Major advice please!!!!

1262 Views 20 Replies 8 Participants Last post by 2-Lranch, Nov 23, 2013

maciewhitehorn

Discussion Starter · Nov 21, 2013

So... Dec. 4th my friend gets her check for showing her market pig. We both want to do boers this year and I'm wondering what size should the pens be? We're having two. Also should we get boer kids OR there's a herd that's about 1 years old. They're not very heavy. Help!

1 - 20 of 21 Posts

BCG

· #2 · Nov 22, 2013

Glad to hear more kids are showing Boers!

You'll definitely want to get kids. Most shows won't allow anything with yearlings teeth show in market classes.

Their pen should be big enough that they can run around and get some exercise, but be a dry lot so that you can fully control their feed intake. To keep them happy, put a box or stump or something in the middle they can climb on.

Good luck with your project.

Scottyhorse

· #3 · Nov 22, 2013

I agree with the above. Make sure to find out when your fairs are, too. That way you can buy the kid at a certain time (usually December or January) so the goat is 8-10 months old for fair.

maciewhitehorn

Discussion Starter · #4 · Nov 22, 2013

Thank you, BCG and ScottyHorse!!! Our fair is usually in early November so im thinking if i get them somewhere in December they'll be about 11 months by fair time. Any ideas on feed?

wildegoats0426

· #5 · Nov 22, 2013

If your fair is in November you'll want a feb-April born kid. I would wait to get one. Once they start getting older they will get stale. I have been showing wethers for years and help students on TGS. But usually I start with a show feed and feed something like barley to get them fat then add proteins and start running them really hard 6-8 weeks before show

maciewhitehorn

Discussion Starter · #6 · Nov 22, 2013

I was looking at the thread with Emilieanne and im thinking of purina show chow also there are some that are at a farm close that i want to get, they're about two weeks i suppose

maciewhitehorn

Discussion Starter · #7 · Nov 22, 2013

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emilieanne

· #8 · Nov 22, 2013

Lemme jump in here Mae

Quick question for y'all,
If one of them gets a breeding boer doe not doeling, would that be good?
Also, what do y'all think about this buckling:

Dog Carnivore Dog breed Fawn Companion dog

He's reserved for me but I want opinions.

Also, our fair doesn't care about goats so they're not crazy about checking milk teeth. Buuuuut someone has said the minimum weight is 50 lbs and max is 80, that doesn't sound right, does it??

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kccjer

· #9 · Nov 22, 2013

Max weight sounds low. ..should be closer to 120 if they are putting a max. I agree to wait. They may not be crazy about goats and you may think they aren't going to check but that can backfire on you. Ideally your market animal should be 6-8 months...

emilieanne

· #10 · Nov 22, 2013

We had 80% of them be 9 months.
Hmm.
I'll call the fair office when I get home.
Thank you

kccjer

· #11 · Nov 22, 2013

Yep...I was wrong...6 at the youngest and up to 9 or 10. But I think you're pushing the limit at 10.

BCG

· #12 · Nov 22, 2013

Even if the goat super or the judge doesn't check teeth, the packer that ends up with the animals will, and that will come back to you and your fair. It's a bad idea, and if there is a rule, which I'm sure there is, it would be morally wrong for you to take an animal over a year old.

I would recommend getting a kid no older than 10 months at fair time. It really depends on genetics too. Talk to your breeder. Some grow faster/slower than others. I know breeders that have kids hit 100# at 6 months old, mine don't get there until 9-10 months. Ideally, you want them to hit their peak maturity at fair. If they get there before fair, they will handle stale.

As for your max at fair, it's possible. I have sold to fairs with low max weights before. Usually it is an issue with the packer taking the goats after fair. Either way, you need to check on that and make sure you know all the rules.

The buckling is nice. What would you want him for? Breeding or cut him for market?

Lastly, if you want a goat now, yes....get a breeding doe or a doeling. You can show her now and for as long as you like.

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maciewhitehorn

Discussion Starter · #13 · Nov 22, 2013

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emilieanne

· #14 · Nov 22, 2013

BCG said:
Even if the goat super or the judge doesn't check teeth, the packer that ends up with the animals will, and that will come back to you and your fair. It's a bad idea, and if there is a rule, which I'm sure there is, it would be morally wrong for you to take an animal over a year old. I would recommend getting a kid no older than 10 months at fair time. It really depends on genetics too. Talk to your breeder. Some grow faster/slower than others. I know breeders that have kids hit 100# at 6 months old, mine don't get there until 9-10 months. Ideally, you want them to hit their peak maturity at fair. If they get there before fair, they will handle stale. As for your max at fair, it's possible. I have sold to fairs with low max weights before. Usually it is an issue with the packer taking the goats after fair. Either way, you need to check on that and make sure you know all the rules. The buckling is nice. What would you want him for? Breeding or cut him for market? Lastly, if you want a goat now, yes....get a breeding doe or a doeling. You can show her now and for as long as you like.

Well I'm doing two wethers. One for general sales to people and one for fair.

Scottyhorse

· #15 · Nov 22, 2013

I would wait. Get one now and it would really be pushing it.

wildegoats0426

· #16 · Nov 22, 2013

maciewhitehorn said:
I was looking at the thread with Emilieanne and im thinking of purina show chow also there are some that are at a farm close that i want to get, they're about two weeks i suppose

Purina show chow is a great feed. They have exclamation or impulse. I fed either, one comes in a textured feed also. I also like n-Timidator surefed

BCG

· #17 · Nov 22, 2013

emilieanne said:
Well I'm doing two wethers. One for general sales to people and one for fair.

The one that you're just raising to sell could be bought now, but you'll need a friend for him. Wait on your fair wether.

I also agree...Purina show chow is a good feed.

MsScamp

· #18 · Nov 23, 2013

emilieanne said:
Buuuuut someone has said the minimum weight is 50 lbs and max is 80, that doesn't sound right, does it??

That's about right for our fair. I don't show, but I know people whose kids do and I've been told that 4-H goats have to be born in the Jan to Feb range to show the latter part of August.

wildegoats0426

· #19 · Nov 23, 2013

Yeah normally the min is about 60lbs. I've never seen a max that low. We like the 95-100 pounders so if that was the case we couldn't show!

kccjer

· #20 · Nov 23, 2013

Our 80 pounders are absolutely not market ready which is what they are suppose to be at show time. Maybe 80 for a mini but not full size.

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