JavaScript is disabled. Providing a solid foundation during the first months of life can go a long way in preventing disease and weight loss in young goats once the weaning process has begun. To combat the stress that your goat kid will inevitably face during weaning, studies show that you should wait to wean until their weight increases to at least 2.5 times their initial weight at birth. This can help you keep records of approximately when certain goats were bred, and which goats were involved. Many goat owners do not attempt to breed doelings until they are at least 80% of their adult weight. Oh, I didn't know that. As we were taking care of those three, we were totally surprised and caught off-guard when a fourth suddenly shot out. Goats are hardy animal. Goat kids should also be dewormed at least 2 times before they are weaned to help prevent the spread of parasites going forward. Or, if you have someone show you how the first time, you can easily draw the blood yourself to save some time and money. However the most consistent decline in reproductive performance was noted after cows were 10 years of age. 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. Lift the skin (in the armpit of the goat) into a tent. Of course, retirement meant they went to live out their remaining years being bred each year but only to raise their kids. The Nigerian Dwarf goat breed is a little different than other goat breeds in the number of kids that can be born at one time. When I say "crayon", it's not the kind that your kids use to color in coloring books. 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. Putting a buckling apron on him can prevent an accidental inbreeding from occurring until you're ready to wean him. This crayon is a big thick rectangular piece of crayon. Colostrum provides baby goats with the immunity they will need to survive during the first months of their lives. However, it tends to be more expensive since it usually is performed by a trained vet technician. To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. As time goes on, they will no longer want milk and they will consume only solid foods and water. Bucks can be very determined when they want to breed, but a sturdy woven wire fence with electric wires on the top and sides will do the trick. A breeding or marking harness is a nylon or leather harness that straps around your buck's chest, and it has a big colored "crayon" that sits in the middle of his chest. You may also hear people refer to a male goat as a "Billy" goat, and a female as a "Nanny" goat. However, many goat owners do find the need to give does supplements before breeding. that is not good. happiness is a goat. Body weight relative . I have been told (by a friend and mentor) that spring is the best time for rabbit breeding. We bought her because she was the dominant goat and milks/births easily - a friendly starter goat, more or less. Stay tuned for the first newsletter in the morning, straight to your inbox. However, it's fairly common for a Nigerian Dwarf doe to deliver 3 or 4 kids, and sometimes 5. As mentioned before, attempt to look at the buck's mother and grandmother to check out their dairy qualities such as udder, teats, orifice size, etc. The goat will squirm and bleat a little. By 1-2 years goats are fully matured. Never let your goats do everything whatever they wish and don't allow them to think that 'they are above you in the herd's pecking order'. However, you will want to stop milking and dry her up about 2 months before she freshens and kids again in order to let her body rest and recuperate. My neighbor had a ten year old goat that had triplets , but she died within a few days of kidding. Oh no poor thing and poor babies to lose their momma so early. This accelerates when he smells a doe in heat nearby. 3. Monitor their weight if you are concerned and consult a vet if you feel like they are losing too much weight. 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. (source). Be sure to separate bucks and does if you don't want them breeding. Coverage should be increased during spring breeding to 3-4% (1 ram to 25-33 ewes). During the fall, the endocrine system also increases levels of the sex hormones,testosterone and luteinizing hormone (Ritar,1990). Wild goats include the ibex and markhor. Kiko goats are pregnant for 155 days. This allows us to grow our herd faster, while avoiding inbreeding. How Much Do Chickens Weigh? The process of weaning, along with the kid's weight and age, will play significant roles in its ability to fight off illnesses and thrive well into adulthood. With the exception of the fryers, aged animals here become weed wackerskeeping the fence line clear is an important job. However, there is a huge variation of when she will actually come into heat and potentially become pregnant. You may want to limit these seeds for bucks, however. By having your doe give birth less often, you can possibly produce more kids faster. If you do that, you will never know when they are being bred, so you will never know when kids are coming so you can be prepared. Not only that, people have found that if you retire your doe after she reaches about 10 years of age, it can increase her lifespan to 20 years or longer. Just be careful - it will accentuate bad qualities also. However, many breeds and species of goat are living longer and longer lives as they are adopted into good and loving homes. As the photoperiod, or day length, gets longer, less sperm is made and moreabnormal sperm cells are