When do you band bucklings??

mamadelbosque · #1 03/30/10, 08:41 PM

So, one of our neighbors raises sheep and he came over and banded our first buckling when he was ~9 or 10 days old, said that he's found (with his lambs anyhow) that its best to do ~4 days... So, I was in talking to another lady who raises goats today, and she said that they like to do it ~4-6 weeks to avoid urinary problems... and now I'm kinda confused. So, when do you band your bucklings, and why?

Backfourty,MI. · #2 03/30/10, 08:50 PM

They say the urinary tract needs time to develop & grow is why alot of folks wait even longer to band there bucklings. I usually band mine at 4-5 weeks, depending on th size of the little guy.
I had a intact male get urinary stones before though but have never had a problem like that with a wether yet & hope I never do.

shiandpete.1 · #3 03/30/10, 08:53 PM

I wait 6 to 8 weeks, to let the urinary tract mature and for the babies to grow more.

mamadelbosque · #4 03/31/10, 06:30 PM

Ok, thanks for the info. I definetly think we'll be waiting quite a bit longer with this second buckling!! I just got done reading about emasculator's on Fias Co Farm's website, and I'm wondering what your experience is with these? Also... whats the difference between the $94 and the $25 emasculator/side crusher from premier1??

http://www.premier1supplies.com/deta...=362&cat_id=13 - $94

http://www.premier1supplies.com/deta...d=71&cat_id=13 -$25

copperpennykids · #5 03/31/10, 06:46 PM

If you castrate the humane way - with a blade - then you can castrate at 8-10 weeks of age. Better for the wether, urinary tract wise, and better regarding trauma.

LomahAcres · #6 03/31/10, 09:06 PM

I've done it as young as 2 days and as old as 5 months. I have kept boys on and off a few years done at different ages and never had any problems. I prefer to do them right around 3 weeks of age. For some reason they seem to have less pain and be able to handle it better at this age, and recover quicker. However, most boys are sold before 2 weeks of age, so most of mine are done at 1 week of age or sooner.

Heritagefarm · #7 03/31/10, 09:13 PM

I've never heard anything about the urinary tract. Could you elaborate, please?

Goat-Link · #8 04/01/10, 12:04 AM

I have a good article on banding ..When you wait until the urethra develops a bit more it is stronger and larger in diameter and less chance of creating a small "tube" for calculi to get caught in, the testosterone allows for a larger diameter urethra to develop the older the buckling is before he is castrated.
Here is a diagram if the male penis and why if ever you DO have a goat with UC not to try to use a catherter.

How to castrate kid goat with Elastrator. One person banding, fully illustrated.

hope this helps