But for the doe, it involves a few seconds of mating, followed by many months of pregnancy, delivery, nursing and caring for her kids. You will want to plan the goat breeding so you don't have too many kids being born around the same time. At the age of five to seven years, the goats reach their peak efficiency. I step on the scale and measure my own weight. This is due to the fact that a doe's body simply reaches a point where the nutritional and other demands of that many kids is simply too much for her body to handle, while maintaining enough nutrition for herself to survive as well. May 6, 2011. Nutrition during goat breeding season is critical. Bloody or dark-colored loose stool is the main symptom of coccidiosis. The doe can be bred when she has reached 60 percent to 70 percent ofthe averageadult weight for her breed (80 pounds for an averageBoer doe for example). Southwestern Idaho. If you decide to wean goat kids by age, the process could start early as 28 days or later than 4 months. He will certainly watch out more closely around his goats. stressful task. Thread starter Jesusfreak101; Start date May 8, 2019; May 8, 2019 #1 . 70 days are required to wean goats. Follow label directions. The answer to the first question is that some goats have a breeding season, and some goats don't. Sometimes it may be because the doe is young, has never been bred before and is nervous about the process. Domesticated goats are descended . Most dairy goat breeds are seasonal breeders, such as my full-size Nubian goats. We're glad you're here! A friend of mine retires hers at 10 yrs old. Trim hooves. After age 3, he can probably handle twice that many. An upside to a buck apron is that by keeping the buck from peeing on himself, he won't get all stinky. Nannies give birth, usually to a single offspring, after moving to an isolated ledge; post-partum, they lick the baby dry and ingest the placenta. Does that are bred too early may haveproblems during kidding (dystocia kidding difficulty), and/or their future reproductive performance may be harmed. This can help you keep records of approximately when certain goats were bred, and which goats were involved. Goat Reproductive Failure Physiological Factors. Heat occurs in a doe about every 21 days, and can last 12 to 48 hours. Most goat breeders don't like keeping bucks around if they can avoid it. Many goat owners recommend weaning goat kids between 2 and 3 months old. Although they can come into puberty and breed does as early at 4 months of age, waitinguntil a buck is ayear of age to start using him for breeding is best. As her pregnancy progresses, a doe will often be tired and will look for a flat, cool surface where she can rest her big belly. Ewes usually give birth to either one or two lambs at a time. We keep them in an area where they are separated from the does until we want them to breed. There is no reason to wait this long. Many goat keepers have had a pregnant doe pass away during kidding because she was bred when too young and her body wasn't developed enough to carry kids to full term and deliver them. If the testicles are too large for that, and you need to castrate the goat, you'll need to have a veterinarian do it surgically. Although weaning goats can be stressful for all involved, mama goat, kid, and goat owner alike, there are some tips that you can follow to help keep your goat kids happy and healthy after weaning. and are of good size and condition. But, with larger numbers of kids, it's harder to tell exactly. That's plenty of time for a buck to get a doe pregnant. that is not good. Regardless of which method you use to determine if your doe is pregnant, the main point is that it's important to learn as much as you can. Estrus, or heat, is the period in which the doe will stand and allow the buck to breed her. On the other hand, if you keep them together for awhile you don't run the risk of missing the times when the doe is in heat. A young doeling will begin to come into heat at about 4 months old. Weaning a goat kid too early or This is important so you can calculate approximate kidding due dates on your calendar so you can be prepared. This serves for supporting their maintenance and growth during weaning when milk in their diet is absent. The shorter days can signify to the animals that it's time to get busy if they want those spring babies. A doe will not automatically stop ovulating at a certain age, like a human woman who reaches menopause. Lots of people have asked online if a urine test can be used to detect goat pregnancy, and whether they can just use a human pregnancy test kit from a drug store. Of course, we had also planned on keeping them out at the farm since we didn't really have room here, but 4-H wouldn't let her show them. In goats, the estrous cycle occurs every 18 to 24 days, or 21 days on average. Even if you are extremely careful to observe the breeding and calculate the gestation period, you will find that new kids can often arrive unexpectedly several days early, or several days late. Goats having sextuplets (six) in a single litter have made it into the Guinness Book of World Records more than once. It may sound kind of crazy, but it's better than not knowing when your new kids might be born. However, somewhere between 60 and 90 days of age is most common for weaning baby goats. In about ten minutes or so the bleeding will stop and the goat will up and moving again. To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. It's sweet and rich but not heavy and is very easy for our body to digest. Another less-permanent method to keep goats from breeding is to use a goat "anti-mating apron", or "buck apron". Ideally, goats should be a healthy weight before being bred, which older goats may have slightly more difficulty maintaining. If you end up owning several goats, and having kids born at different times, you