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To snip or not to snip, that is my question??

Posted by Kirsten Lowe on July 2, 2012 at 3:54pm in Breeding

Alrighty then,  (name that movie)

 

My breeder just sent me an e mail, and asked if we considered keeping our little buckling intact.  He comes from great bloodlines, and has AR with 3D  parents and grand parents on both sides.  She said that he is a very nice looking buckling, and she was just making sure we wanted him castrated.  There are a few things to consider here. First we are VERY new to ND goats.  As in we are scheduled to pick them up at the end of this month.  Second, our does would be his sister, and half sister.  Third, we are not sure what is buck material, and what is wether material.   We are stumped.   Any thoughts?? 

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Replies

  • Hannah July 6, 2012 at 10:12pm

    I figure especially for starting you don't really want a buck, unless you're planning to breed all your own goats for shows and stuff, in which case you'd have to separate him from your does (and therefore buy him another friend). Unless you're planning on breeding him, you'd probably be better off having him castrated.

  • Margaret Langley July 3, 2012 at 11:58am

    Smart thinking there! I would tell her to GO FOR IT! Make him well, "A PET"!

  • Kirsten Lowe July 2, 2012 at 8:48pm

    I agree with everyone.  He is a sweet boy, and will make a great wether.  I really don't have any desire to own a buck at this time.  I like having the option to "shop around" for bucks that will compliment my girls, and strengthen their weaknesses. 

  • Rebecca Wilson July 2, 2012 at 8:10pm
    Getting a buck when you first get goats may not be a good idea. I have owned nigerians for 6 years and haw worked around them for 8 years and still haven't gotten a buck but that is with many things I have taken into consideration. If you do keep him as a buckling then you will need separate housing anouther animal to keep him company. With him being so close to the other doelings you are purchasing I would suggest buying him as a wether, and if you really want a buck then to get serving totally unrelated. This does seam strange to me, I would not sell a buck to a first time buyer unless I was completely certain that they know what they are getting into.  
  • Kirsten Lowe July 2, 2012 at 5:21pm

    I found this strange as well.   Just wondered if there was something there I was not seeing.

  • Deborah Niemann-Boehle July 2, 2012 at 5:02pm

    I have never asked a buyer that question, and I'm trying to wrap my brain around it now. That seems odd. Either he is buck material or he's not, and the breeder should know this and be advertising him as one or the other. I'm also confused about why they're suggesting you buy a buck that is a sibling to the does you are buying.

    He is a nice looking kid, but when it comes to bucks, I'm not going to keep a buck as a buck unless he is exceptional and has an exceptional mother -- teats, udder texture, production. I castrate bucks out of *D *M does all the time. I've even castrated bucks out of an ARMCH.

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