I've heard that a million times. I just don't agree with that answer.jodief100 said:I have been asked a lot- what is the difference between inbreeding and line breeding? The answer is, if you get positive results, it is line breeding, if you get negative results it is inbreeding.
Actually, for a "homestead" farm, I agree with what the vet said about it being OK to breed a grandparent to a grandkid. I think at minimum any farm that is trying to be self sustaining should have at least two bucks and breed a doeling back to her grandsire.TigerLily Trail Ranch said:Id always heard that difference between line & inbreeding is that line refers to breeding goats or any animal for the matter that both go back to one or more relatives in so many generations (lets say 4). When you go more than so many generations back a common relative isnt, or rather shouldnt be, close enough to bring out bad traits, but thats just how ive heard it. An example of inbreeding within this type of understanding is parent/kid, siblings 1/2 or full, or cousins (same as siblings) with parent/kid & the fulls being the big no no. I personally am not a huge fan of sibling or cousin line breeding (1/2 included) but right now ive got 2 kids around 4 months old, they have the same sire, & both appear to be really good quality so crossing them wouldnt bother me as much if they stayed as impressive as they are now.
It wasnt me that asked a vet but rather a friend . I believe what vet meant by "safe zone" was that that is the closest you can get before risking bringing out serious issues healthwise. So far I havent seen a whole lot that proves this except for maybe what happened with an accidental mother son breeding that involved a jr buck jailbreak with a 50% chance said doe was bred by one of her sons. Anyways she had buck doe twins & the buckling I just got an off vibe from the moment he was born. Never showed or gave any indicators of being ill, but I found him dead at 2 weeks old with no apparent COD. He was just flat out under 1/2 a large dog house I put out so the kids have a safe area. All legs straight out or slightly bended & his eyes were open. He was never necropsied though so it could have been inbreeding or a fluke. Its just funny that it happened the time the doe accidently mixed with her boys & 2 others that arent related.
The emphasized text:frustratedearthmother said:I have line bred Pygmy goats extensively for over a dozen years. I started with good goats and have mostly seen improvement for generation after generation. My goats have done well in the show ring for years. I'm not saying they have all been winners - I have bred a dud or two - but they taste good. If you are going to line breed you wil do best if you are serious about culling. The few that I've culled have not had any genetic anomalies, they just didn't live up to the pygmy breed standard.
I concentrated on a family of does who had easy births and I have virtually eliminated kidding problems from my herd. That's a big deal in the Pygmy world. It also might also have something to do with kicking them out of the barn and making them work for a living out in the pasture. After these many years the one thing I have noticed is that in the last couple of generations my goats are maturing at a smaller size. Still no kidding problems, but an overall smaller goat.
I have, this year acquired another buck. I got him from folks who bought goats from me and his lineage goes back to my herd although it is at least 5 generations back.
I'm anxious to see what happens with him. My fear however, is that the dreaded dystocia will pop up again.... Nothing to do but try and see.