This year, Pan is up next to the rest of the herd, but still separated by fencing. Ishtar has been in heat at least three other times this season, and each time it was pretty obvious. She would be pacing back and forth along the fence line, shoving her head through the panels and getting covered in stinky-buck smell as Pan was more than happy to paw at her and rub his head all over her.
Ishtar is a big Saanen, larger than her mother Nettie. I was hoping to have Ishtar bred to a Boer this year (and last year), but I have yet to find anyone with a Boer for stud and there’s no way I was going to buy another buck, especially a standard sized breed. It’s hard enough wrestling Pan who’s a Nigerian Dwarf buck; I couldn’t imagine messing around with a Boer buck.
My intentions were to start up our own meat goat herd using Ishtar as the dam and a purebred Boer as the sire. Basically I want the offspring to have her large frame, but with a meaty build. Any female offspring from that breeding would be kept as breeding stock and bred back to another purebred Boer buck. The males would go into the freezer.
Since I once again struck out on finding a Boer for stud, I let Pan breed Ishtar. It’s not that I don’t like the kiddings from that match; Ishtar’s kids are nice mini-milkers (F1 Mini-Saanen). But I’ve got enough milkers. I want meat. Goat meat.
Anyhow.
Ishtar is also the Alpha doe, or Herd Queen of our little herd. And she rules with an Iron Fist. When it comes to milking time / feeding time, there’s no doubt who’s top goat.
When I decided that I’d have Pan breed Ishtar, we did the normal goat-date thing. I put the doe on a lead, take her to Pan’s enclosure and let the goat-luv’n begin. That usually entails Pan running around, making those spitty-flappy-lip goat noises, pawing, ear-nibbling and the like, eventually ending with a good connection and DNA swapped. I’ll hold on to the lead the first few minutes to make sure everyone is “satisfied”, but eventually unclip the doe and let the two have some private time together.
But apparently Ishtar was not satisfied with being the subordinate goat. As soon as I unclipped her lead, she started chasing Pan around the pen. SHE was making the snorty noises, pawing and mounting HIM! And I don’t think he was too fond of it either as he kept running away. At one point he even tried to hide behind me. But being the closet masochist that I am, I let her stay in the pen and have her way with him.
I came back out about an hour later and found them like this:
If it weren’t for the fact that Ishtar had just finished a cigarette and Pan was sobbing for me to let him out, it would have been almost cute.
LOLOL. This post made my day. Going through our own goat breeding antics I could so relate. I'm not too sure how successful we'll be breeding our Pygmy buck to our Nubians. I definitely know when they're in heat, and he's oh so willing. But he's also oh so short. Time will tell.
ReplyDeleteCoffee on the computer screen once again. You rock! I know nothing about goats and breeding and all that right now, but dang. When we get to that point and I need advice, I am coming to you. Informative and funny at the same time. :)
ReplyDeleteYou think I'd know by now that coffee + Carolyn = mess. I love this.
ReplyDeleteWe had a very domineering goat named Cookie a few years ago. The other goats would cower out in the pen and she wouldn't let any of them into the shelter, so we had to build another goat area!
In spite of all this, goats are great, aren't they?!
Leigh, two words: Cinder Blocks! The first year we used Pan for breeding, we had to make a little ramp for him. We'd back the does up to the ramp and he finally realized that he had to just climb on the ramp and it became easy! Wish I had a picture of it! Although he's bigger now, Ishtar is still a weee bit too tall, and I'll position her on the downward side of a small slope and he'll get to her on the higher side. The other gals he has no problem with. Amazing acts of acrobatics are second-thought to breeding.
ReplyDeleteMamaTea, you'll just LOVE goats. And imagine the stories YOU'LL be telling US!
Mooberry, I love my goats! Well, most of the time. :)
Poor Pan! I hope you saved him! ;-)
ReplyDeleteI too have trouble finding a suitable buck to borrow. This year, I bred my 1/2 Alpine 1/2 Nubian doe to to a purebred Nubian buck, which means whiny babies I'm sure! Next year, I want to breed my purebred Alpine doe to a purebred Alpine buck. Maybe I should start looking now! LOL!!
I was laughing so hard at this!
ReplyDeleteI will tell you this. I have found out that the bigger bucks like the boer are A LOT more calmer than the Nigerians. I've had both and I would sooooo much rather mess with a Boer buck. Those little guys have attitudes! lol
How did I miss this post??? Hysterical blow by blow, there, missy. There is always a bossy female in every herd. So far, with my two Nigerians, the wether is Mr. Bossy Pants. That may change, once Sage is older and is bred. But I will be taking her to "visit" - no stinky bucks for me!
ReplyDeleteI had to swallow hard not to mess up my screen. We have had goats for pets only and always females or wethers. We are moving back to the mountains where we will be able to have our goats again but this time we want to raise milkers. We had a wondrful nubian named Mac who was as docile as a puppy dog and until he got to big he was a lap baby. Our little Dwarf nigerian was the terror of the lot and tormented our 250lb. pot belly to no end. I will continue to follow your blog for good tips and entertinment!
ReplyDeleteDannie, Welcome!
ReplyDeleteI swore up & down that we'd never own a buck, but you know how things just "happen". It's easier than having to haul the gals for their date and then have to worry about the health of the other buck, but then I sometimes wonder.....we have to feed / water / care for the buck all year, smell his stink for four months of the year....all for four dates with our gals. Hmmmmmmm......