found in the semen. Consider Mineral Supplements. Coffee's Ready, Come and Sit on the Porch, Frustratedearthmother's Journaling Journey, Member's "Self Sufficient Living" Journals. You will learn that a buck tends to stink a lot. There are multiple ways to tell if your doe is pregnant. Sometimes a doe needs to be taken to the buck on a lead (leash) and held so the buck can mount her. Once a buck reaches 2 year of age, he can probably service up to 20 or 30 does. Sometimes it may be because the doe is young, has never been bred before and is nervous about the process. However, somewhere between 60 and 90 days of age is most common for weaning baby goats. On average, the goat breeding age is from 10 to 12 months old. Weaning is the vital and necessary process of switching a young mammal from a liquid to a solid food diet. This is usually a nylon or leather harness that you strap around the chest of your buck. document.write(new Date().getFullYear()) All rights reserved. On a related note, if you're milking your doe, you can continue milking her even while she's pregnant. This squirts the supplements directly into her throat so she can't spit them back out. If you put a buck and doe together when the doe is in heat, sometimes the doe will run away rather than breeding. If does are bred twice a year, kids should be weaned at 2-3 months of age. Then, when you wean, you will remove the mother or other goats from the pen instead of moving the baby. Here, the kids can nurse whenever they want while developing a strong maternal bond. No wonder it takes a lot more does to get the job done. Multiply that weight by 2.5. The best plan is to watch the calendar while also monitoring the kids growth and food consumption. 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. Goat Management (Dairy, Meat, Record Keeping), http://www.extension.org/pages/19565/goat-reproduction, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/en:Creative_Commons. A commercial dairy in California (Alpines) had a standing age of "10" for their does to retire. Also, you can't always trust other herd owners, even though they swear their herd is tested and disease-free. Remember, there may be a short period immediately following weaning where the kid may lose a little weight due to the shock of weaning. Nutrient Requirements. When I feed our bucks and they come near me, I almost have to hold my nose, and I move out of the way so their nasty faces don't touch my clothing. Then, I pick up the goat, step on the scale and measure the weight of myself and the goat together. 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. Starting at the age of 50 days to 120 days is the weaning age for goats. If the goat is older than 5 weeks using a knife will cause less bleeding. And, they've never been bred at all. However, just because they can breed young doesn't mean that they should. This isn't a necessity though as long as the goat keeps it clean. You can get a vet to draw the blood. It's sweet and rich but not heavy and is very easy for our body to digest. 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. Access Goat Breeding Resources. If you were careful to record the approximate date the doe was bred, you can be prepared around kidding time to help the new kid or kids enter the world safely. For example, the "Alpine" type breeds which originated from colder climates, including LaMancha, Saanen, Alpine, Oberhasli and Nubian, will pretty much only breed during the typical goat breeding season which runs from August to December each year. Ram lambs (7-12 months) should be used at the same coverage rate (3-4%) during the fall breeding season and used . Be careful not to breed your goats at too young of an age. This phase of the reproductive cycle may last between 12 to 36 hours. Joined Apr 19, 2012 You can have too many kiddings to handle properly, and with kids being born at bad times (eg, during the freezing cold of Winter) So how do you keep goats from breeding? Puberty is reached when the female exhibits her first heat (estrus)andovulation. This is the weight they will need to reach before you begin weaning them off of milk. Bucks are funny when they're in rut. But they are fairly easy to pick up. And does are also capable of breeding young. What age do yo normally stop breeding your does and what do you do with them when they are to old? The shorter days can signify to the animals that it's time to get busy if they want those spring babies. Regardless of which method you choose, your goat kid should be living in a weaning pen, away from their moms or the bottle, within a short period of time. Of course, it depends on your personal preference. The answer is "No". Does should never be housed with bucks on a regular basis. (source). 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. You can gradually reduce the milk access until they are completely off it. If your old goat is struggling to keep its weight balanced, breeding from him/her again may be a bad idea. 