Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
carry a genetic flaw that results in abnormal fetuses or miscarriages. By selecting high-quality
bucks, you will produce superior kids that can be sold at higher prices to other farmers.
Every year you make a considerable financial investment in feed, medications, and veterinary
fees for your goats, to say nothing of all the time and effort you put into their care. Naturally,
you want the maximum return on your investment: as much milk or meat as possible, the best
fiber, and a healthy herd made up of goats that continue to be productive for eight or nine
years or longer. If you are raising dairy goats, you will want to find a buck whose offspring
are high-yield milkers with firm, well-supported udders. If you are raising meat goats, you
will look for a well-muscled buck of good conformation that can improve your herd.
You can find a registered buck for breeding in your area by looking online at goat registries
for various breed associations or searching the American Dairy Goat Association (ADGA) ge-
netics website ( www.adgagenetics.org ). There are similar state organizations for meat goat
growers such as the California Meat Goat Association, which has good information about
meat goats and a link to Langston University Goat & Research Extension www.luresext.edu/
goats/training/general.html#intro . Your agricultural extension office or veterinarian may be
able to tell you about local goat breeders who offer stud service.
When considering a buck, first look at his pedigree, if he has one, and the production records
of his forebears. An undocumented buck or a grade can produce wonderful offspring, but a
pedigree and official records are a sort of insurance that the buck will produce good offspring.
Next, look at the physical characteristics of your does and of the buck and his forebears. If
possible, examine the buck's mother and granddam. If your does have a weakness such as
poor udder attachment, the genetic background of the buck should counteract that flaw. Look
for a buck descended from a family of does with strong, well-attached udders. To improve
your herd, always breed your does with a buck from a family of even better does. That way
the offspring will be better milk producers than their mothers. If you are interested in fiber
production, pay attention to the buck's coat and the fiber produced from his herd.
Artificial insemination
In artificial insemination (AI), frozen sperm from a donor buck is thawed and inserted into a
doe in heat. If you are aiming to improve your herd, artificial insemination allows you to se-
lect from a wide range of bucks with documented backgrounds. You can select a different
buck for each of your does. A veterinarian or another goat breeder who has experience can
Search WWH ::




Custom Search