Considering pack goats

[Redbud Farm]

Welcome to the group Teresa! Lots of good goat chatter here besides the pack pros. I'd suggest subscribing to the Pack Goat Newsletter, its excellent with lots of packing info, plus some ads by our suppliers. Your 3 mo old buckling is perfect age for beginning training, starting with walking on a lead, make him your lead goat for others to follow. Around six mos castrate him else he'll be breeding every doe around. Plus he will grow better for a packgoat.

My choice is the Kiko, hardy, a bit more cold weather resistant. I will be having a cross or two. I have seen some Boers I liked, I dont know anything about their temperaments but they do have muscle. One trait I like of the Kikos is that they test herd sire prospects for parasite resistence. And they grow. Mature bucks will reach 200 lbs and more.

What part of MO do you live in? I was in the SW, in MacDonald Cnty. I am in northern MI now.

Thanks for the welcome everyone!

Jake, I appreciate the suggestion about the newsletter. I haven't had much time for looking around since I joined. Been getting seeds started inside, getting eggs going in my incubator, working on a pen so I can kick my two house cats outside once we finish with our arctic blasts! LOL! I'm SO ready for spring!

My little buck is actually only 3 weeks, but he'll be getting leash trained sooner than later. Shoot... he may be closer to a month now. I'll have to look at the calendar. I had looked at Kikos for my breeding purposes but decided to integrate Savanna instead. They have the same parasite resistance and good mothering skills... but I found them to be 'meatier' than the kikos. I don't have pure Savannas, instead I've fallen for the Boer/Savanna 50/50 cross. They are amazing!

I have really only spent time with my own goats, so can only compare temperaments amongst my own herd and my sister's herd of dairy goats. She's got Nubian, Alpine and Toggenburg. Her Nubians and my Nubian mixes seem pretty docile but easily riled up. The Boer seem to be very people oriented and easy to tame. My first impression of the Boer/Savannas was that the Savanna made them wild. I've had my doe for 2 years and I'm JUST NOW able to pet her and I'm convinced it's only because she kidded and was forced to endure my presence for several straight hours.

However, I bought a Boer/Savanna buckling last year who was from the same farm as my doe and he was COMPLETELY wild just like she was. It took him no time at all to figure out that people are the source of yummy things and scratchy fingers. And my first Boer/Savanna kids are "in your pocket" tame.

So for my needs (easy keeper, rapid growth, meaty carcass, parasite resistant, good mother with good milk, and easy to handle) I'm totally sold on the Boer/Savannas.

Sorry... didn't mean to get that wordy! Oh, and I'm in Cass County. I could throw a rock into Kansas from my front porch if I didn't throw like a girl. (That's actually one of the few things that I DO do like a girl. LOL!) I'm about 45 minutes south of Kansas City.

Take care,
Teresa :-)