Why I Dug Into This Dam Sire Stuff
Last spring my goat herd got hit hard by kidding problems. Lost three does and half their babies. Vet bills stacked up like pancakes. Figured I gotta fix my breeding game before next season rolls around. Started asking old-timers at the county fair what makes solid breeding stock.
The Messy Trial Runs
First I eyeballed those fancy show-winning bucks. Big mistake. Brought home this muscular Boer stud – looked like a bodybuilder. Paid top dollar too. Two weeks in? The jerk rammed my feeding trough into splinters and mounted ewes whether they were ready or not. Total chaos.
Went opposite direction next month. Picked this mild-mannered Nubian fellow. Too mild. Had to literally push him toward the ladies. Three ewes cycled twice without settling. Complete waste of time and hay.
My Trait Checklist Journey
Sat down with my stained notebook after those fails. Wrote three columns: Must-Haves, Nice-to-Haves, and Hell-Nos. Here’s how my list changed:
- First draft: Focused on looks – muscle tone, coat shine, pedigree papers
- After disasters: Prioritized calm temperament and proven conception rates
- Reality check: Added feed efficiency after seeing how much grain that Boer vacuumed
Visited six farms personally with my checklist. Sniffed around their barns, watched animals interact, asked how many vet calls they get. Eliminated two “perfect” herds after seeing foot rot outbreaks.
The Winning Formula
Finally settled on this plain-looking Saanen buck from Hank’s Farm. Didn’t win ribbons but Hank’s records showed:
- 95% conception rate across 50+ breedings
- Zero assisted births in five years
- Daughters giving 3+ gallons daily
Hank proved everything – had milk logs, birthing videos, even showed me feed receipts. More importantly, that buck walked politely on a lead rope and ignored my screaming kids.
Season Results & Lessons
Fast forward to kidding season last month. Thirteen does bred – every single one settled on first try. Kidding? Smooth as butter. Not one stuck kid or weak doeling. Saved me about $1200 in emergency vet fees alone.
Major takeaways:
- Papers don’t beat performance records
- Temperament matters as much as milk genes
- Always check the farmer’s records before checking the animal’s physique
Still got my ugly notebook – stains and all. Keeping it for next breeding round. Might frame Hank’s feed efficiency charts too. That boring buck saved my operation.
