[Jim S.]

Someone who was from up North, I think Vermont or something, posted here awhile ago about their buck going into rut, and I was saying it matters how close to the equator the goat is.

My buck started in rutting behavior yesterday, here in the near-Deep South. I'm going to try to find that thread, to see how many days' difference there was from North to South, if I have the time later today.

I had to reinforce with panels the barnyard fence that is common with the pasture, he was ramming it so hard to get to the gals. NO SIR! I don't want any December-February kids, and the younger goats are too young to be bred yet.

 

[Jim S.]

OK, I found Ozark Jewels post from Missouri on 7/17. That's a one-week difference from hers to mine.

 

[Allan Mistler]

Jim,
I saw an article in Countryside last month indicating that estrus usually begins when the length of daylight drops a half hour from the longest point of the year (June 21). Is this what motivated your question or are you doing additional research into the subject?

 

[KayJay]

I wonder if my bucks started rut so early because they came from farther south then? lol Mine started the same time Emily's did and I'm in Wyoming.... :shrug:

 

[Jim S.]

Allan, what I've read is that the closer goats get to the equator, the more year-around and non-seasonal is their breeding pattern. Spanish goats brought to southern South American countries transition from seasonal to year-around breeding. I know that bucks can breed without ever going into rut. But if the onset of classic rut correlates with proximity to the equator, which it does because it is a matter of day length, then bucks farther south should go into rut later than those in the north.

I just thought it would be cool to track the difference among forum members.

 

[CountryHaven]

I live in Illinois... my buck was acting 'interested' all summer but never seemed to accomplish anything with the doe he was in with, probably because she wasn't really coming in, although his interest was exactly every 21 days. However, NOW, just starting the last two days he is really getting rutty. His front legs are positively brown (normally white, lol) his body -- also normally white-- now has yellow tinge to it, (by God these boys are nasty, haha), and of course, his beard is just dripping with... yeah. The girls themselves still do not seem interested in his advances. I'm thinking maybe starting more next month.

As per Blue Juniper Farms suggesting adding the fact that my buck is a fullblood Boer.

 

[Cygnet]

My Nigerian buck started showing signs of rut about two weeks ago. Phewwwww. It's amazing a forty pound buck could put off a stink that powerful. (He's in with an alpine wether who is around 225 lbs -- I've been dying laughing all week watching him try to flirt with the wether, who is completely ignoring him, and who is tall enough that 'Junior' can walk under his belly.)

 

[Alice In TX/MO]

Our does are acting a bit goofy. The neighbors have a very young buck we are hoping to breed to, but he's not rutting at all yet. Waiting a month or two won't hurt my feelings.

 

[tltater]

My Pygmy and Pygmy cross bucks started their serious ruttiness about two weeks ago as well. Phew....what a lovely musky aroma...NOT! LOL!

 

[QueenB04]

I noticed our buck starting about two Saturdays ago, so the 14th. No girls aroung to exacerbate the issue, but he likes to chastise himself, amoung other things. Had an issue with that due to the leg wound I was managing as an open wound had to be stripped and covered.....right as it was doing really well, now we've got another two weeks tacked on to recovery time. We're in central Virginia. First experience with rut as an owner, not bad, not bad at all, hardly any smell, and no agression what so ever.

 

[Alice In TX/MO]

Our former buck, a mini, never was aggressive in rut. Hilarious, stupid, goofy, smelly, gross, and embarrassing to folks who don't understand....but not aggressive.

 

[QueenB04]

Rose: Yeah my little guy is a doll, I posted updates on him yesterday see 'Juan in a Million' we've gotten to the embarrasing stage, my poor mother in law... Needless to say he stay in the field when new people are over, because he likes to be the center of attention and folks don't understand. Yeah...new experiences with every animal you get gotta love it! We'll see how girls can be when we get a doe in the next couple of months. This is a neat thread to learn from to judge the cycles of the bucks and does, will be interesting to chart and compare.

 

[ChickenMom]

Mine have just started this week, the sheep started first.

 

[mamajohnson]

I think it has been 3 weeks since my guy started really stinking. (northeast Texas, just a hop and skip from Ok, Ark & Louisiana)
He hasnt tried escaping yet, but I did let him in with the girls a few times. Know for sure one of them is bred with a Dec 15 due date, won't be too bad here, winter doesnt get rough until January usually.
I am ready for this to be over, can smell him all the way to the house now!
How long does the rut usually last? The wether that is with him is due for the BBQ, and I dont want to do that till the smell is much better out there!!!

 

[ChickenMom]

Better give him a bath and BBQ him now mamajohnson, mine usually stink until February!

 

[Avalon Acres]

Jim,
Nubian buck "lathered up" for about ten days now, East Ala.

 

[Jcran]

I've had does running with the buck in three different batches since March ....first group-my two new does- from March 15th through end of April...not looking very pregnant and would be just starting to show some udder growth perhaps (both would be first fresheners) the second group end of April to end of May-single doe- got preggers(never saw a breeding occur)but aborted last week (vet is now guessing lepto as its a real problem in this area he says-owner said goats run with deer constantly)...the next batch, three matrons never really seemed like they even came into estrus...its a wait and watch (May 26-July 14th) ...buck never acted very rutty either and their owner doesn't think they got bred (she's a "goo on the tail" preg check philosophy). Now, my does are all in with him together, the first two just in case they didn't take, plus two does who've already freshened once. He has been acting super stinky/bucky/urine-y for the past 10 days or so which puts a "rut" starting early to mid July. I'm hoping the first two are pregnant and will kid in September. I'm hoping the second two bred earlier this week. But no goo on tail to speak of...maybe he's just practicing. OF course, the two doelings across the fence who are only 4 months old are acting like they're in their first heat and he's more than willing if only they'd come into his lair.

 

[Freeholder]

It would be interesting to know the breeds and ages of the bucks mentioned. Last year my 2-y-o Kinder buck came in rut in JUNE! This year (without him -- I sold him a few months ago) my 2-y-o Oberhasli buck isn't in rut yet. We are just north of California. I still have a little Kinder buck, but he's only four months old -- a little porker, I hope he's going to be able to do the job!

Kathleen

 

[Jim S.]

So it really seems all over the place, date- and location-wise. Hmmm. Too bad we don't have any S. American members...or do we? I know we have Australians, and they are closer to the equator.

My buck has not peed himself or stunk, but he is markedly more aggressive and, um, shows a SURE SIGN he would like to mate if he could get at them. Ahem. Heheheh...

 

[Day-By-Day-Farm]

My yearling Nigerian Bucks just went into full on rut about a month and a half ago. I am up here in New England, boy are they little stinkers!