I've read that 10 weeks seems to be the time for a larger breed. But what about nigerians?

-- Lynn (moonspinner@bluefrognet.net), December 21, 2001

Answers

More like one week is the ideal. I think it would be about the same across the board for all the breeds. By ten weeks they are already capable of breeding! Not to mention the stress of castrating at that age.

-- Rebekah (daniel1@itss.net), December 22, 2001.

Tha age of casteration for a buckling depends on what your planning on doing with him. If selling at market then by all means casterate early to avoid any 'accidents'. If keeping him for a long time then wait till he is at least 4-6 months old. Goats wethered too young don't fully develope their little 'pee pees' and you run into problems later in thier life. Most goats that are going on to be used for pack or work stock don't get the 'knife' till they are 6-8 months old to avoid later problems. Bucklings casterated later should be done by a vet or other professional. Bands are too dangerous since their testies are so large and it cuts into the skin way too quickly and can cause the death of your pet.

-- shari (smillers@snowcrest.net), December 22, 2001.

I know I share this story on each forum, so perhaps you have read it before. But there is no scientific proof or even one test, or bibliography in Goat Medicine, to show that delayed castration gives the urethra a chance to mature. One of my older daughters projects was this exact subject, we had to bucklings, castrated the one as he was disbudded, castrated the other at 6 months, both were butchered at a year, and both's plumbing were taken to the vet for her to look at under the microscope, she could not, we could not tell any difference at all. I also give the same advice though, because it makes logical sense that the testosterone produced should make the urethra larger and wider, but it sure didn't show up in the project! Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh TX (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), December 22, 2001.

I don't know about Nigerians, but there's no way I could do my Pygmies at a week old. I usually have to wait at least a month, usually 2 before their testicles are down & big enough to band. As long as you can fit them through the band, you can do it that way. I guess if you're cutting you might be able too do it a lot sooner. You can also cut when they are bigger if you have a proper way of holding them to do the job.

-- Wendy (weiskids@yahoo.com), December 22, 2001.

Maybe I'm mistaken, but I thought that testicles undescended at birth was a defect. Could someone correct me here if I'm mistaken?

-- Rebekah (daniel1@itss.net), December 22, 2001.

There are quite a few work goats around here that are older stock. There doesn't seem to be much difference in most of the ones that were cut young and the ones that were cut later. But, the ones that are having problems were only the early casterations. (The age of the wethers with problems are 2 1/2 or older, fully mature goats)

One of my friends spent 350.00 this summer on one of her wethers because of problems that were related to early casteration. She was lucky and saved him but the vet had to bypass his natural path of urine and he now goes out the back! (I believe he was 2 or 3) The other one this year, a 4-H wether was a 3 year old and his surgery was easier because they only had to go in about 4 inches and put some kind of tube in there. I sell my boys for pack and pets and the people won't even buy if they are casterated before 6 months. They can't afford to train for a year and then worry about if he is going to have problems later. I never have seen any problems with wethers till we have been here in CA. I wonder if it's food related in our area.

-- shari (smillers@snowcrest.net), December 22, 2001.

Rebekah, I didn't mean that they weren't descended. It's just that I need to wait at least a month, usually 2 until they are big enough to get down through the band. If I do it too soon they tend to slip back out. Nigerians may be different, but Pygmy testicles are really tiny at birth & really hard to band or even cut very early. At least that's been my experience.

By the way, Rebekah Lynn is the name I have picked out if this baby is a girl. :-)

-- Wendy (weiskids@yahoo.com), December 22, 2001.

Shari, I totally understand that you got to do what they want, to sell. Just pointing out that it really isn't logical since even intact bucks get urinary calculi :) But we all do things just because. I just because used every trick in the book to get doelings this year! Last year we had all bucklings born and just 3 doelings all year! So if someone said to breed early or breed late, or vinegar or the moon, I have tried about all of it! Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh TX (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), December 23, 2001.

Morning All, Vicky, you will have to let us all know if the 'tricks' for getting more doelings work! I'm actually wanting bucks this year. I will wish all the doelings to you and you can wish all the bucks to me. :)

-- shari (smillers@snowcrest.net), December 23, 2001.

That's a deal, I want two of mine to buckling for me, but if I don't get some does, I won't even be able to call my girls a herd anymore :) Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh TX (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), December 23, 2001.