cross breeding

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I have a saanen doe, purebred. I have a purebred Nubian buck. What are the pros and cons or breeding these two? What could I expect from the off spring? Thankyou, sissy

-- Sissy Barth (iblong2Him@ilovejesus.net), March 12, 2002

Answers

Temprament and vocal qualities will vary. Offspring should be large, with good milk production, decent butterfat, cream white color, and airplane ears. As far as crossbreds go, I think this is one of the better crosses.

-- Rebekah (daniel1@itss.net), March 12, 2002.

Sissy, if you don't have a market for either purebred Nubian or purebred Saanen than the loss of revenue from crossing isn't a big deal. Like LaMancha ears, some folks won't want airplane ears either. They will definetly be goats only a mother will love :) The difference in price between purebred to grade/experimental here, simply doesn't make it worth the gamble. For true homestead type goats, breeding the Nubian into your saanen should give you higher butterfat, so better tasting milk, the cross of any two breeds will also give you that wonderful hybrid vigor, which means less grain for more milk, less sickness with good care, and vigorous growth. Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh TX (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), March 12, 2002.

Sorry Vicki, I thought the doe was already bred by this buck! :) I guess you could still cross them, but yes, I would be more inclined not to if she's not right now. Do you have a bunch of Nubian does to go with the buck? If you do and there is no good quality Saanen buck nearby, there could definitely be worse crosses. Hey, La Manchas cross well with Saanens too,(ever wonder why so many La Manchas are white?).

-- Rebekah (daniel1@itss.net), March 12, 2002.

My first 6 does were saasan nubian crosses and they were some very good goats. The friend that found them for me always said they had alot of milk behind them and they did. I still have one of the original girls because she is to mean for anyone else and she gives so much milk. Beside airplane ears always kinda make me giggle.

-- sherry (chickadee259@yahoo.com), March 12, 2002.

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