ZEUS

These are pictures of our 100% Kiko Bucks.  Zeus was born in 2003 and has been our main herdsire for the last several years.  When we started our goat program we had a 100% Kiko Buck and a 100% Boer Buck (pictured on our About Us page).  Zeus killed the boer Montana as explained below, and the original Kiko Buck, Tex, died.

We now have our bucks at least 400 feet away from the does but that was not always the case.  When we first started out, we had the bucks adjacent to the does. This caused numerous problems, especially when the bucks are in heat.

A good example of why you should not have your bucks anywhere near each other, we were breeding the does, some with the buck pictured, and the rest with the 100% Boer Buck, Montana.  Their pens were adjacent to each other with only a fence separating them. The kiko and boer buck butted each other, with a fence between them, until it knocked the boer out. We called the vet, she gave steriods, but the Boer Buck, Montana, did not survive.  Please keep your does and bucks separated at all times, even when breeding.

We have also had the buck escape from his pen and get in with the does, and of course, then you do not know who he has bred.  He could breed your younger goats (less than 80 pounds) or his own offspring. If this should happen, you can use Lutalyse which is vet prescribed, 2 cc in the muscle which will cause an abort of an early pregnancy, but you do have to wait 11 days from the date of the breeding. Having a very strong fence and keeping the bucks away from the does in heat is the best management practice.

We do use another buck for breeding, Tex Jr. born in 2007 which is the son of Tex, the 100% Kiko Buck that died.  Again, you can see he has a horn broke off.  This was because we had the bucks side by side with only a fence between them, and they butted each other until this buck lost his horn.  We had to move him into another pen 40' feet from Zeus.  They will do anything to prove their domination. 

When you have numerous does from the same buck, eventually you will need a new herdsire.  With this buck pictured, we just make sure he does not breed his mother or sisters.  You can do linebreeding, but we have never tried this, and since I am not an expert on this subject I hate to say too much about it.  I know you can take the very best traits from a buck or doe and breed back specifically for these traits.  It is definitly something to study if you are up to experimenting. 

The following links will take you to articles that will help you make smart decisions on Linebreeding:

http://www.jackmauldin.com/management/breeding.htm

or

http://www.goatfolks.com/Boer_Goat_Linebreeding_Article.html