why?

[cletus the rooster]

what is the reasoning behind not keeping just a breeding pair?have not got my goats yet so i want to make the right choices

 

[kimmyh]

Keeping a buck is a big responsiblity, they can be hard on fences, and they will breed their daughters in a heart beat, long before the babies, and the mom are ready for breeding. Add to that the fact that goats need a buddy, and now you are up to 4 goats if you pen the buck away from the doe (which is a best management practice in my opinion).

 

[Rockytopsis]

Keeping a buck is a big responsiblity, they can be hard on fences, and they will breed their daughters in a heart beat, long before the babies, and the mom are ready for breeding. Add to that the fact that goats need a buddy, and now you are up to 4 goats if you pen the buck away from the doe (which is a best management practice in my opinion).

I agree with the above. Unless you have a large herd or bucks are hard to find in your area I would not recommend keeping one for just one or two does.

 

[ksalvagno]

You don't want a male in with a female or females because they will try to breed them any time. Also, they don't care what relation they are to the female.

I was going to hold off on getting males for my 5 females but found it was extremely difficult to find breeders from clean herds that would do outside breeding.

 

[()relics]

Well thats how I started my boer herd...I bought the best young billy I could find, fullblood. He lived in the pasture with the horses for a year before I could afford a full blood doeling. They are still here and still make nice babies every year and most of my flock is their kids.....I have since, obviously, added several more fullblood billys.....I would sugest you buy the best foundation stock you can afford...Every year add a few more if you find "the right kind" and can afford them...After a few years you will have a very nice herd that you have "built" to your specifications.....JMO....I didn't have a million dollars to spend when I started....

 

[Griffin's Ark]

Bucks smell bad. We are sitting on at least 6 of the stinky guys right now. The other issue is, after awhile you might not realize how bad they smell and find yourself alone in a Walmart. Really! I didn't think I smelled that bad! That is absolutely no reason not to get a buck. Some of my best friends are bucks! We have one that likes to eat the grass on the wrong side of the fence and he gets out when he wants and gets back in when he wants. I don't see a problem. The one thing that I have found with my dairy goats is that the bucks pick out their favorite doe and seem to stay with her. Two adult bucks, both have girlfriends and both will be in the same pasture with their girlfriend no matter what I say. I am not a responsible parent, but they get what they need and if they need a girl...

Chris