HORns or no horns? (No, not the usual debate)

[LFRJ]

We have goats with both. Our Kikos have horns, our Kinders don't. We understand the benefits/disadvantages of both routes.

Now we have Kinder/Kiko crosses - most of our spring offspring will go to freezer camp.

We were thinking of keeping a single kiko/kinder cross buckling as he can service everyone in our herd but his own dam. We need to decide asap if he should be disbudded: Here are our concerns:

He would be breeding him with smaller, Kinder does. Is there a bigger hazard he could injure one during breeding - he having horns, the Kinder does without? Likewise, he would be paired in the future with our Kiko doe who does have horns ... would their mating dance put him at risk?

He would be bunking in a separate area with our Kinder wether for company = who does not have horns. Is there a danger here?

We use only cattle panels. They serve us well! However - he'll be good sized boy. During rut, will having horns make him more likely to challenge and/or escape our fencing? We both work full time and are not at home to supervise 24/7.

Just advice please. Thanks. Let us skip the usual rally over this topic.

[KSALguy]

his having horns or not will not affect breeding or socialization with the does at all, also he wont be having any real fights with the hornless wether so it wont matter there either, if he wants out of the pen he is in he will do his best to get out and again horns don't matter, basically it boils down to your own personal choice, do you want to look out at a mature buck with big beautiful sweeping horns or a hornless buck that does the same job?

[LFRJ]

Thanks Ksal Guy. I've always appreciated your sound advice....and yes, the rack on those Kiko boys is nothing short of the adjective "majestic". If I had a 120 acre ranching operation, twould be no question, but I have only 5 - with kids and families on both sides - and other breeds with different size and temperaments to consider.

If all things are equal, we'd lean toward leaving him alone - with caution and respect due any animal sporting potential weapons on their head.

lf

[KSALguy]

I have had Nubian and Boer bucks both with horns, one was a mature animal when I got him and one was a buckling, both never used their horns on any other female member of the herd. and only pretended to use them on a wether. now on the other hand, saplings were fair game to shred when their horns itched, a buck in a confined place will try his best to get out if he wants out and if he has horns it COULD give him extra leverage to destroy what ever is holding him back, but a buck with NO horns can also knock the wall out of a barn stall if he wants too.

when I had to keep my 300+lb boer buck away from the herd he was kept very well in a cattle panel pen with hot wire strung around the inside. no issue.

[Goat Servant]

On the same head a hornless can can knock anyone silly if they wanted.
We had a naked Nubian who was queen till her death.
Kiko horns are especially majestic, the ones Ive seen in pics.
If all you want is meat he can cover his mother.