Help me choose a new buck

[jcatblum]

I am looking at 2 bucklings. They are brothers, the white one is larger & my husband wants him. I like the one that is almost solid. Any reason I should pick one over the other since they are brothers? Or should I just let me heart choose?

[GraceAlice]

I REALLY like the solid one better, a lot better. Looks a lot sturdier and healthier. I would pick him by far. I think he has better color too.

[paintpony]

I agree with GraceAlice. The almost solid black one has a sturdier look. Better bone, and meatier.

[jcatblum]

Now I have 3 against one. Wonder how DH will feel if I tell him he was out numbered virtually??? I really like the solid one, think he will be coming home with me tomorrow.

[GraceAlice]

One question though, you do want these for meat babies right? To make meat babies??

Are they pure boer?

[Doug Hodges]

Solid one. No doubt.

[jcatblum]

They are pure boer registered 100%. We prefer to grow fat babies, but I also love COLOR!!! DH now says we should get both. Oh my.

[GraceAlice]

Actually, I would stray away from the little white one. I just don't think you should get him, my opinion anyway. He doesn't look too great and probably won't give you what you want.

[Clovers_Clan]

How soon are you getting him? As a bottle baby? Any chance you could get both? If you have no other kids of his size, it would be less stress to get both as companions. You could bargain for a package deal and sell one when the time is right and give them time to grow out to know which is the better breeder.

[jcatblum]

Here is a better pic of the white one, Looks much better in this pic

[trnubian]

I still think the solid boy is going to be the better buckling. He has better general appearance and natural thickness. The white one just looks dumpier.

[GraceAlice]

That solid one is honestly just very good looking and HEFTY! You could name him "Hefty Hefty" like the trash bags lol

The white one, he's just more potbellied with a small head, not want I, personally, would like in a Boer.

You could get both as companions and eat one later....

[Rockytopsis]

I have to agree with the others on the solid black one. I think all the white on the other one makes him look bigger.

They both do look good but my choice would be the Black one.

Nancy

[jcatblum]

Thanks for all the input. I am suppose to pick them both up tomorrow afternoon. The black one is mine for keeps, the other one is just to keep him company in the cold. quarantine is lonely & once it is time to go in with the others I know they won't be quick to snuggle with him! Hope to have some good pics to share tomorrow!!!!!

[Otter]

Pull out a tape measure and measure them, then get a scale and weigh them. Pick whichever is heavier and/or has better measurements. Brothers or no -how like your siblings are you?

The white one's head doesn't look small to me. I'm actually a bit leary of Boers with that big domed head, I've seen kidding troubles when a buck has a huge noggin.

[copperpennykids]

Sorry - I prefer the white one. Look at the naturally wide rear leg set in the first picture...

Since you are picking them up, by all means get your hands on them! Place your hands firmly on the kids' shoulders and run them back to his flanks. No dips at the shoulder (or very slightly). Measure the width of the loin - measure the length of the loin and determine the thickness of the loin (like a loaf of bread - how wide, how long, how deep).

Put your hand between those front legs and see which has a wider chest.

Chunk the butt - you are looking for meat/muscle.

Watch them walk. When they stop naturally, which one has the widest rear stance? Which one "sets himself up" naturally when he stops? The better the confirmation, the more often the goat will be set up when he stops. If confirmation is average on both, then go back to the first criteria of width, length etc.

Pictures are always a bit tricky, especially with kids!

PS Looks like the white has a better top line as well.

[Cannon_Farms]

this is why its hard to go by pictures as initially the white one looked very compact and I didnt like him, the better pictures of him he is conformationally the better looking of the two. I originally started out in Boers and still admire the breed.
I will say kids go through so many funk changes its really hard to tell

[GraceAlice]

It looks like the solid one has a better topline in my opinion. That white one is just so narrow in the front, and looks to have the worst rump out of the two. The solid one has such a nice, big brisket. White one doesn't look like he has a big brisket at all.

The white one strikes me as average little boer. The solid strikes me as big, bulky, handsome boer that will grow out to be gorgeous!

Those are my opinions! I'm no judge, for sure! I just feel like we're voting for a contest, lol. And the solid one is SO CUTE!

[Cannon_Farms]

Im just curious as to how you look at top lines? I draw an imaginary string across the screen and see if it can sit flush. I am not saying that cant be a funky stance
I can see the leg bones are not in equal per portion.
I will see this looks like to be probably some where some ruger crossed with eggs or similar style crosses

[GraceAlice]

I look at them, combined with their rump. I can take a slightly off topline if the rump is okay. In Boers, I see "sagging" toplines VERY often, so in Boers, if the topline is okay and the rump is great, I take it as a good impression.