The Geep or Shoat, a sheep goat hybrid

[A.Scriven]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheep%E2%80%93goat_hybrid
I didn't realize this was possible. Opinions? Experience? I have a pygmy buck and shetland ewe who haven't bred, but try like beck, and love each other so much that they are virtually inseparable.
We certainly don't want a hybrid animal, (poor dairy, useless fiber) but would have to completely 'remove the love birds from each other (or snip the buck) to really prevent their... sessions.
Not really looking for a solution here, just in awe of the idea that they could actually procreate.

[crazy4equines]

I have a friend that has a geep and it is really cute. I guess it is really hard to get one to survive. My friend was telling me that either they dont hold onto the pregnancy or they die shortly after birth.

[CadesLilFarm]

If the ewe is bred by the buck then usually she miscarrries and the baby won't be born. Goat buck + ewe sheep = geep. Ram + doe= shoat

[chamoisee]

You don't want a hybrid animal? In this case, maybe you do. It is incredibly uncommon for a goat-sheep hybrid to live. It would be worth something to someone...If you want for your ewe to have lambs, though, it is a problem. In that case, I'd pen her away from the buck until she gets bred by a ram, then reunite them.

On the other hand, no good reason not to wether the buck. He'll make her wool smell like him (yuck), Pygmy bucks are a dime a dozen, and having miscarriages isn't all that great for her.

[KSALguy]

all the pictures i have ever seen of the supposed hybred animal are always Hair sheep and there has been very little follow up or back ground proof to support the claim. the instance listed in that Wikipedia article is an old one from another site where again it was a Hair sheep lamb and they never followed up with anything,

i have been around mixed herds before, both ways, and never seen a viable pregnancy from the cross, i have seen young rams and young bucks try with the wrong species and again nothing came of it.

[o&itw]

Originally Posted by CadesLilFarm

If the ewe is bred by the buck then usually she miscarrries and the baby won't be born. Goat buck + ewe sheep = geep. Ram + doe= shoat

While it sounds cute.... it is unfortunate that they picked "shoat" since it is the common term for a weenling pig.

[A.Scriven]

Thanks for all this food for thought... I suppose any releasing avoid their union would be to escape the increases risk of ... death. It's never fun to lose an animal. Wethered pygmy goats... I could get used to the idea. They're so sweet, it was never necessary before the hybrid dilemma...
Thanks guys!