Disbudding boys?

[mammabooh]

For those of you who raise your extra bucklings for meat, do you disbud them? Do you wether them, or just make sure to butcher before they get stinky? Do they grow better one way or the other?

I REALLY hope to raise a few next year! I think Hubby is finally on board.

[Alice In TX/MO]

Yes. Disbud and band. It's just a good routine.

[mygoat]

I didn't disbud boer kids the first year. I band, so I don't have to wean early. I had tons of fun extracting wethers from fencing that year. All the time. I now disbud everything. I wouldn't if someone put a deposit on a buckling before I disbudded... but otherwise, everything. gets. done.

[trnubian]

If raising for your own use either way would be fine. I have done both. I hate horns with cattle pannels cause they always get stuck.
If you are selling to the meat auctions though, a lot of times they want unblemished intact animals. Meaning horns and testicals still intact. I have noticed bucklings grow faster for the first few months over wethers. After about 4 months it's a toss up.

[Alice In TX/MO]

The other issue is whether you are leaving buckling in with doelings. Those little boys get fertile very young, and if they are in with doelings who start cycling, you are going to have undesired breeding.

[mammabooh]

Originally Posted by Alice In TX/MO

The other issue is whether you are leaving buckling in with doelings. Those little boys get fertile very young, and if they are in with doelings who start cycling, you are going to have undesired breeding.

No, they will be separated. I have plenty of buildings and pastures now so everyone can have their own space. As soon as I have my girls confirmed bred this year, I am either going to sell or butcher my buck and wether...have plans to get a new buckling next spring (actually late winter if all works out as planned), so, hopefully, the ones born here can be in with him until butcher time. If not, I'll figure something out.