I have a AGS registered Nigerian buckling, born mid July 2012.
For some reason his growth seems stunted (he is A LOT smaller than my doeling that was born on my farm and is 2 weeks older than him).
So far, he has NO "manly interest" in my girls and just keeps acting like a baby.
This is my first year of buying a buck who was not mature, and so I really don't know when I can expect him to be ready and willing to do his duty?!
Thanks!
Replies
If you have a wether to keep him with, away from the girls, that might help him "man up" a bit faster. Seems like some kids brought in from outside to a group of girls seem very mama oriented, and continue to defer to everyone ahead of him in the pack for awhile. I would expect a little manly interest by now, but I would say by 10 monthes almost always.
I'd get him with a wether in a man pen, away from the girls, and give them time to think independantly, then start brining the girls "in need" past him, to sort of sharpen the senses a bit.
Good Luck! I've only experienced this with non-nigerians, but the buckling I'm getting this year may act this way. He's coming with his pal, a wether born at the same time who is his companion, so I'm hoping he'll be feeling his boy oats ASAP, I'm tired of driving does in heat to the boys. It's hard to get that "perfect moment" and I'd rather leave that job to the professionals!
My buck Miyagi was a full blooded MAN at 4 months, and was knocking them up left and right. I bought another buckling the next year thinking it would be the same....no dice. He stood there going "ma ma? ba ba?" When I realized I might be three more months waiting for him to grow up I bought an adult buck who gladly service my does.
I've experienced this. My buck Belmont I think has a large amount of testosterone. He had 4 goats bred last year at 5 months old. My 2 new bucks are still having a hard time figuring it out! LOL Wickson who is just 7 months finally bred one of my does a few weeks back. While Spike has not figured it out yet and he is 6 months old. Belmont is still an over achiever and is giving me the most grief this year. He has bred 2 of my goats through the fence, and has to be put in lock down while girls are in heat. He is rediculious. He's very gentle with the girls, but he is just crazy when he smells someone in heat!!
In my experience it is 7 or 8 months before they really start to get a clue. Some will naturally have more testostrone than others and some will be slower to mature. The amount of testostrone shows in beard growth, so a more slow to mature buck might not have much more than a wisp of a beard at a year where a buck with higher than average testostrone might be sporting a very full beard by that age.
It can vary tremendously from one buck to another. I had a couple once that didn't figure it out until closer to 8 months.
I think it varies. I have two bucks, one is younger than the other by about 2 weeks. Both born last spring. The younger of the two is larger. (he was a single, and got a head start growth wise, while the other was a quad. I know that the number of siblings makes a difference on size for a while) The younger of the two is the most "bucky". Especially when they were younger. He showed interest and even bred one of my females, but it was all "motion" with nothing to back it up the first couple times. It wasn't until they were both PAST 6 months that they were able to go through the motions AND "get it in" so to speak. Now that they are older, the younger of the two is still the more testosterone driven, but they are both pretty bucky now. I say hang in there! Even though Nigerians breed all year round (as opposed to seasonally like most other goats) I did notice that it was during rut season that mine finally seemed to get it together. I'm sure that this is partly just due to when they were born, but it might also mean bucks born later in the year might take longer? I don't know. Just thought I'd throw it out there as something that's possible.