Breeding Question

[kroberts]

Hi all,

I have a question about breeding goats. I don't have goats yet; still in the planning stage and trying to figure it all out.

I am looking at 2 boer does (3mo old). I want to establish a meat herd gradually. I also plan to get one or two nubians for our own milk (don't think I could manage a herd of milk goats).

My question is about using a buck. If I get a boer buck to start building a herd, how to I breed any babies when they are big enough? I hope that makes sense.

If I get the 2 does that I am looking at and get a buck to breed them later, I would probably want to keep any does that they have. But when they are ready to breed, I can't breed them to their father, can I?

I'm not worried about any nubians I get because those babies will always be sold. I just want the milk. But how do I build a healthy boer herd?

Hope that's not a totally dumb question. :/

Thanks for your help.

 

[Mea]

If... and this is a biggie... if You are not planning on keeping any young from the daughters of the buck... You *could * inbreed them.

This could do two things for You...

1. It would certainly bring out any Very Good or Very Bad traits that the buck might have in his genetics. It actually is a proven way to test a sire.

2. If can help hold down the numbers of Your herd... since You most likely would not hold any inbred offspring, but send them on their way for meat.

Good luck