We charge that much to encourage people not to sell him for slaughter. Charging that much makes it very unlikely they can sell for slaughter at a profit.
Plus you want to take off their balls. You leave them on they start urinating on themselves when they reach maturity at about 6 months. Then they stink. STINK!! You only want bucks around intact that you want to breed, otherwise several of them will overwhelm you with their stench.
We don't like to de-horn either. I can understand why people do it, but as small as my herd is, and is going to stay (12 will be our top size), the advantages of leaving thier horns on out weighs the risks of injury. Especially since coyote are so prevelant around here.
Even when we do de-horn we do it ASAP, and with the paste. Burning is too cruel. I'll never burn horns off. If burning is my only option they will keep their horns.
