Saanen only), And, according to the reports my husband gets from home, the Swiss Alpines will eventually outproduce the Saanen."

A very interesting letter reprinted in the Dec '79 OBA written by Mrs Vera Johnson some time prior. In 1954, she purchased Alta Crest Terry (buck) from Sagendorph, which she crossed with her French Alpines and purebred Toggenburgs. She describes the very desirable long lactations and high globular udders on the Oberhasli does that she wished to incorporate in her crossbreds.

In 1957 Terry was sold to another Alpine herd in DeRidder Louisiana. The Chuck and Vern Calkins group of 5 animals purchased from Dr. Pence eventually went to Esther Oman of California in 1948/1949. Her herds went by both Patterswiss and Play Fair, both being readily visible in Oberhasli pedigrees today.

In 1951, Pence's Lulu, owned at that time by Mr. Harlen Covey of Windsor Va. won the first doe of any breed to be awarded the AMGRA title champion. She received the Official AMGRA Best of Breed five times in shows while earning her A R milking certificate. All at the age of 10 years old. She also earned a star milker certificate on a one day test during this same year.

In 1977, the Oberhasli breed had several milestones occur. Esther Oman passed away. In poor health and living in her goat barn, her residence at the time of her death, according to one unverified source. A tribute to her was written by Janice Thorn and reprinted in the OBA in the May 1982 edition, copied from the VSDGA Bulletin 1981. Her Oberhasli herd of 11 goats was dispersed to the Eastern United States goat breeders.

Also, Mr. Paul Ashbrook of Portage Wisconsin began his long involvement with Oberhasli by purchasing the entire herd of David Moore from California. *B CH Perfection Little Red was among the purebred foundation stock of this purchase. Red was the first Oberhasli buck to go GCH, and curiously, won his classes while competing against Alpine bucks.

In 1977, again, another event. Enough people had an interest in preserving the breed to form the Oberhasli Breeders of America, and in 1978, the club began collecting data to keep records for the (forseen) future when ADGA could be persuaded to allow Oberhasli a separate herd book. In 1978, ADGA did approve the breed name officially be changed from Swiss Alpine to Oberhasli.

In 1980, at the ADGA convention, the directors voted to retrieve the Oberhasli animals from the Alpine and other breed herdbooks to form a separately recognized breed standard of their own. In July, 1985, the Oberhasli breeders were invited to participate in their first National Show as a separately sanctioned breed.

Tidbits and trivia:

The original Nov 1936 Pence imports: (AMGRA Registration)

Buck: Heeri #51442

Does: Fisi #51443, Edelweiss #51444, Kulpa #51445, and Herzog #51446

In utero imports, born 1937

Buck: Pence's Hanz out of Kulpa Doe: Emma out of Fisi Doe: Fannie out of Fisi Doe Paulina out of Edelweiss

Original US breedings produced - 1938:

Heeri x Edelweiss had Hiram Heeri X Herzog had Judy Heeri x Kulpa had Marge* Hanz x Paulina had Lady

Original US breedings produced - 1939:

Heeri x Kulpa had Bessie and Essie* Heeri x Edelweiss had Patsy Heeri and Herzog had Happy* heeri and Emma had Nancy* and Diana Heeri and Fannie had Joe Heeri and Paulina had Arcadia

Original US breedings produced - 1940:

Hanz x Fisi had Lulu* Hanz x Edelweiss had Skagit Heeri x Herzog had General* Heeri x Emma had Admiral* and Queen* Heeri x Fannie had Mildred* and Hildred Hanz x Paulina had Arlene* and Pat*

Original US breedings produced - 1941:

Hanz x Edelweiss had Commander Heeri x Kulpa had Duke* Hanz x Herzog had Buck #1 Heeri x Paulina had Sargent

* denotes polled or hornless.

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Many of the bucks, especially those with military names were donated to the Missouri Kid Show, or Crenshaw Kid show, and the recipiants listed when possible. What is remarkable to me is the fact that any of the records were maintained and preserved. Also astonishing was the continued efforts of goat breeders (any breed), to be dedicated enough to continue goatkeeping during WWII.

I had access to the British Goat Society newsletters from the 1940's, and the 'war effort' was described as very meaningful when your neighbors valued the meat the goat herds represented over the milk and dairy aspects. The fact that these animals produced milk and offspring during those dangerous times were a real testament to the dedication of the goat breeders.

I'm noticing some discrepancies in the above date lists. For one thing Sally Callahan inherited the 'Perfection' herd from another breeder during the time Esther Oman was beginning to get involved with Oberhasli. I have yet to find many references on this other bloodline, is it also from the same group of Pence dispersal, or did it come from the Calkins group. Esther also acquired Oberhasli stock from other sources, and it is believed they originated from this group also. Sally realized more of the purebred animals needed to be retained if an adequate gene pool was to be acquired. Esther Oman was very much against keeping black Oberhasli of either sex. Sally convinced her it was very necessary to keep black Oberhasli does, but Esther never really approved. Judy Stucky also was instrumental in breeding and salvaging the black Oberhasli does in her Wildhorn herd in Virginia.

In 1985, my quip that Oberhasli were 'invited' to show in the National show was sort of misleading. Mr. Norman Austin was the leader in insisting that the OBA guarantee 'quality' stock be shown in an 'exhibition only show', 100 in number, two years prior to that show. Dorothea Custer and many other breeders ran a letter campaign protesting this as the newly formed La Mancha breed certainly did not meet these regulations before becoming involved in the National Show.

Today, Oberhasli breed is noting a resurgence of interest. Many people new to dairy goats spot the Obies in show exhibitions, and decide that this is the one for them. In my own herd, I have noted long, healthy lives, and astonishing lengthy lactations. Because of the limited gene pool, these are traits that are readily passed on from one generation to the next, which is only improving the breed quality as a whole. I am certainly happy to see that Oberhasli are increasing in numbers, with the possibility of removal from the Rare Breed Lists at some future point.

Text and images copyright 1998 Martha Wells