can save a lot of time and errors by using a goat gestation calculator or goat gestation calendar to calculate your doe's exact kidding date. If you have multiple does coming into heat, you only need one buck available to breed with them. Okay, lets jump right into answering those common goat breeding questions and helping you get ready for your goat's breeding season. This will make your life a lot easier at kidding time, and will allow you to manage your goats for a healthier, happier herd. You may want to limit these seeds for bucks, however. Most goat gestation calculators online don't account for the fact that different goats have different gestation periods. However, intensive breeding programs may . Otherwise, if the testicles aren't too big yet, you will usually be able to castrate your goats yourself, after an experienced friend or vet shows you how the first time or two. But that can involved thousands of dollars. In those cases, there are some other choices to stop a buck from breeding. Goat kids should also be dewormed at least 2 times before they are weaned to help prevent the spread of parasites going forward. For does, it's been determined that a lack of proper nutrition can actually decrease a doe's chances of becoming pregnant. One exception is the Nubian breed. The answer is "No". Miniature goats can be bred at 7-8 months (or 45 lbs.) On the other hand, we prefer to keep several bucks around. Keep in mind that Mother Nature never follows an exact calendar or clock. Goat breeding is a subject you definitely need to understand if you're new to raising goats. Boer does can be bred at 6 months. Most goats breed easily when they are put together. You must log in or register to reply here. We gradually increase this period of separation until we're ready to wean. at 7 we would stop, take them to the sale or keep a few favs and put out to pasture to retire. On this page, you can find information on goat reproduction and genetics. Otherwise, typical lifespan is up to about 12 years. Beginning with the proper type of goats will save you lots of future headaches. Male goats can breed as young as 7 weeks old. Male Nigerian dwarf goats are about two feet tall, on average. For example, the oldest goat ever reached 22 years and 5 months old! This doesn't mean your goat can't give birth to more than that at one time. That's what I thought. This is something a male goat often does during breeding season when he's in "rut". The best plan is to watch the calendar while also monitoring the kids growth and food consumption. You will want to introduce them to the pen and possibly let them live there with their mother or other goats they are comfortable with, for a few weeks. This is normal and will fade with time. Lift the skin (in the armpit of the goat) into a tent. On a related note, if you're milking your doe, you can continue milking her even while she's pregnant. With AI you don't have to deal with the bucks. This means they can breed year-round! The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. The average lifespan of pygmy goats is 10 - 15 years. If you're not sure exactly when your doe got bred, at least make sure to notate the approximate date when she comes into heat. Bucks have the highest libido (sex drive), fertility, and semen quality and volume in late summer and fall, the same time that of the doe (Senger 1984; Wildeus, date unknown). Goat kids should be weaned when their birth weight increases to a specific amount, usually sometime between 2 and 3 months old. This ensures that they are together for at least a couple of cycles. Most goats are fall breeders and will come into heat during the months of September thru February. On the other hand "line breeding" is generally considered okay. A goat can absolutely breed if it's in poor body condition - but that doesn't mean you should let it. Let's take a look at the answers to both of those questions. Generally in normal condition, a goat can survive for about 12 to 14 years. we breed from the day they could breed, until about age 7. when goats are older you get more and more floppy kids. Birthing, Weaning, and Raising Young Sheep. (source). However, many goat owners do find the need to give does supplements before breeding. But for the breeds that breed year-round, the bucks are interested in breeding any time there's a doe in heat, regardless of the time of year. ORIGIN: Dwarf goats evolved in West and Central Africa, mainly in coastal countries with humid, sub-humid, or savanna climates.Known collectively as West African Dwarf goats (WAD), local types vary widely in size, body proportions, and coat colors. They are serviceable even for up to 12 years in exceptional cases, and up to 14 years in rare cases. Overall nutrition is important anyway, for both does in heat and bucks in rut, due to the extended, significant physical energy that goats burn up throughout the entire breeding season and process. The nutrient requirements of bucks, young goats and does with a high . There are times when a buck apron might be convenient. Like many other animals, humans included, goats have their own mating rituals. Information on the production basics for raising dairy and meat goats is included, as well. Next, let's look at how goat breeding works exactly. While some goats breed only during a certain season, some breeds of goats will breed constantly and breed year-round if you let them. A 35-day breed-back schedule is recommended. