Breeding Age?

[VA Susan]

We have three yearling does and want to breed them all this fall. There is a CL ad for a purebred Alpine Buckling from a goat Dairy. The buckling was born on March 25 of this year. The owner says he is BIG and that he is eating grain and grass now at 6 wks. He wants to wean him at 9 wks because they have a goat dairy and need the milk. He believes that he will be able to breed our does this fall. Does that sound likely?

[Bearfootfarm]

He should be capable of breeding before September but I think they are weaning a few weeks too soon

[VA Susan]

Originally Posted by Bearfootfarm

He should be capable of breeding before September but I think they are weaning a few weeks too soon

Thanks, Bearfootfarm. You're right, he is too young to wean . They first tried to sell him on CL as a bottle baby after he was born. I saw their month old CL ad and checked to see if they had already sold him, but they hadn't. He's been on his mother since birth but they need the milk for their Grade A goat dairy. They recently started selling their milk in stores. He's big for his age and is already eating grain and grass so we hope that he will keep growing well.

[Alice In TX/MO]

I recently had to sell a buckling at nine weeks due to his behavior and no other males to house him with. Luckily, he will take a bottle.

[VA Susan]

Alice,
It's good you had milk to give him. We don't have any milkers yet.