I have a sinking feeling......

[cdennis]

I have a doe that gave birth last spring, I kept her one kid and made him a weather (banding) I checked often after the procedure was completed to make sure it took and everything looked fine. His testicles fell off and I thought nothing of it until last night. He has always been playful but he is becoming more aggressive with me and my husband. I went to push him away and happened to glance at something that appeared to be a testicle. Assuming it was just some portion of the sack I further investigated, he has ONE testicle! I'm not sure if it was possible it was hidden because he was banded so young (when I did his horns) or what. But now I have a sinking feeling...what about my doe, his mother. What is the possibility that he has impregnated her? At what point did he become fertile? What if she delivers kids should they all be culled? Can they be viable? What a mess!

 

[ksalvagno]

When did you disbud? Males really shouldn't be banded until a minimum of 8 weeks old (unless they are destined for the freezer). When you band, you have to make sure you feel both testicles before you let the band go on the scrotum. I'm guess that he only had 1 descended testicle or one of the testicles ended up above the band. Yes, he could have gotten mom pregnant. The babies should probably be viable but obviously any males born should be banded.

You can take him to the vet to have the testicle removed. I wouldn't band it again. The procedure is an easy one and shouldn't cost much.

 

[cdennis]

I took him back to the breeder for disbudding and they did banding then as well. He was under a week old....
I was pretty new to the process and really have thought nothing of it until now. I'm sick to my stomach that I allowed this to possibly happen.

 

[DonnaBelle]

Don't beat yourself up too much about this. Stuff happens when you are learning. You can stuff your head, but you will still have mistakes.

Our first wether was castrated by the teaching facility at OSU. They did the surgery when he was 3 weeks old. I guess they did a good job, because he's never had any urinary problems, yet. HOWEVER
Since being on this forum, I realize that 3 weeks is too early to band/castrate. No earlier than 8 weeks. Since doelings can be impregnated at 8 weeks, if you band their brothers, all should be well.

I'd take him to the vet, get that testicle removed. And if mom's preg, deal with it when it happens. It's not the end of the world.

I always advise anyone new to goats, to stay on this website, read every post regarding the health of goats. I've been on here 3 years, and I still learn something new from the knowledgeable folks on this website. And most are kind and very willing to help a newbie.

Good luck.

DonnaBelle

 

[cdennis]

I might be losing my mind but I swear I just saw my weather...well half weather....try to nurse and he hasn't done that in almost a year. I wonder if she is getting milk. I moved her to her own pen just to be on the safe side.

 

[marliah]

If he did get his mom pregnant I wouldn't worry about it, I have been told son to mother is ok its siblings you don't want breeding together.

 

[elevan]

If the doe kids then just wether any males that she may have.

Take your boy to the vet and have his other testicle removed, simply and easily.

Our first wether was castrated by the teaching facility at OSU. They did the surgery when he was 3 weeks old. I guess they did a good job, because he's never had any urinary problems, yet. HOWEVER
Since being on this forum, I realize that 3 weeks is too early to band/castrate. No earlier than 8 weeks. Since doelings can be impregnated at 8 weeks, if you band their brothers, all should be well.

To be fair...they generally study meat goats - intended for slaughter. It is an acceptable practice to castrate young when the animal is terminal.

 

[cdennis]

Oh I hope so, I worry the kids would come out all mangled it is good to know that may not be the case. Thanks for all the feedback.

 

[elevan]

Oh I hope so, I worry the kids would come out all mangled it is good to know that may not be the case. Thanks for all the feedback.

Linebreeding and Inbreeding are the same thing. Breeding to a close relative isn't gonna result in a goat with 2 heads or half legs or anything...those issues could just as easily result from an unrelated breeding.