What breed for me?

[Southern by choice]

I have a polled doe. I want to add a polled buck to our other bucks.

Yes, I like horns. I also am not into dis-budding. I have no problem with others that do dis-bud and I understand why they disbud.

I like having the polled genes in my herd. Many people have a moral issue with dis-budding and so it is nicee to have kids that are naturally polled. There is a lot of negativity towards horned animals so there are people who are horrified at the thought of having horns and at the same time are horrified about burning a baby goats head.

I like the handles on my goats but having the gene is nice.

@ 1 Fine- I know you are using your buck... I have about 3 to look at and I'm not ready anyway. If Katie has polled kids I will just retain them. But then I stilllll need to keep my eye open for another doe!

 

[doubleatraining]

Ok thanks. I think I'd like them with horns. Not that I have a problem will polled ones but horns have never been a problem....and like you said when my Dad's need to be relocated and are being stubborn...they make GREAT handles. LOL

 

[Straw Hat Kikos]

Ah don't listen to them. Horned goats are best!

 

[OneFineAcre]

I have a polled doe. I want to add a polled buck to our other bucks.

Yes, I like horns. I also am not into dis-budding. I have no problem with others that do dis-bud and I understand why they disbud.

I like having the polled genes in my herd. Many people have a moral issue with dis-budding and so it is nicee to have kids that are naturally polled. There is a lot of negativity towards horned animals so there are people who are horrified at the thought of having horns and at the same time are horrified about burning a baby goats head.

I like the handles on my goats but having the gene is nice.

@ 1 Fine- I know you are using your buck... I have about 3 to look at and I'm not ready anyway. If Katie has polled kids I will just retain them. But then I stilllll need to keep my eye open for another doe!

You've never asked if I would be interested in renting Caspian

You got a Katie? I got a Katie too. I call her "Big Nose Kate"

And I swear I do not understand why anyone would have "moral" issue towards disbudding.
We found it very unpleasant at first. But, we realized they carry on just as much when run the clippers on their head, as when you put the iron on their head. And, as soon as you take them back outside, they act like nothing ever happened.

Besides, my wife has worked with livestock many years. She thinks that "banding" is cruel. Easy on the owner, harder on the animal. All of our wethers get castrated.

 

[OneFineAcre]

Ok thanks. I think I'd like them with horns. Not that I have a problem will polled ones but horns have never been a problem....and like you said when my Dad's need to be relocated and are being stubborn...they make GREAT handles. LOL

The standard for dairy animals is to be "hornless".

You cannot show dairy animals with horns.

Nothing wrong with having horms.

Dairy goats, and ND's in particular have horns that are more straight up, as opposed to curved back like the meat breeds.

Straw Hat likes horns.

 

[Pearce Pastures]

Ok thanks. I think I'd like them with horns. Not that I have a problem will polled ones but horns have never been a problem....and like you said when my Dad's need to be relocated and are being stubborn...they make GREAT handles. LOL

The standard for dairy animals is to be "hornless".

You cannot show dairy animals with horns.

Nothing wrong with having horms.

Dairy goats, and ND's in particular have horns that are more straight up, as opposed to curved back like the meat breeds.

Straw Hat likes horns.

Right, we don't do horns because we show, and because we have little kids who play with them all the time and right at eye level with those horns. I love the looks of them and all but we disbud here. If I could find a nice polled buck though, I would be all over it. All of the polled bucks I have seen in person around here have not impressed me as a dairy person----someday I might find one that has what I am looking for and is polled.

You won't be disappointed with a Nigerian Dwarf. If you are wanting milk, look for one who has good milk lines though.

 

[Straw Hat Kikos]

I'm messing about the horns. I think most on here know how much I love horns and that I am not a fan of disbudding at all. Buuuut I will say, I totally get why people do it, I respect that, and I'm not going to tell them to not disbud and I certainly don't think it's cruel. Like you said OFA, they scream and cry then you release them and their hopping around like nothing happened. That's goats for ya!

FTR I'm against me disbudding. I myself would not do it but I don't care if others do it. It's their choice. Also you have a point about dairy goats. Their horn go UP not back and to the side like meat goats.

 

[OneFineAcre]

I'm messing about the horns. I think most on here know how much I love horns and that I am not a fan of disbudding at all. Buuuut I will say, I totally get why people do it, I respect that, and I'm not going to tell them to not disbud and I certainly don't think it's cruel. Like you said OFA, they scream and cry then you release them and their hopping around like nothing happened. That's goats for ya!

FTR I'm against me disbudding. I myself would not do it but I don't care if others do it. It's their choice. Also you have a point about dairy goats. Their horn go UP not back and to the side like meat goats.

I think there is probably a reason why the "standard" is different for meat goats than dairy. Dairy animals are more intensely managed and are brought into milking parlors in close quarters. Meat goats, particularly when people took an interest in the US and boars were first introduced were on range land without LGD protection. They really needed those horns, they are naturally for protection against predators.

 

[Straw Hat Kikos]

Yes, dairy goats were brought into close quarters twice a day and had to be close to both humans and other goats. Horns can be an issue when that happens. Removing of horns was beneficial because it kept does and people safe. Meat goats are out on land 100% of the time and they are not in close corners and have the ability to move away or escape another goat. People were not with the goat often therefore they were not a danger to them either. There was good reason to remove the horns on dairy goats when there is no reason to remove them from meat goats and I think that this has stuck with each class. Meat goats nearly always have horns and most dairy goats are disbudded.

 

[OneFineAcre]

Yes, dairy goats were brought into close quarters twice a day and had to be close to both humans and other goats. Horns can be an issue when that happens. Removing of horns was beneficial because it kept does and people safe. Meat goats are out on land 100% of the time and they are not in close corners and have the ability to move away or escape another goat. People were not with the goat often therefore they were not a danger to them either. There was good reason to remove the horns on dairy goats when there is no reason to remove them from meat goats and I think that this has stuck with each class. Meat goats nearly always have horns and most dairy goats are disbudded.

Darn, I think you agreed with me