Posted by Vicki McGaugh on March 30, 2001 at 07:39:52:
In Reply to: Re: polled goats posted by melissa on March 30, 2001 at 07:03:31:
Actually this is just a case of a little bit of information being dangerous! But great for your friend! Lots of goat folks, especially those of the nanny and billy trade, think that if a goat doesn't have horns (polled) they are infertile.
Also lots of swiss breeders will not agree with the polled to polled, hemaphrodite information. I have seen them arguing that point. But yes, the information that is quite commonly told is to never use a buck that is polled on a doe that is polled or the kid has a good chance of being a hemaphrodite which is a he/she, carrying some of both sexes, usually not enough of either one to breed. My very first doe from the auction barn was named Hot Lips, because she blubbered with he lips. (how green was I, I didn't even know this was bucky behavior) Hotlips had a vulva, and a very small udder (upon learning more I found the udder to be teat-less and it was infact testicles) She was horned though so.....even horned does can be hemaphrodites. Upon close examination you can usually feel a small penis like protrusion up in the vulva, or their vulva will look small and immature compared to a doe her same size. Vicki