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. How long can you breed a goat in this situation? If you want to be safe, it's suggested that you skip a doe's first breeding season, and plan to start having her first kids with the second breeding season, to be sure she has reached her full adult growth potential first. So, we simply use a regular bathroom scale. The heat may last anywhere from a few hours to a few days. The buck is super-fast when it happens. When a goat kid begins to reach the two-month mark, make sure that you are offering them a goat kid starter food. You can shorten the interval between kindling and breeding as you gain experience. Goat kids that are being weaned may lose weight in the days immediately following separation from their milk. When a buck is in "rut" he will attempt to attract a doe by urinating all over his own legs, beard and face, and even in his mouth. At 1 year of age, the buck should service no more than 10 does at a time (inonemonth). Before you wean any goat kid, you should take a few precautionary steps first. Many commercial rabbit producers will breed does back 14 to 21 days after kindling. Beginning with the proper type of goats will save you lots of future headaches. If the goat's weight is below 24 pounds or you should have at least 20 pounds to stop weaning. A Toggenburg goat is pregnant longer than the average gestation period. After that, it will take the doe many months to finish what the buck started. Bucks can breed, but they also take on some problematic behaviors that might not be a good fit for your setup. Here's my two cents: For the record, most of my experience comes with Pygmy goats who tend to live a long time. May 8, 2019 #2 Hens and Roos Herd Master. I'm not aware of cases where eight or more have been born alive, but it probably happened somewhere in the world, I'm sure. This ensures that they are together for at least a couple of cycles. Does with longer gestational period can be pregnant for up to six-and-a-half months. Pellet feeds are not enough, goats need grass or hay to balance their diets and keep their digestive systems working properly. Clip the belly hair on bucks. If you choose to "retire" your doe at some point, you will need to keep her away from bucks for the rest of her life. Also, don't turn your back on a buck in rut. Goats can often suffer from a deficiency of Copper, Selenium and Vitamin E which can lead to serious health problems. Fainting goats usually make fabulous mothers, taking care of and nurturing their young. A doe can often reach the safe goat breeding weight by around 8 months old or so. The doe will remain in heat for 12 to 36 hours. Breeding can be exhausting on bucks and does because they're constantly awake, alert, excited and active at all times of day or night while they are in estrus or rut. Test for CAEV. Most dairy goat breeds are seasonal breeders, such as my full-size Nubian goats. Lambs typically weigh around 9 pounds when they are born. The weaning process is meant to be gradual, not a sudden switch overnight, if possible. Because a doe's body isn't prepared to grow and deliver a kid safely until she reaches a certain body weight, which is usually 60-70% of an adult doe's typcial body weight. Breeding only takes a few seconds for the buck. This is especially true of Nigerian Dwarf goats which can breed any time year-round. When he is 2 years old, heshould be able toservice 25 does ata time. We will monitor how well they are able to take care of their kids(weight/growth) plus what their condition looks like while nursing the kids and after the kids are weaned. Just be patient. We supplement our doe's nutrition with additional supplements during breeding season, sometimes using a Drencher, also known as a Drench Syringe. Of course, that's approximate, and we have often had kids born many days earlier than that, as well as many days later in some cases. Some Nubians will breed year-round. If she's not prepared for that, it can be life-threatening. The burdizzo method crushes the spermatic cord. You'll want to get familiar with goat breeding-related terminology as well. Goats live an average of 8-14 years, depending on breed. Goats of this breed usually have a butcher weight of approximately 25 to 40 pounds (11 to 18 kilograms). Goat kids are known to cry and search for their moms or for the bottle once you separate them from their milk source. Otherwise, typical lifespan is up to about 12 years. With this, you measure the goat's "heart girth", wrapping the tape around your goat's chest just behind the front legs. Therefore, it's critical to make sure that buck has the kind of strong, desirable conformation that you want to see being developed in your entire goat herd. Normal labour may take one to three hours. Sometimes this is due to the fact that the apron chest strap was too tight or too loose. A doe can reach puberty and be ready to conceive in as little as 4 to 12 months of age. Goats having sextuplets (six) in a single litter have made it into the Guinness Book of World Records more than once. For example, the oldest goat ever reached 22 years and 5 months old! Generally in normal condition, a goat can survive for about 12 to 14 years. I know that sounds early, but it's totally possible! Many goat owners recommend weaning goat kids between 2 and 3 months old. (source). You are using an out of date browser. Just by letting a doe smell the rag, this can sometimes trigger her to come into heat. As early as 6-8 weeks of age! Also consider giving your goats a "Copper Bolus" for extra copper. A normal heat cycle is 21 days, but the actual range is more like 18 to 25 days. For miniature goats, like Nigerian Dwarf goats which can average up to about 60 or 70 lbs for a typical adult, a doe should be at least 60-70% of that (around 40 lbs) before you allow her to breed. It may not display this or other websites correctly. By 2 years old goats stop growing physically with no more physical milestones to hit. Putting a buck and doe together for a short time (on a "date") will allow you