We have reached another one of those conclusions learned from the hard knocks of the goat business. The concept of breeding up your genetics isn't very easy. We still have a few Boer cross does from several years ago. It was our thought the Kiko influence would overcome the weaker genetics of the Boer. It made sense. The Boer cross does were the better ones; the others had died. Still last years' doe kids from the Boer cross does just aren't equivalent to our Spanish/Kikos. They aren't as hardy and robust. The Winter has really separated the wheat from the chaff so to speak. Some would have died this Winter except for the feed we started putting into them.
Once the weather breaks and we have a little more feed in them; it's off to the sale barn. Another lesson learned, breeding up is a lot harder than you would think. Genetics are difficult to improve. You tend to get more of what you already have. We aren't saying it is impossible, but it takes more time and patience than we have.
This year we plan to cull anything with remaining Boer blood that doesn't match up to the Spanish and Kikos. Wasting time and money trying to breed up the less than acceptable genetics is too much trouble. We hope our readers can learn from some of our mistakes.
If you are just starting your herd, do your best to start with good stock. If you have been in the goat business for a couple of years and realize some of your does are not what you want, cull them now! Don't think you can buy a top quality buck and develop from good breeding stock from half the herd!
Any competent goat rancher will tell you culling is the most important and the hardest thing you have to do. In future posts, we plan to discuss some reasons culling is difficult for most of us.
Comments