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How many to keep

1K views 11 replies 7 participants last post by  Caprice Acres 
#1 ·
So we have 3 does all recently kidded. One lost twins, one had 2 bucks and the 3rd had 3 bucks. My goal for raising goats is milk. I really don't care for stinky bucks hanging around except to breed my momma's, so should I breed and then get rid of all but one buck or do I need to keep one for a friend? The bucks will be in separate pens once they are weaned. I figure we will get at least one buck out of our next litters next spring. How do you all plan out your herd?
 
#2 ·
Wow! The buckling fairy came to your farm, didn't he? As you only want to breed for milk, you may decide to keep the best (conformation and milkiness-wise) buckling intact, and wether the others. Your buck will be happier with a companion; perhaps one of the wethers? The others could be raised for meat. I think, if I were you, this is how I'd do it.
 
#3 ·
The buck fairy came to our place too..so far this year 6 bucks one doe and we lost the doe. Our plan for this year is separate all bucks to the buck pen come July. We do not want Christmas baby's this year. Come Oct our breeding buck goes in with all the lady's and all the buckings born this year head off to freezer camp with the pigs.=)
 
#4 ·
Let me clarify. We don't have a breeding buck currently. I can't breed anyone to momma correct? So I'll need 1 from each doe to be able to get everyone bred? Sorry if this sounds stupid I am so mixed up in my head and the triplets are all so cute but I know I can't keep them all. The twins aren't my favorites, I'd have no problem sending them to freezer camp. I don't like their aesthetics and momma is kind of a jerk, it's yet to be determined if she passed that on ;) we planned to breed in late October but was thinking maybe we breed our momma with no babies earlier to add a 3rd line into the herd but the boys wouldn't be old enough to breed by October, assuming she had one. The oldest boys are 7 weeks now.
 
#8 ·
I can't breed anyone to momma correct?
You can breed any male to any female when your goal is to get the milk.

You eat or sell the offspring you don't need.

Genetic "problems" aren't really a problem if you're not trying to improve the breed or produce show animals.
 
#7 ·
You might want to think about looking for an unrelated buck for next year. Our breeding buck is unrelated to 4 of our does but two others are his daughters. Someone tell me if I am wrong, but you can bred father to daughter but does from that breeding being breed to the father might cause problems. I have found it is usually cheaper to get new bucks than replacement does. As much as we would love to eat our current herd sire it looks like we might not have any more does this year (I don't think his daughters are pregnant) so he will get another 2 year reprieve. Next year I will look into getting new breeding buck, but before I get rid of the old I will make sure the new one can due his duty.
 
#12 ·
I personally don't find bucks all that offensive, so I usually keep two. Currently I have a single buck and a wether, due to the small size of my herd. I do also co-own a buck but he is currently living at a friends' house. :)

I usually keep two because to keep one apart, you need a companion. One is not much worse than two.

You CAN inbreed/linebreed and some very well 'bred for improvement' animals are the result of varying degrees of intense to mild inbreeding. If I thought I would get the animal I wanted from inbreeding, I would not hesitate. The worst that happens is I don't get the results I want, which is a risk of any breeding. ;)

I would keep sons for a couple years, but then bring in a new sire every few at least, just because you will need replacement females eventually. And, you do have to sell kids as well. Not sure if your does are registered or not, but sometimes producing registered, quality kids adds a bit of income to the year when otherwise kids can be a money pit. ;)
 
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