Wethering a mature buck?

[Dirtslinger]

Without a local livestock vet, what is the best way to wether a mature buck?

And, how would his demeaner/stink change seeing that he has already matured intact?

This is a hypothetical question, I don't yet have goats but I will soon! Thanks.

[HazyDay]

The best way is to band him he will lose most habit's and smells after a few weeks (months if in full rut) they seem to still keave some bucky habits he would make a great heat detator (just don't lwt him see the other buck! )

[Vicki McGaugh TX Nubians]

Not many mature bucks testicles would fit through a band My vet did a yearling buck for me, no ansethetic, clamped his scrotum above his testicles, cut two incisions into his scrotum, pulled out his testees, scrapped the cords, sprayed them with furall/furox, then cut off the sacks. She released the clamped cords and sparyed the opening with furall/furox. He was up to date on his tetanus and never missed a beat. There are zip tie bands you can use on large calves, that may work on a mature buck, to me it would be cruel with all his equipment mature, big difference in castrating young bucks....young.

It would take a good month for his testosterone to diminish enough for him to stop stinking, wanting to perfume himself etc. But his demeanor, unless you are talking about normal rut, wouldn't change. Mean bucks are mean bucks.

And what a waste, let him live out his life as a buck or sell him for meat to ethnic groups who want intact males. Starting your farm with animals that won't be anything other than eating machines? Not a good start. Vicki

[Dirtslinger]

Good points, I figured it would be a surgery. I'm not so sure I could make the cuts myself until I have seen it done.
Also good point on keeping an eating machine. Bucks won't bring a good price here, but if you do the math it wouldn't make any sense to keep one either.

[Gailann Schrader]

Since you don't have goats yet, keep in mind that you can only use a buck for two years (or so) before he's related to all your 'kept' does.

So most of us cull after several years to keep the in-breeding down. Now, if you NEVER intend to keep babies (does) and intend to just keep breeding for milk production and selling the babies (not what most of us do - we like to improve our lines), you can keep the buck for a LOOOOOOOOONG time.

Again, you need to think about what you intend to do with your herd.

and remember, three does 'grow' into 3+6(potential)+6(potential) in just two years. PLUS the buck.