Pros and
Cons of Keeping Your Own Buck
Bucks are strong, powerful animals and
therefore potentially dangerous. Most of them, however, will be rather docile
"babies" if they have been reared properly. Very few animals of any species are
inherently mean. Nonetheless, you should never forget his power and his strength. Many
weigh 300-400 lbs (136-182 kg), and goats can easily pull or push twice their body weight.
Buck wrestling, anyone??
Again, gentleness and training are
imperative, and such training starts when he is young. If you happen to purchase a mature
buck, he needs to understand immediately that you will not let him go wherever he wants.
This is not a matter of mere strength; there are many ladies handling bucks. A heavy choke
chain is a very good start. Of course, it must be handled properly
-- talk to your
local dog trainer if you are not certain. Basically, the end sliding through the other
ring should be over the neck and running towards the handler. Discipline is administered
with short, sharp jerks of the chain, rather than a tugging match. The collar must be high
up on the neck, just behind the buck’s ears and jaws. This is the most sensitive
area, where such disciplining does the most good. Generally, he will learn rather quickly
that he will be far more comfortable when he walks slowly, at the handler’s pace.
A word of warning: do not leave such a
choke chain on him all the time. He could easily get caught on some piece of brush or wire
or a nail you are not aware of and strangle himself. If he evades you when you try to
catch him to take him to a doe (most don’t!), leave a strong, but nonetheless
breakable, collar on him so that he could pull free in an emergency.
With all that strength comes the need for
stronger housing and fencing. Building materials need to be sturdier than for the does,
and any keyholes or other feeder openings need to be wider, because his neck will be much
thicker, particularly during the breeding season.
Another problem to consider is the
buck’s smell, which is where goats "earned" their reputation as rather
odiferous creatures. And bucks do smell (well-kept does have practically no odor
other than that of their bedding). If you intend to use the does’ milk, it is
advisable to house the mature bucks well apart from the milkers, because the milk can take
on this "bucky" flavor. Dairy regulations (for those of you considering the
commercial route) usually require such separation. Be sure to check with your state’s
agriculture department.
If you pre-ordered a buck kid from a
breeder, you may be able to request that the kid be descented at the time of disbudding. A
descented buck is in no way impaired as a breeding animal; the does don’t seem to
mind it much, and your neighbors will thank you!
Speaking of neighbors, since bucks tend
to become rather vocal during breeding season (two or more housed together become
especially noisy, even at night), before investing in a buck be sure you can keep him
where his raucousness will not bother the neighbors. And the "boys" should be
out of sight, too. Some otherwise very liberal people might find the buck’s
leg-and-face-spraying quite objectionable. Are you ready for it?
Copyright © 1999 Brigitte M. Botnick. All rights reserved.
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