Horned goats with a disbudded one?

[Livinzoo]

I have a boer/kiko and a spanish/kiko. I want a milk goat.

A friends mother breeds Saanens but she disbuds them all. So I have a choice. Do I want a disbudded first freshener or do I want to get one of the kids that will be born and ask her to not disbud it. The kids won't be born till mid-February. So either I get disbudded one or have to wait a year for milk.

Goat people what should I do? I really would like milk sooner than later. But don't know if it would be safe to have a disbudded goat with my two.

Thanks

 

[ThreeBoysChicks]

Mine are all disbudded so I don't have first hand experience. I know that Kate (helmsted) has both and in the past has said they got along fine. I think she did have a more dominant one that they went through the process to remove the horns. Kate will be able to give you the details. She will be along I am sure.

I do know that when you bring a new goat into the mix, there will be head butting till they work things out.

 

[helmstead]

Yup, I have a mixed herd when it comes to horns. I have horned, polled and disbudded animals all living together in harmony (well, relative harmony!).

The polled and disbudded goats KNOW they have the shorter end of the stick...they avoid headbutting the horned goats. I don't see why anyone would be funny about mixing them other than misinformation.

I did have to dehorn one newer doe, Becky (you can see her story under the Elastrator Banding thread here on BYC). She was a real wench, and outweighs my other goats by a LOT (she's 100 lbs). She was dehorned, and it totally changed her nature. She's now sweet, calm...dominant with the others yet in a more gentle fashion.

 

[wjallen05]

Our dairy goats are all disbudded but we do not disbud the meat goats, because I figure most people would prefer that they have horns. And if they're going to end up being dinner, it won't matter either way. Some goats are polled, and live with horned goats. I'm sure as long as the goats are all around the same size it should be fine. The biggest problem with our horned does is that they are always getting their heads stuck in the fence

 

[Livinzoo]

Jamie, I was wondering about that when I saw your fence. I have goat fence. So no problem with head stuck in the fence.

Still deciding if I will get a disbudded pregnant Saanen. Not sure if I have $400 extra right now.

 

[sweetshoplady]

I love my Saanen doe. She's the bossiest doe and the sweetest to me. The only one I have with horns is my buck. Saanens milk for a long time. 2 years is average. So she won't have to be freshened for quite a while. My doe had been milked for 3, another one 2. They'll be bred now.

As far as the money, if she's that much her kids are worth a lot too. She'll likely have a pair. Possible 3. You should have no problem selling the kids if you're so inclined. Just a thought.

 

[Birch Run Farm]

I have a neighbor with three female goats. One has horns and it beats the others up all the time, especially its mother, who does not have horns.

 

[()relics]

All the goats born on my farm are dehorned and the billies are castrated by the vet on her first visit...saves problems later...head stuck,injury,etc.

 

[ronshoney]

I have both and have no problems even with the bucks.

 

[griffin45]

Quote:
I have one doe that was disbudded and she is fine with the other 8. But I really gotta know if a Saanen Doe really sells for $400? I can't see where any dairy goat is worth that much... and if they are that much I think I will start selling goats where you live!