Agonistic Behavior (antagonistic)
Bucks engage in a form of rearing and butting in order to establish dominance for the formation of a flock hierarchy. While animals such as sheep approach each other and butt head on, goats stand about 4 to 6 feet apart, then rear up so that their body is at right angles to their opponent, with their head turned and facing toward the opponent. They then pivot and lunge forward and down to the ground, coming together in a sharp crack. This difference between sheep and goat behavior enables the two to be kept together with little conflict between them.
The establishment of a social hierarchy among the bucks results in the selection of the dominant (alpha) buck, who is responsible for flock safety and the breeding of the does. The other bucks in the flock, because they do not breed, are peripheral males or ‘social castrates’. If the buck is not fertile or of low fertility, then the flock kidding rate will be low, even though several fertile bucks may be available.