I have just bred two does to an older buck that I have had for 5 yrs now. No problems before with him settling the does, usually we get it on the first try. This is the 3rd re-breeding I have done with those two does, my last just today. Could this buck be sterile now? How old is too old for a male anyhow?
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My bucks always lose weight over the winter, and when I've asked other breeders about their bucks, they've said the same thing. In fact, I just sold two adults, and I warned the man that they didn't look great, but when he picked them up, he said he thought they looked fine.
One thing about this particular buck is that he tends to lose weight at this time of year. He spends too much time at the fence worrying about the girls. Last year I had to "feed him up" a little with grain but I didnt notice any fertility problems. Of course he is probably my most valuable buck. He did leave his calling card on one doe two days ago but last night on the other I didnt see anything. I will try re-breeding her today.
Fits with what my breeder was saying, Deb. She noticed her oldest buck's "recovery" time was slower... I'll have to mention the second doe thing and see if her records show it was the second doe not settling for her as well. Cool info! Very cool.
I have two bucks that are 6 (will be 7 this spring), and they're still going strong. I did notice last fall that they only seemed to be able to settle one doe per day though. In two cases, I bred a second doe to them on a day, and the second doe did not get pregnant. I'm thinking the sperm count was just too low for the second one. And I usually leave a doe in there for multiple breedings, so it's not like they couldn't do it twice. It's more like they didn't have enough sperm for 6-8 breedings. I have heard that sperm count goes down as they get older, but they don't become sterile.
My goat breeder and I were just talking about this... I don't know the answer, but I'd love to hear what others think!