Age and Fertility.............

[farmmaid]

We have a very nice Boer buck who will be six this spring. He settled all his does last fall the first time. Wondered how long they stay fertile, should we start the search for a replacement?

[Goat Servant]

Good question!

[saanengirl]

It really depends on the buck. I know of one Purebred Saanen buck that went sterile at four, and I had a son of his that did the same thing. Other bucks are fertile for their entire lifespan.

Because he is six, and you have obviously used him on several does you probably should look for a replacement anyway to have a buck to use on his daughters. You never know when a buck will drop dead (which is why I never like to have just one buck).

[KSALguy]

"healthy" bucks with no genetic issue will stay feril their whole life, they may not have the stamina to keep a large number of does coverd all on the same schedual but they can still do the job, as for keeping him and breeding his daughters is not that big of a problem if he is a quality animal and you cull hard and responcibly, if he is just a grade or run of the mill animal then no i wouldnt breed him anyway,