When to separate a buckling

Just hoping to hear from those who have experience weaning bucklings and preparing them to leave the farm. We have always wethered our bucklings, but have been working to improve our herd and have a nice little buckling this time around that we are going to leave intact and sell to a 4H family.

1. I've read to wean as early as 7 weeks, and as late as 4 months. What is your optimum age to separate? Would love some discussion on that. Both our little bucklings (5 1/2 weeks) are mounting some of the other kids, but I'm in no way worried about anything happening at this point. I hear a lot of people say 'be observant' in regard to the buckling behavior... what things do you look for? What are some signs that point to the need to separate?

2. What do you do to prepare them to leave the farm? We do a CD/T vac at 3 weeks and a booster at six weeks. What are some things you do to ensure a good start for the buckling at their new farm?

I don't wean anyone earlier than 8 weeks, and then only if they are at least 20 pounds.

I really quit worrying about bucklings under 2.5 months getting doelings pregnant. Dominant goats mount everyone, regardless of gender, and I have a really hard time believing one that young could actually produce viable sperm.

In my parasite course someone just mentioned the challenge with coccidiosis if a goat is going to a new farm that has lots of other adult goats, which is a valid concern. If they are going to a new farm with clean pastures, it's not usually an issue, but if a young buckling is put in a pasture with other adult bucks, it could be really contaminated with parasite larvae and/or coccidia that could cause a problem for the new little kid that is already stressed about moving to a new farm. If that's the case, I will tell the new owner that they may want to feed him medicated feed for a couple of months just to get him past the initial stress of the move. That covers coccidia. And I'd discuss with them the pros and cons of giving him a dewormer before he leaves and/or them watching him for symptoms of a parasite overload so that they can treat him immediately if he starts to show symptoms. When selling to new people, it's all too common to wind up with a dead kid about three weeks later. Happened to me as a new goat owner and happened to two people I sold bucklings to many years ago. Of course, I replaced the kids, but I still felt horrible that they had to go through the death of a kid that they bought from me. This is also one reason I don't let kids leave mom until they're 20 pounds now. I just want to be sure they have had the best possible start.

Replies

Jabe Thomas May 15, 2019 at 8:49am

Thanks Deborah... very helpful info.
Deborah Niemann-Boehle May 14, 2019 at 11:09pm

I don't wean anyone earlier than 8 weeks, and then only if they are at least 20 pounds.

I really quit worrying about bucklings under 2.5 months getting doelings pregnant. Dominant goats mount everyone, regardless of gender, and I have a really hard time believing one that young could actually produce viable sperm.

In my parasite course someone just mentioned the challenge with coccidiosis if a goat is going to a new farm that has lots of other adult goats, which is a valid concern. If they are going to a new farm with clean pastures, it's not usually an issue, but if a young buckling is put in a pasture with other adult bucks, it could be really contaminated with parasite larvae and/or coccidia that could cause a problem for the new little kid that is already stressed about moving to a new farm. If that's the case, I will tell the new owner that they may want to feed him medicated feed for a couple of months just to get him past the initial stress of the move. That covers coccidia. And I'd discuss with them the pros and cons of giving him a dewormer before he leaves and/or them watching him for symptoms of a parasite overload so that they can treat him immediately if he starts to show symptoms. When selling to new people, it's all too common to wind up with a dead kid about three weeks later. Happened to me as a new goat owner and happened to two people I sold bucklings to many years ago. Of course, I replaced the kids, but I still felt horrible that they had to go through the death of a kid that they bought from me. This is also one reason I don't let kids leave mom until they're 20 pounds now. I just want to be sure they have had the best possible start.

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