Average Age Prime-Retirement

[GoldenTreePackGoats]

I saw a post on social media of someone wondering what the average age is for a packer in their prime, and what the average age leading to retirement of packing is? Obviously it will vary greatly goat to goat but what is your experiences?

[Nanno]

A packer in their prime would be 4-8 years old. Retirement would probably not come until 12-13 years old or more. I remember that Cuzco started to slow down a bit when he was 9 years old, meaning he couldn't keep up with my horses on trail rides any more, and he started having trouble jumping into the truck without a step. I was told at the time that this is the age to expect them to start slowing down. However, Cuzco did not retire until he was 14 years old. Clay Zimmerman has had goats go much longer than that, but his probably stay in better condition than most goats because of the mileage they do every year.

[GoldenTreePackGoats]

Interesting. My first goat seemed to act a little older at the age of 9 too.

[Perry]

For several of my  pack goats, retirement age has been around 12 years of age.

[IdahoNancy]

I am on my 2nd goat who is packing at 9 years old. He is packing well. His speed is good, he's got long legs but I keep his loads lighter than I use to. So far of my 3 original large oberhasli's they all have had orthopedic problems at this age with hips or knees. Cruzer the last one of the 3 will likely be the longest lived. The other 2 did not stop until they literally dropped (fortunately at home).
I remember Nanno's Cuzco was packing a stihl chain saw at the Island Park Rendy, I think he was 12 years old.