The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Goats => Topic started by: Violetsprite on March 06, 2012, 07:35:40 pm

Title: Ageing goats by condition of horns?
Post by: Violetsprite on March 06, 2012, 07:35:40 pm

Do goats horns generally appear & develop at the same age irrespective of breed/sex? I'm trying to work out the age of 2 pygmies - there are said to be 1 year old but their horns look quite narly (?) and worn in places. Teeth all ok so not very old but i have 2 young goats around 1 year old and they only have bumps for horns & mum had horns so was expecting them. If mine are anything to go by though these 2 pygmies must be older than a year. Anyone know?? Thanks

Title: Re: Ageing goats by condition of horns?
Post by: Brucklay on March 06, 2012, 09:03:20 pm

In my experience, girls are different from boys - girls horns develop slower and not as large even if the boy are castrated. I also have castrated boys with large, medium and medium minus size horns - so all in all I would say it pretty difficult to tell their age from the horns - some like rubbing their horns more and then get wee nicks/gnarly bits

Title: Re: Ageing goats by condition of horns?
Post by: colliewoman on March 06, 2012, 09:15:45 pm

Enid was born in April 2010, She's the white one so i don't know if comparing horns with her would help?

(http://i1194.photobucket.com/albums/aa363/missus-snow/beasties006.jpg)

Hopefully you can see her horns ;D

Title: Re: Ageing goats by condition of horns?
Post by: little blue on March 06, 2012, 09:52:56 pm

I would think that their overall "condition" would also impact on the horn growth - as in any changes in health, welfare, diet etc can make the horn growth change rate.
Are they 'rescues' or just of uncertain age?

Title: Re: Ageing goats by condition of horns?
Post by: Violetsprite on March 07, 2012, 08:30:26 am

Little blue - they are now in their 3rd home that i know of - sold to possibly their 2nd home as year old - then re-homed about 6-9 months later due to inexperienced owner unable to keep in garden full of rhodos (apparently the boy survived rhodo poisoning - how likely is that - suppose that might make your horns go gnarly!!) ...

Title: Re: Ageing goats by condition of horns?
Post by: wytsend on March 07, 2012, 08:49:42 am

check the teeth..... do they have a "full" mouth  viz:  6 permanent teeth on the bottom jaw instead of baby teeth.

If a full mouth,they are likely to be at least 2yrs old probably nearly 3yrs.

Goats teeth change like a horse..... shed baby teeth as the permanent ones grow in.   Permanent teeth are much bigger & obvious.

Title: Re: Ageing goats by condition of horns?
Post by: little blue on March 07, 2012, 05:55:47 pm

poor little chaps....