Author Topic: Castrating Pygmy goats (Read 2551 times)

Susierw · « **on:** January 29, 2021, 07:23:12 pm »

Hi, I have acquired over the last year 8 young female pygmy goats, one young billy and a wether as his companion. I am planning to put the girls to the billy in May for September kids.

My questions is regarding castration of the male kids. I would want to castrate all of them as they are not registerable and are better for pets if they are not entire. I have a flock of Jacobs so used to banding the male lambs. I would like to do the same with the male kids but am unsure at what age to do them. There seems to be a lot of advice (mainly from the USA) that if you do them too early you end up with urinary problems and they need to mature before you band them. Also i presume they are so small that it might be difficult to find the testicles. On the other hand i thought in the UK banding needs to be done before a week old.

Advice would be welcome please.
Thanks

RCTman · « **Reply #1 on:** January 29, 2021, 08:05:43 pm »

Its against the law to rubber band castrate in the UK after a week old I'm sure.

Anke · « **Reply #2 on:** January 29, 2021, 08:25:10 pm »

Given the size of pygmies I personally would get them done by the vets surgically when they are a bit older. Are you also disbudding them or keep horned?

Susierw · « **Reply #3 on:** January 29, 2021, 09:46:02 pm »

I will keep them horned. I will have to speak to my vet in due course as they do not seem very au fait with goats. I would have no idea how much that is likely to cost and at what age one can do it.

Anke · « **Reply #4 on:** January 30, 2021, 01:46:12 pm »

Surgically they can do them at any age, but you have a lot longer to do it before they get smelly, however they will give them a general anaesthetic, usually gas and air works well for smaller goats (is what my vets use for disbudding). If your vet is not that happy doing it, I would ask around for another. The danger of "catching" the urethra is real in small goat kids. My vet rings male kids during disbudding when they are under.

Susierw · « **Reply #5 on:** January 30, 2021, 05:19:31 pm »

Thanks for the advice. I will speak to my vets. If you vet rings the kids when disbudding at what age are you doing that. Is it ok to band them at more than a week old if they are anaesthetised?

Anke · « **Reply #6 on:** January 30, 2021, 06:20:19 pm »

Quote from: Susierw on January 30, 2021, 05:19:31 pm

Thanks for the advice. I will speak to my vets. If you vet rings the kids when disbudding at what age are you doing that. Is it ok to band them at more than a week old if they are anaesthetised?

Sorry should have said I have got dairy goats, not pygmies. As far as I know it is illegal to band after 7 days, so vet will not be able to do it after that either, even with anaesthetic. Mine are disbudded at 4 days old.