Anyone disbud their Boers?

CarolynRenee · #1 04/27/11, 10:44 PM

We currently have a milking herd, Saanens and F1 Mini-Saanens, all have been disbudded when young so we have no horns here.

I've been seriously considering starting a Boer herd, but really like the idea of hornless goats, especially since they (the meat & dairy) goats may be in the same pasture at the same time.

Does anyone disbud their Boer goats? Pros & Cons (besides the actual disbudding part, I know it can get touchy) specific to the Boer breeed?

Also, anyone have dairy & meat goats running together?

Thanks!

pookshollow · #2 04/27/11, 10:52 PM

I disbud my Boers, bucks and does. The does run with the dairy goats - no problems.

dosthouhavemilk · #3 04/27/11, 11:43 PM

We disbud ours as well.
Frankly, I don't sell many Boers and only have a small handful of Fullblood Boers.
We run ours together. The biggest concern is that a Boer goat is going to get obese on what a dairy doe requires as far as grain goes.
If we could get to the point I could run the two groups separately, I would love to, so we could provide more grain for the dairy girls and not feed so much to the Boers/Boer crosses.

RoyalValley · #4 04/28/11, 12:22 AM

We just started our Boer herd (don't have any dairy goats though) and we are disbudding them. Seems like all of our does got stuck a dozen times or more in the fence. Then you have neighbors saying they got our goats out for us, just had to 'cut the fence.' UH--you what??

The disbudded ones sell better too.

dosthouhavemilk · #5 04/28/11, 10:11 AM

Disbudded Fullbloods and Percentages that are being sold into registered breeding herds, actually do not tend to sell better in the Boer world. The horns are part of the standard and a disbudded Boer goat, in a show ring, will be placed lowered all other aspects considered simply due to the missing horns.

Doesn't matter to me. I disbudded my beautiful Paint Fullblood doeling and her triplet sister. First chance I get, their dam's horns are coming off, too.

mekasmom · #6 04/28/11, 12:32 PM

I've never seen boers disbudded. I think to show (or to well in shows) the kids need to keep them on for 4H? I know all of the boers have horns in the shows around here.
I am not a boer owner. I've had 2, but really prefer milk goats. Both mine had their horns when I purchased them. They were a bit bossier than milking goats though.

dosthouhavemilk · #7 04/28/11, 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mekasmom

I've never seen boers disbudded. I think to show (or to well in shows) the kids need to keep them on for 4H? I know all of the boers have horns in the shows around here.
I am not a boer owner. I've had 2, but really prefer milk goats. Both mine had their horns when I purchased them. They were a bit bossier than milking goats though.

In a large percentage of 4-H Market shows, the Market wethers (and doelings in some cases) have to be disbudded, dehorned, or in some cases they allow tipping.
Around here, they have to be dehorend for a couple of shows, but oen County allows them to retain their horns.
Safety of the young kids involved is the biggest reason.
Now, goats in the breeding stock shows generally retain their horns because it is part of the breed standard.

Doesn't matter either way to me....everyone here gets disbudded. If I lose buyers, so be it. I don't really want my disbudded goats going into horned herds anyways.
I disbudded market kids for a local Superintendant of the Market goat show.