Would you get a horned dairy goat

cjb · #81 03/09/11, 05:37 PM

Let's all stroll up to the rules for the forum and re-read the multiple lines that say "be nice", ok?

I think that debate is good but let's be sure to avoid personal insults. I would say the tone in this thread is as strong as I will tolerate. Any stronger and I'll have to lock it up, delete lines etc. Don't make me

Oat Bucket Farm · #82 03/09/11, 06:11 PM

Oh and for the record, I do think that the rule about horns on dairy goats should be done away with. It should be up to the breeders whether they want to to or not. They should not HAVE to disbud or dehorn if they want to participate in shows. But then also don't think you should HAVE to dock ears or tails in order to show some breeds of dogs. However changing either of those things is going to take a concentrated effort by a lot of people. I'm not saying there should be laws forbiding, just that people should be able to decide either or for themselves without having to face not being able to show if they don't decide a certain way.

PurpleMartineer · #83 03/09/11, 09:07 PM

Just sayin, I agree 100% with Oak BUcket, CJB and Creamers. Thank you Oak Bucket for your last post :-) I don't like disbudding, it's no fun really, who would like it? But for all reasons mentioned above, I do disbud (and drive 1.5 hrs each way and pay to have it done!). I have polled and horned/disbudded and I always hope for polled when the babies show up! I don't sell to show market or show myself, but I know dairy goats go to better homes without horns, and I know about the fencing issues, so I do it. I do view it no differently, pain wise, than a spay or neuter in a dog or cat. These procedures are very painful and the discomfort can drag on for days.... Both procedures end up being more humane in the end/big picture. Now, if there was a paradigm shift in the argument or it became illegal or something, I would obviously not do it because the better home thing wouldnt be an issue. But I have never had a dairy goat with horns, so can't say personally if I would prefer or not. Not willing to find out. I have saanens, because I like quiet, well mannered, calm, sober goats.

#84 03/12/11, 05:07 PM

After reading all of this, I am still going to burn hornbuds as I've been doing it for 16 years now without one problem. And I started in goats with Alpine's and used a Boer buck. Only my bucks had horns. All my Boer doe's did not have them as I burned them off after a doe got her head stuck in the fencing in the hot Aug sun and died from the heat. This was NOT the fences fault but the fact that the doe had horns. Last year the only horned doe I have had a fight with a standard Alpine doe and put a horn into her udder, I was milking this doe and was told to close the hole with Super Glue which worked great. Best tip I ever got. As Crystal told of a breeder that this happened to, it is me. The horn of the doe hit the other doe so hard that the horn broke off. Doe with hole in udder is also Polled.

Horns will NEVER be on my goats, my bucks are burned also. I am also looking at buying a Polled buck to spread the love around of hornless. NOW, I'm off to burn some buds on the kids born a week ago. If it ain't broke, I don't fix it.

Suzy
www.milkmaidranch.com