Wether question

retiredbop · #1 01/23/08, 08:27 AM

First of all, do you know how HARD it is to type that word without inserting an "A" in it?

OK, now that I got that off my chest, I have read that keeping bucks with your milk does can lead to an off taste in the milk. Does the same hold true for wethers?

Rockytopsis · #2 01/23/08, 08:30 AM

As a general rule Wetheres do not pee on themselves therefore they do not "stink" I keep a wether in with my girls cause he lets me know when one is in heat.

Charleen · #3 01/23/08, 08:53 AM

I was once the newsletter editor for our goat club and I had printed the following in one of our issues.

Words that spell checkers don’t catch –reprinted from Countryside Magazine

Farming and homesteading employ many words not in common use. If these words sound similar to more familiar ones, it’s easy to use the wrong spelling. Example: wiener pigs for weaner pigs.

Here are some of the words that have been used to describe castrated goats-along with the correct definitions.

Weather: The state of the atmosphere
Whether: A conjunction used to introduce alternatives
Whither: To what place, result or condition
Wither: Shrivel or dry up
Wether: A castrated sheep or goat

Anyway - I agree with Rockytopsis. We've never noticed the usual buck odor on any of our wethers. But.... if you're banding your boy and miss one of the testes, he'll still retain all the hormones necessary to make him a buck.

MB · #4 01/23/08, 09:37 AM

I may be weird but I love the way my goats smell! The wethers smell just like the doe. Curious (good ole) Rockytop: how does that work? My guys never seem to notice one way or the other???
MB

jBlaze · #5 01/23/08, 12:00 PM

We did keep the wethers with the does. Everyone was happy, no stink. Our problem was we were feeding the does alfalfa hay. We lost a wether to UC. Now we have the wehters seperate till we use the alfalfa up, and will only get orchard grass now.
So, ya, it is fine to keep wethers and does together, just be sure they DRINK enough water and watch the mineral balance. (alfalfa high in calcium, good for milk, bad for wether. - you could give your milkers alf pellets on the stand .)