First let me introduce myself. My name is Virginia. I live on my family farm with my daughter (age 6) and my father. We are getting our first Nigerian Dwarf doeling this Saturday. We are, of course, very excited. We have another doeling reserved (from another farm) and will pick her up late July. I am having more trouble choosing a buck(s). I definitely want a buck because the nearest farms are 3 1/2 - 4 hrs away. We will be visiting another (3rd) farm on Saturday to look at bucklings. They have about 8 available. All her doelings are sold. They are all triple registered and seem to have good pedigrees. She needs to find homes for them, so she will give us a good price on 2 (I am assuming that is the reason). I was already thinking we needed two bucks since they will be housed separately from the does and it would add to our breeding options. But here is the problem. There is another (4th) herd that I have been looking (longingly) at since our first thoughts of getting Nigerians. She has a polled buckling available. He comes from excellent stock. And her focus is milking stock. And I would love to have polled kids! The lady with the two bucks is not milking any of her does currently. She says it is because she is busy and that seems true enough. So, it boils down to this. I have my two does lined up. Do I get the two bucks from farm 3 (assuming all seems well when we visit) and get on a list for next year for a polled buckling from farm 4? Or do I get the buckling from farm 4 only? He would have to live in his own pen, at least for a while. What would you do? Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks,
Virginia
Replies
Agree with Deborah and Rachel. Personally I am not willing to risk a year or more of raising 4 goats and having an accident or illness take out my ONLY buck and be left with a wether and 2 does. I would get a second buck. It would not hurt to at least ASK the breeder with 8 bucks if they would accept -a price between their buck/wether price (ex. it it's 50 and 100- offer 75) They may with 8! Or if she would take a small deposit until you could do the balance etc. Whatever it takes to get a buck if possible! Explain that you have your primary buck and really only want a companion, but do not want to raise a wether versus buck just in case something happens to your buck. They may be understanding enough to do that. If you tell them that you cannot afford a buck price but don't want a wether and why they may even let you have one at a wether price. You never really know until you ask! Never hurts to ask! Also, if the first breeder does not have an available wether for a companion she may even be willing to give you a little discount to help you get a companion elsewhere. You could ask about that also. I would just let her know that I cold get the 2 at a better price but that I really want hers but then I would be short on getting a companion for him. If I wanted 500 for a buck and knew someone needed another 25 or 50 to help buy its companion I would be willing to help them out! They may also, if they understand the situation.
Sharing a fence will be a huge help. You *might* run into issues with each of them trying to get to the other one, because they like being together, but it should be sufficient until you get your companions. If you're getting a wether for your buckling, you might consider getting one from farm 3 if she will sell you one that way, because then at least, your BUCK will be happy.
That is my thinking too. She has them listed just like you said Deborah, so much for a buck or less for a whether. Okay, so then if I get the polled buck and the first doe, will they be okay sharing a fence (between them) until I find a whether or buck for my little guy and pick up my other doe in late July? They will be getting very much interaction from us as well. But I know we aren't goats :) It is so hard getting started!
I was thinking the same thing about the huge amount of bucks for sale too, Deborah!
My gut says to go with the breeder that Virginia said breeds for milking.
Based only on what you've told us, the herd with 8 bucks doesn't sound like a very good option. If you want milk, you need to buy goats from a herd that milks. No one can tell you that they have good milk goats if they don't milk them. "Good milking lines" better mean that the bucks dam and his sire's dam were both excellent milkers. If it just means that grandma or great grandma were good, that doesn't mean much.
If a herd has 8 bucks that they're selling as bucks, they better have a lot more that they're selling as wethers. I don't know any reputable breeder that will sell every buck intact. Some people just want to sell bucks as bucks because they can get more money for them. I personally would never buy a goat that was advertised as "$50 wethered or $100 as a buck." If they do that with all their bucks, they are not practicing "selective" breeding.
Now after saying all that -- not every $400-$500 buck is a great herd sire for a milking herd. If he is priced like that because his dam is great in the show ring, he may or may not help you in the milking department. A pretty udder doesn't always equal more milk in the bucket. If you want milk, you should buy a buck from someone who has milk records so you can buy one out of a doe that milks respectably. If someone is serious about breeding for milk, they'll have barn records, even if they are not on official milk test.
Triple registered means nothing other than the owner took the time to fill out paperwork. As long as the goat is registered in either AGS or ADGA, you can register it in the other registries.
As Susan said, you can get the polled buck and a wether.
Well since you can get two unrelated from farm 3, I'll tell you what I was GOING to tell you.
You really do want them to have companions... if you're only talking a month without another buck, then you might be OK... but if you are talking longer, then they really do need someone. Since you KNOW you want milking lines, I would go for the milking lines. If you HAVE to buy a wether as a companion to be able to afford it, then that's an option. (even though I hate to recommend buying a wether and feeding a mouth that can't "do work" for you)
Getting the two at a better price isn't necessarily a bad thing, IF the bucks have the bloodlines to back up the CHANCE that they will produce good milkers. I'd consider that, since you can get them at a good price, and then you'd at least be feeding mouths that can pay you back. :) If their pedigrees have good lines in them, it may be worth the risk. (which really, ANY unproven buckling is) Also, down the line, you might consider selling one of these bucks and getting that buck of your dream!!
BOTTOM LINE:
Remember that bucks are HALF of the contribution to your herd! Don't simply choose the less expensive goat because it's affordable.
IMO if the more expensive buck is from better lines or if you can see his dams udder so you know his potential, get him & a wether for company! That little doeling will need company too! Are you getting her a wether? Maybe the lady will wether one of the bucklings for you. They usually sell quite cheap as companions.
You're right about not being able to put the buckling with the doelings, but perhaps you could give them a shared fence line (fenced with something they can't breed through). That would perhaps give him enough contact with other goats to keep him happy enough until you can get a second buckling...and then move them farther away from the does? I'm not sure about this, but I'd try it if I was in your position and really wanted the nicer buckling. It's worth a little trouble on your part to make it work with the best bucks you can find. :) Nice to "meet" you and best wishes!
Oh, sorry, I forgot to mention that the two bucks from farm 3 are from separate lines. They also (together) cost half as much as the one buck from farm 4. It almost makes me nervous to buy a bucks for the lower price, funny huh? I'm not sure I can swing a second buck if I get the one from farm 4, at least not for a couple of months. Would he be too lonely by then? He couldn't stay with the doelings I don't think. They will all be between 8 and 12 weeks.
Here's what I would do.
I personally would see if I could swing buying a buck from EACH of the farms. It would increase your breeding options to have bucks from different herds.