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. By having your doe give birth less often, you can possibly produce more kids faster. They sometimes will borrow or lease someone else's buck just to breed him with their does as a "stud buck", and then they return him back home. Nannies have gestation periods of 150 days. Fainting goats usually make fabulous mothers, taking care of and nurturing their young. Ram lambs (7-12 months) should be used at the same coverage rate (3-4%) during the fall breeding season and used . This is the weight they will need to reach before you begin weaning them off of milk. Dairy goats are usually seasonal breeders. At this age, goats can be used for meat, physical labor, and breading. This is a sign that will persist through a goat's entire estrus cycle and doesn't necessarily mean she's reached her standing heat phase. The ewe carries the lambs for about 5 months before they are born. Keep in mind, a doe CAN get pregnant even while she is still lactating. Knowing when a doe comes into heat, and knowing when she is bred by a buck, is important so you can be sure to start providing prenatal care at the right time. Under-feeding can lower her chances of getting pregnant and having kids and canalso reduce milk production after having kids.The genetic makeup of the animal also determines when puberty occurs in the female. The amount of time can differ depending on the breed. Plus whether they were used for milk production as well. In that case, you may not want to remove your buck from your does, and an apron can keep them from breeding until you're ready. However, the ideal time for banding baby goats is at a young age when he is 8 to 12 weeks of age to allow for maximum development so that their scrotum can fit the rubber band. We had one buck that was so desperate he tried to scale over a really high electric fence, got stuck and almost broke his leg. During the August-December breeding season, especially in late Summer and early Fall, goats have the highest fertility, as well as semen quality and volume. One tool that can help identify does that have been bred is a harness called a "breeding harness" or "marking harness". It's important to know because you need to be ready to help with the delivery, so you don't increase the risk of losing new kids if you're not there and there's a problem. Some are more reliable than others. This accelerates when he smells a doe in heat nearby. The male goat is called a buck or billy. If he is castrated, he is called a wether. Male goats up to 12 months of age are sometimes referred to as bucklings. Adult male goats can weigh anywhere between100 to 350 pounds, depending on their breed, health and nutritional status. A much cheaper option for larger goats that are hard to lift is to use a goat "Weigh Tape" or a regular measuring tape. This can often work well with goats because, when they breed, you will see that it only takes a few seconds and it's done. However, it tends to be more expensive since it usually is performed by a trained vet technician. While I'm addressing dairy goats in this . The process of weaning, along with the kids weight and age, will play significant roles in its ability to fight off illnesses and thrive well into adulthood. On the other hand, with a proper goat breeding strategy in place, you can reap the awesome benefits of a healthy, happy and more valuable herd of goats. A goat kid of either sex can be fertile at 7 weeks of age (though they should not be bred at that age). Access Goat Breeding Resources. It's usually best to keep the apron design simple, with a single strap. However, it's fairly common for a Nigerian Dwarf doe to deliver 3 or 4 kids, and sometimes 5. As time goes on, they will no longer want milk and they will consume only solid foods and water. They can survive for a long time. This means that constant urination on the goat's face and legs can irritate and burn the skin and even remove the hair in those areas due to the acid in the urine. Test for CAEV. For pneumonia, Mannheimia haemolytica and Pasteurella multocida vaccines are available and labeled for goats, sheep, and cattle. At what age do goats stop breeding? Once they reach 2-3 weeks of age, we start allowing the mother goats out to forage for a few hours each day, keeping the babies safe in their enclosure. solid foods. Nanny goats stand approximately 30 inches tall and Billy goats (or bucks) generally stand 35 inches tall. That way, they'd at least have the horses for company. We were elated when the third popped out. Toggenburg does are pregnant for 179 days. Usually about 6-12 inches tall is ideal. The story illustrates one reason you should castrate bucks unless you know they will be sold for meat: they outgrow their cuteness and become undesirable as pets. Most goat breeders try to track very carefully the exact date when a doe is bred so they can add the esimated pregnancy length (gestation period) and calculate when a new kid might be born. If you suspect this illness, consult a vet immediately and separate your sick goats as soon as possible. Our Nigerian Dwarf doe, a few moments after giving birth to twins. Regardless of whether you bottle-feed your baby goats or let your momma goats raise their babies on their own, the time to wean is the same. Male goats, called bucks or billys, usually have a beard. If she comes into heat, then you can place her with a buck to be bred. The number of does a buck can breed during the breeding season is often referred to as Buck Power (Noble, 2004). The most common way is to keep your bucks and does separated most of the time, and only put them together when you wish to do some intentional, controlled breeding. However, sometimes it may not be practical for you to keep bucks separated. Most goat breeders are careful to make sure they don't miss the chance to breed a doe during estrus, especially if they raise Alpine breeds that only breed during the goat breeding season. The weaning process may seem challenging and at times it can be, but if you are prepared for the journey and know how to determine the right time to wean your goat, you will do just fine. Once your new baby goats are on the way, and you're getting ready, you're going to want to know how many kids to expect.