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Barnyard Buddies:  Help!! Goat Breeding Questions...  |
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Kris Sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
131 Posts
Kris
Chickamauga
Ga.
USA
131 Posts |
 Posted - Sep 25 2008 : 06:23:05 AM
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I am going to be breeding my 6 does in the next few months and was wondering if any of you goat people ever wondered about the buck and how big a roll he plays in all this.
Last year I used a white buck. He was just about a year old at the time. Out of 5 does (the 6th miscarried) we got 5 bucks and 3 does. Out of all those, 3 were white bucks. The girl I borrowed him from used him too. She got 8 bucks and only a few does and a lot of them were white, too.
So I guess I'm trying to figure out how much the buck really has to do with color and sex of the kids.
I was thinking about using one of the biggest white buck that came from my herd. But he's only going to be 7 months old then. My friend also has a very small but VERY endowed buck that is 1 1/2 now. And he's a tan color.
Any input wuold be great and I'm sure very helpful.
Thanks, Kris
PS, I also got 3 sets of twins and 2 singles. Big kids.
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Brew Crew
True Blue Farmgirl
676 Posts
Molly
Arizona
676 Posts |
Posted - Sep 25 2008 : 10:51:56 AM
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Well, I am certainly not an expert on this subject, but based on your results last season, I would say it is safe to assume the buck plays a big role in the outcome of the kids.
As far as I know, goats can breed VERY early in life, which is why it is recommended to separate intact buck kids from the does by 3-4 months. I would think your 7 month old would be...uh....potent enough to do the job. I would recommend against breeding the son to it's mother or other closely related does.
I believe the multiples have to do with the doe, not the buck.
For me, I would prefer to breed with a slightly smaller buck to avoid kidding problems associated with large sized kids.
Could you split the herd and breed some to your white buck and some to the smaller tan one? That could give you some varried outcomes and you could further see what kind of role the bucks play.
HTH!
The Biz www.tvalahandmade.com
The Blog: http://blog.tvalahandmade.com/
The Bits www.happydalehobby.blogspot.com/
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shepherdgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
1008 Posts
Tracy
California
USA
1008 Posts |
Posted - Sep 25 2008 : 5:17:34 PM
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What kind of goats do you have Kris?
As for color, genetics plays a big role in that department. It also depends on what BREED you have. Some breeds are color specific-- like Obies, Saanans and Swiss. Others run the gamut of the color spectrum like my Nigerians. There are at LEAST 28 different colors acceptable by the NDGA and AGS for Nigies, and I can't remember how many patterns. The only pattern NOT acceptable is the Agouti-- which is typical in the Pygmy goat breed. But not even the "Experts" can perdict what colors and patterns the kids from any particular mating will produce. At least not for NIGERIAN DWARFS!!
As for sex, well, I think that's determined mostly by the buck, but I think there are also other factors involved as well. Both my bucks tend to produce more doe kids-- which is perfectly FINE with me!!! Though I've heard from other people that some does seem to give birth more to one sex or the other, so it's hard to say.
You might do like Molly suggests and split your doe's between the bucks and test the theories. That's always FUN!! But, also, like she says-- NO Mother-son breedings! (you DON'T want to go there!) I also wouldn't recommend father-daughter breeding either-- but if you want to know what DEFECTS your goats carry-- thats the FASTEST way to find out! The best thing to do is to breed your girls to a completely un-related buck. There are enough out there that it wouldn't be too hard to find a good one to improve whatever physical characteristics are lacking in your girls. You might be able to find a breeder in your area who has a buck they'd be willing to trade for your buck. It doesn't hurt to ask around!
There are some good websites out there that will shed some light on the color genetics of specific breeds. But if your goats are MIXED breed animals-- it will be IMPOSSIBLE to tell what you will get-- not only with sex and color, but with physical characteristics as well. Whatever you choose to do-- HAPPY BREEDING!! Hugs~~ Tracy
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away. ~~ George Carlin |
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Kris Sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
131 Posts
Kris
Chickamauga
Ga.
USA
131 Posts |
Posted - Sep 25 2008 : 6:05:10 PM
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Molly, that's such a good idea. I never thought of that. I'll use one buck for 3 does and see what happens.
I have heard not to breed brother-sister but thought it was ok for mother-son. So I'll not do that.
The white buck's mother had 1 buck last year and 2 bucks this year. They were also the biggest kids and the first born. So I wonder if he'll produce more bucks. I also have a pure white doe that had 1 white buck and a beautiful black and white doe. Also every doe that had twins last year had singles this year and vice versa.
Tracy, I have 5 Lamancha and 1 Nubian. I like Saanans but I like color more. I can tell all mine apart!
Thank, Kris |
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Brew Crew
True Blue Farmgirl
676 Posts
Molly
Arizona
676 Posts |
Posted - Sep 26 2008 : 06:26:25 AM
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Good luck, Kris! I hope they all take! Make sure to journal your results (when you bred them, and to which buck and what the kids ended up being) for future reference. I am interested to see what you find out!
I have 2 Nubians and 1 LaMancha and they are getting bred this weekend, too. Mine will be less interesting, though, we are only using one buck. Should be funny to see the kids ears, since we are using a LaMancha buck!
The Biz www.tvalahandmade.com
The Blog: http://blog.tvalahandmade.com/
The Bits www.happydalehobby.blogspot.com/
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - Sep 26 2008 : 06:49:47 AM
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Hey, Molly. You'll have elf ears for sure. that's what I got this last time with my Nubian. She was supposed to have been bred with a Nub. buck, but it apparently didn't take. So I thought she was pregnant when I put her back in with the others, the Lam. buck was still here. He got her! When she kidded, it was a total surprise! I kept looking at the kid to see what was wrong with her, and finally figured it out. It was her little ears. They were elf ears. She is so cute, though.
What fun and lots of surprises,too, with goats. I love them. |
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Barnyard Buddies: Help!! Goat Breeding Questions... |
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Help!! Goat Breeding Questions...
