Hold off on castrating?

[dosthouhavemilk]

I have heard mixed thoughts. We have crosses, and we wether the bucks and sell them at the end of the year. I know some who hold off on castrating (through banding) for 10-12 weeks. We usually castrate(cutting), dehorn, and vaccinate within the first week of life.

My question is do they really grow better if they are left intact for the first month or two? Is there a big enough difference to risk it?

Thoughts?
What do you do?

Thanks!

[Wendy]

I do it when I disbud which is anywhere from a few days old to a couple of weeks old.

[cricket]

How long can you wait to castrate? Would 4 months old be too long? Or 7 months? Thanks

[Freeholder]

I'm a member of a packgoat list, and a lot of the packgoat breeders keep their male kids intact as long as possible, up to six months old or even a year. It isn't so much so they will grow better, though bucks are probably stronger than wethers, on average. Mostly it's an attempt to prevent them from dying of urinary calculi, something a lot of goat packers have had trouble with in their mature wethers. The theory is that if they are allowed to grow intact for a while, the diameter of the ureter is larger and they are able to pass stones more easily. I don't know if this has been done long enough to be certain of the results. And if you are raising your kids for meat, they would probably be butchered before this really got to be an issue. It would most likely be more traumatic to castrate an older animal, but some of the packgoat people have castrated mature bucks that they didn't need for breeding anymore, and wanted to use for packing, and the animals did just fine.

My wether that keeps the buck company was castrated at six weeks old, the day we got him, and is the same height as the buck, but not nearly as stocky. That might be genetics, as I didn't see the wether's parents.

Kathleen

[bushmomma]

Kathleen,
This is my very first post ever...you drew me out of hiding!
You mentioned the "pack goat" thread ...Can you give me the link? I have been reading all I can about harnessing and packing and find it fasinating! Can't wait to get started!

Bushmomma

[marvella]

i agree. it depends on what you are using them for. if for meat, it won't matter that they are cut young. the biggest goat meat market near here wants intact, young males. they feel it has the best taste. i have goats that are here basically to keep some land clear, so i waited to band until they are 4-6 months. after that time their urinary system is developed enough that they are less likely to develop calculi. i've got a good buck, but i'm having cut this spring. the oldest, most dependable do is getting tired, she has been bred every season for the last 5 years. i'm retiring her to live out her life. if i need more goats, i'll buy them. the trouble of keeping a buck is now more than he is worth.

[Freeholder]

Bushmomma, here is a link to the packgoat list: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/packgoat/?yguid=109437082

There are also a number of websites if you do a search. I haven't packed my goats yet, but hope to start this summer.

Where in Alaska are you?

Kathleen in Oregon

[Vicki McGaugh TX Nubians]

The science to the thinking is flawed consdiering that male goats die of urinary calculi all the time, so delaying castration isn't really helping anything. I do agree with the packgoat folks though it would give you alot more bulky males, than castrating earlier before testosterone builds bulk. Most wethers castrated young look like large does. Vicki

[bushmomma]

Kathleen,

I live in Mountain Village which in in western Alaska on the mighty Yukon River. In the "bush" which means off the road system. (Hence the name Bushmomma.) Having goats out here is just a dream but in four short months my hubby will retire (after 20 years) and we will head to civilization in Homer, Alaska. That is where the fun begins! Goats, chickens, gardens! Hey maybe he will even take me out to dinner once in a while! I always tease him that he has gotten off easy since there are no restaurants out here...I'm sick of my own cooking!
Anyway, I am trying to learn as much as I can. This is an awesome forum and I am thankful for everyone's willingness to share.

PS. I went to the pack goat forum and joined. Thanks!

Bushmomma



BlueJuniperFarm]Bushmomma, here is a link to the packgoat list: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/packgoat/?yguid=109437082

There are also a number of websites if you do a search. I haven't packed my goats yet, but hope to start this summer.

Where in Alaska are you?

Kathleen in Oregon[/QUOTE]