Comparing Kiko-Nubian to Pure Nubian Wethers
Friday, January 24, 2025
Kiko-Nubian cross buckling
Purebred Nubian retained as breeding stock
We make absolutely no secret around here that we raise goats as a food source. Any animal that produces milk can be used as a source of dairy products and any animal that produces offspring can be used to make meat for human consumption. Along the lines of the philosophy that there are no unwanted animals produced in breeding livestock, we have appalled people when we admitted that we've happily consumed the sons of Elite bucks and Top Ten and Elite does. At the end of the day, there are no 'extra' or 'unwanted' animals here, they are simply valued for different traits, qualities or characteristics. Most years, we are sold out, but we always keep an eye on the dual purpose heritage of our Nubian goats and we sell animals for meat and as breeding stock. Does are evaluated for how much milk they give to 'the house' and how large they grow their offspring.
Fun numbers:
Kiko-Nubian singleton buck 147 days old, weaned when he started to mount doelings at around 4 months old (others didn't last that long before they started trying to mount), weighed in at 49.4 pounds. Dam was a first freshener.
Purebred Nubian wether, one of triplets, left with dam until 151 days old when he weighed in at 66.8 pounds. He never had access to grain, but definitely would have been rounded up with the dairy does until he was a few months old for higher quality hay at night.
This is why we appreciate our dual purpose Nubians. We wouldn't have the 'meat' breeds at all if we weren't selling off the Nubians and rarely ever having anything suitable for slaughter. This Nubian was wethered because he was a G6S carrier. One wether a year isn't even enough to satisfy our next door neighbor, let alone the others that come along wanting goats to eat. (This was a few years ago when we still had G6S carriers in the herd, now we have only G6S normal goats with the possible exception of a buck we have yet to test).
Further notes: Nubian wether was wethered after G6S results came in, not terribly young.
Studies show that weight gain is faster and higher in intact males. However, that is predicated on exact same management, regardless of castration status. We leave the wethers with their dams and that extra time on milk matters.
Most likely, a meat goat will wean her kids and dry up in 3-5 months after kidding, so dairy and dual purpose animals that are bred to remain in milk are obviously a key component to higher weight gain.
Bottom line is that you want bucks intact as long as possible for max growth, but you want him on milk as long as possible for max growth as well. You can castrate at any age, so use that information to your best advantage.
