We invested with a friend in a really good registered alpine buck kid. The problem is,he will not breed our does.Yes,they have been in heat- I have been A.I.ing some of them but can't settle them all.the buck is normal in every way except that he is completely disinterested in the does.The breeder says to give him time, but he is 7 mos old and breeding season is passing us by with over twenty unbred does.We don't want to use any old buck as the does are of very good quality and C.A.E. negative.

-- Rebekah Leaf (daniel1@transport.com), November 14, 1999

Answers

Rebakah-Usually by 7 months of age a buck is verrrrrrry interested in does, and especially a young one will be interested if they are in season or not! (at least any I have ever had was). Does he have the "musky" odor that bucks develop? Is he physically and apropriately developed, i.e. both testicles, etc.? I think I would consider leasing a quality buck for the season and by then if he has not performed then I would cull him for meat or as a wheather.

-- Marci (ajourend@libby.org), November 14, 1999.

No,he doesn't smell.He also doesn't spray his beard or act very bucky. He will chase the does in a half-hearted way.and sometimes act as though he is going to breed them,but falls off the doe again without consumating the act.His testicles are normal size and shape.We are wondering whether maybe he is just very slow to mature.

-- Rebekah Leaf (daniel1@transport.com), November 14, 1999.

the only time we had a young buck that seemed slow to be interested in the does we ended up getting another young buck who wasn't slow at all i'm not sure if just happened or if housing the two of them together set a good example. or possibly it was competition, but soon they were both spraying themselves and acting very much like bucks want to act this time of year...hope this helps..ron

-- ron in n.y. (ronmister@hotmail.com), November 16, 1999.

No experience here, just a suggestion. Can you pen him so he can see and smell, but not reach does? If he is frustrated and excited by their teasing perhaps he will be more willing to perform. Twenty does sounds like a lot for a young buck, if you are pasture breeding he may be overwhelmed.

-- Kendy Sawyer (sweetfire@grove.net), November 19, 1999.

I am happy to report that the buck is now working and breeding the does.He does not have a whole lot of stamina yet,but if we hold the does he will work.The breeder has suggested that a selenium deficiency may be part of the reason he has been so late maturing,so we are going to give him a Bo-Se shot.Thank you all for your helpful,pertinent advice.

-- Rebekah Leaf (daniel1@transport.com), November 19, 1999.

Just a thought, check to see if he is the result of a polled to polled breeding. You say he is breeding now, but is he settling? Just had a friend go thru that, and it sounds similar. Vickie

-- Vickie Liguori (meadobrk@cfw.com), December 31, 1999.

I only have four does but I do keep my bucks young or old away from does at all times possible until I'm ready for them you breed. I've never had a buck not produce. Also maybe its just me but I've never been able to catch the goats doing "it". I think my bucks are shy when it comes to that! Even though your bucks testicles look developed perhapes they are just not producing sperm. Good luck. michelle

-- michelle (m&rirish@ainop.com), January 20, 2000.

rebekah, just another opinion,but over 20 does is too much for a seven- month-old buck. he should not be running with them even then. he should be in an adjacent pen, with the doe in heat brought into the pen when she is ready.[this is easy to tell since they rub on the fence and try to entice the youngster out. even if you get your does bred this year he might have a problem next year. the bo-se is a good idea too. the buck should always be in top shape prior to breeding time. this means wormed, immunized,bo-se'd and flushed with a little extra feed and vitamins. the buck is half your herd and really needs all the little extras to help him perform at his best. karen

-- KAREN MAUK (DAIRYGOATMAMA@AOL.COM), January 29, 2000.