My FF had a male kid in January, so he's just over 2 months old. He is already doing things like sucking on his penis, which I think are signs of readiness to mate? Is that right? He is still drinking from his mother, is there any chance that would mount and impregnate his mother? Is that something I need to work to prevent? Any comments welcome, she is an FF and I am a first timer too!
Katharine
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If you can get a burdizzo, that seems like the way to go. If no other way...
Here's a link that describes the "cut and pull" method of castration. The first woman I was going to buy goats from does it this way, but I think one would have to have a strong constitution for it! But, it can be done with just a sharp knife and disinfectant. Of course, the tetanus antitoxin is probably a good idea in this case.
I once watched a very well done video on youtube where someone who worked for a relief agency in Africa was teaching goat farmers how to do this, but now the ones I see are pretty stupid.
We bought a burdizzo and castrate that way now. I like that there is no wound. The tool is expensive and you need a good one. The first one I got was not too expensive but I ended up sending it back. Piece of junk. I think they seem to recover very quick from this way.
I used to band - inexpensive way to do it but you do have a wound there. I never had a problem with that -used iodine on the sore and often cut the sack off just at the band, popped the band off and iodined the spot several days in a row.
I have never done it surgically - vet did it once on a lamb that was older, and on a llama. I didn't like it and the animals suffered more from it. But if it is hard for you to get things you need Katherine -maybe you would want to do it surgically yourself. The vet just made a small incision and pulled the testicles out. You can probably find how to do it on web. Always something new to learn.
My vet uses a Burdizzo to neuter bucklings, and I like it because it's quick, and there is no cutting through the skin, which can invite infection. It takes at least a couple of weeks, sometimes a little longer, for the testicles to shrink down, and for them to stop being "bucky," and I'm not sure how long afterward they are completely unable to breed a doe, but it would immediately stop the transmission of semen from the testicles, so it probably renders them sterile pretty quickly. You can buy a Burdizzo and do it yourself, too, but I think it's better to have a helper to hold the goat still while you do it, and I don't have any helpers.
Thanks Deborah and Bev!
So castration is the next challenge............?!! I wonder if its done here, (Nigeria), I somehow doubt it! I'll have to read up on it in Deborahs book to get a hold on the timings and methods...........
Loving the list!
Katharine
Thank you SO much for chiming in, Bev! That's great advice! I was so focused on answering the original question that my brain was stuck in that box. This is why I always encourage people to ask questions on the forum rather than messaging me privately. Many heads are better than one!
Why do you want to keep him intact? He would be ready to castrate and then there would be no problem.
There are so many really great proven animals out there that you could get a good buck, I kind of think that keeping a buck from a first freshener isn't the best idea. I did that once - thought he looked so great. My hubby called him Boxcar - when the appraiser saw him she said don't let your husband name your goats. He looks boxcar like. Not a good choice. I bought a beautiful little buck from a breeder who shows and his mom and dad are great looking. He will improve my herd. Boxcar got butchered. My new little guy has babies coming the first of next month - so eager to see how they are.
He can impregnate at some point, but it's tough to know exactly when he is virile. I'm convinced they are able to do the deed before they are actually able to get a doe pregnant, as I've had six-month-old bucks mate a doe and not get her pregnant. However, there are people who swear they've had 2-3 months old bucks get does pregnant. I usually worry more about them getting their sisters pregnant because the size difference between mother and son at that early age is usually pretty significant and would make a successful breeding a challenge. It's usually a Murphy's Law situation -- if you want a young buck to get does pregnant, he can't, but if you don't want him to do it, he does. I usually separate around 10 weeks of age. However, that's because they're in a whole herd with lots of doelings and adult does. With just his dam, it wouldn't be that hard to just let him nurse sometimes when you know she's not in heat.