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In
Defense
Of
The
Buck
by
Lydia
Hale
For
many
years,
I
have
been
distressed
by
the
wild
tales
and
misconceptions
that
are
spread
about
the
male
animal,
THE
BUCK.
I
would
like
to
bleat
out
a
few
of
my
observations
and
feelings
on
the
subject.
The
buck
is
an
indispensable
member
of
any
good
Pygmy
goat
herd.
Because
of
his
important
role
in
the
herd,
he
should
be
given
the
very
best
possible
care
in
feeding,
housing
and
companionship.
I
am
convinced
that
many
of
the
problems
that
occur
with
a
buck
are
created
by
keeping
him
separated
from
the
does,
alone
and
miserable.
Frustrated
and
bored,
a
buck
can
become
difficult
to
live
with.
I
do
not
recommend
keeping
a
buck
as
a
pet.
He
is
incredibly
strong
and,
despite
his
small
size,
his
urges
for
mates
and
food
are
great,
making
him
hard
to
handle
unless
his
keeper
uses
some
intelligence.
[.
.
.]
A
Pygmy
wether
can
be
a
good
companion
for
him
and
can
help
keep
the
buck’s
frustration
to
a
minimum.
A
buck
needs
a
firm
hand
and
a
gentle
touch
but,
given
that
extra
bit
of
love,
he
will
reward
you
with
his
loyalty
and
responsiveness.
Most
bucks
are
intelligent
and
seem
to
know
immediately
those
who
genuinely
care
for
them.
Young
children
should
not
be
given
a
buck
to
care
for,
and
under
no
circumstances
must
a
buck
be
teased
or
allow
to
play
butting
games.
Too
quickly,
such
games
turn
into
very
rough
play.
We
permit
no
visitors
to
touch
the
horns
of
any
of
our
goats.
Instead
we
encourage
then
to
lead
and
control
the
goats
by
their
collars.
Opinions
about
the
odor
of
bucks
vary,
and
I
have
had
many
a
heated
argument
about
it.
Personally,
I
do
not
find
this
odor
offensive;
I
greatly
prefer
it
to
other
barnyard
smells.
Ever
had
a
whiff
of
a
chicken
or
duck
pen
on
a
warm
summer’s
day?
And
how
about
rabbits?
If
the
Pygmy
buck’s
quarters
are
clean
and
he
has
access
to
plenty
of
fresh
air
and
outdoor
exercise
space,
you
will
find
very
little
to
complain
about.
With
a
buck,
good
management
is
essential,
but
even
more
important
is
liking
him.
For
a
long
time,
I
thought
we
had
just
been
lucky
to
have
three
bucks
of
exceptionally
good
nature,
but
having
met
several
other
bucks
lately,
I
realize
that
this
is
not
just
a
matter
of
luck.
Be
considerate
to
you
buck,
spend
some
quiet
time
with
him,
and
you
will
have
a
good
friend.
Excerpts
from:
Hale,
Lydia,
and
Ellen
Kritzman,
eds.
Pygmy
Goats:
Best
of
Memo
(1976-1981)
National
Pygmy
Goat
Association:
pp
31
This
document
is
for
informational
purposes
only
and
is
in
no
way
intended
to
be
a
substitute
for
medical
consultation
with
a
qualified
veterinary
professional.
The
information
provided
through
this
document
is
not
meant
to
be
used
in
the
diagnosis
or
treatment
of
a
health
problem
or
disease,
nor
should
it
be
construed
as
such.
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