Will he be old enough, big enough?

[jerryf]

I bought a big Reg full blood Boer buck kid,,,,,,,,born 3-21-07 I will pick him up when he is 3 months old and weaned. He will receive excellent care and feed --- every opportunity to grow out well. He is solid red!

Also I have an excellent pedigreed correct color Reg FB buck kid born in January.......that I could use.....so the debate is on...........which one?

I will have 12 doe kids 9 to 10 months old to breed next November.....Due to our harsh Minnesota winters they will be in a large pen in the barn (he will not have to roam over a large area to service them) Will he at 7-8 months old be ready-willing-n-able to breed the group over a 2 month period? Or would it be best to use the older buck kid ?
Thanks
Jerry

[MayLOC]

Yes, I think the younger buck will handle the job just fine.

Last year our 4 1/2 month old (95 lb.) Purebred Nubian bred our does. I housed him in a small pen with 2 at a time and rotated new ones in as they got bred. He successfully bred 7 does in 2 months and another 3 2 months later w/no trouble.

[Feral Nature]

He should be old enough. I am not familiar with indoor goat housing though and don't know how goats act in such situations, but size and age wise, the younger one should be fine.

[MayLOC]

Yes I agree with Diane, I was speaking strictly on size and don't have any experience with 24/7 living in a barn environment.

[jerryf]

Thanks for the encouragement of the younger buck be able to breed them!
My goats have a barn AND have an outside run in winter. Sunny days they are out in the sun, Winter storms I shut the doors...so the snow stays out and they are locked in to wait out the storm.......remember -20 to -30 degrees, a 30 mph wind and snow- sleet or white out blizzards.
I keep the barn fresh--lots of air flow--lots of natural light and well bedded

In Germany Boer goats are kept inside all winter with great success. Goats can't take being wet and cold.
Jerry

[Feral Nature]

Oh, one more thing, in 2004, I had two 4 month old bucks I used....a LaMancha and a Boer. Each one successfully bred the does I had picked out for them.