to know when breeding occurs. You must log in or register to reply here. Estrus, or heat, is the period in which the doe will stand and allow the buck to breed her. Some are more reliable than others. The period from one heat cycle to the next is referred to as the estrous cycle. Once you know your goat's approximate kidding date, the next step will be for you to get ready for the new baby goats that are coming. Signs of heat can be wagging the tail, mounting other does, letting other does mount her, fighting, clear (wet or dried) mucosal discharge from her vagina, or yelling (bleating) for no reason. I have an 8 yr old who just had triplets. we breed from the day they could breed, until about age 7. when goats are older you get more and more floppy kids. If you suspect this illness, consult a vet immediately and separate your sick goats as soon as possible. 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. Does that are in heat may exhibit signs of mucous discharge from the vulva, swollen vulva, bleating, frequent tail wagging, pacing down the fence line and standing in heat. to be weaned and prepare for the journey ahead. However, it is advisable to breed them after they reach the age of 9 to 10 months. Thread starter Jesusfreak101; Start date May 8, 2019; May 8, 2019 #1 . Goat kids should be weaned when their birth weight increases to a specific amount, usually sometime between 2 and 3 months old. A steeper decline in reproductive performance was found as they became 12 years of age. 2. However, sometimes it may not be practical for you to keep bucks separated. The Complete Guide to Choosing Dairy Goat Stock, 18 Important Health Questions To Ask When You Buy Dairy Goats, 23 Reasons Why You Should Raise Goats in Your Homestead, Suckling and the Vital Importance of Colostrum for Goat Kids, Goat Milk Uses: 23 Genius Ideas to Use Goat Milk in Your Everyday Life, Basic Goat Care Management Responsibilities for New Goat Herd Owners. Do a fecal analysis and/or deworm. When my daughter got her goats, she had planned on breeding them, but it never happened. Disclosure. A ratio of 20 to 30 does per buck is typically recommended for best results. Simply put, a wether goat is a male goat that has been castrated already. Yearling kids may be bred in the first year at 7-10 months of age, depending on breed, if they have grown well to about 80 lb. We gradually increase this period of separation until we're ready to wean. May 6, 2011. But, as I mentioned before, you may decide to use a larger number of bucks if you want more genetic diversity in your herd. The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user. What age to stop breeding does. The groups of nutrients that are essential in goat nutrition are water, energy, protein, minerals and vitamins. Sometimes goats won't breed during the day when they have an audience, but will do it when it's dark. Next, let's look at how goat breeding works exactly. It's logical if you think about it. Excessive Tail Wagging. 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. If you blink your eyes, you might miss it. On this page, you can find information on goat reproduction and genetics. Some people refer to this as "driveway breeding". Also, we have noticed that our does don't seem to get the same level of milk production in hotter months, compared to cooler months. For really small kids that were just born, we sometimes hang them in a little harness hanging from a spring scale on the ceiling to get a more accurate weight. These does come into season (into heat) approximately every 21 days from late summer until January or so. One sure sign that your doe is in heat and ready to be bred is when she shows evidence of "Standing Heat". For example, Nigerian Dwarf goats typically average more kids than that with each birth. A buckling should probably not be castrated before he's 10 weeks old, or you may increase the risk he could have problems with urinary calculi (occurs when his urethra gets blocked and the pee can't get out), which can be fatal. The great thing about an ultrasound is that it can sometimes detect how many kids are going to be born. I step on the scale and measure my own weight. Most breeding occurs in late summer through early winter. That way, they'd at least have the horses for company. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Be sure not to reintroduce them to their mothers too soon after weaning. Many bucks have been able to actually breed a doe through the openings in a fence and get her pregnant. The average is two. Kids born in hotter months thrive less and have greater health problems. Goat blubbering and tongue flapping are just behaviors goats wxhibit when they're feeling their hormones. This will help ready them for the weaning stage. Does that are 'retired' from breeding around age 10 live longer, up to the age of 16 - 18 years. This is something a male goat often does during breeding season when he's in "rut". If you miss one heat, there will be another one coming around again shortly. 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. The criteria you look for will be different if you are breeding dairy goats, versus breeding goats for meat, for fiber (Cashmere or Mohair), for pets or for other purposes. What Age Can a Baby Goat Leave its Mom? When using a buck to breed your does, always make sure the buck is healthy and exhibits excellent conformation to the breed standards. This serves for supporting their maintenance and growth during weaning when milk in their diet is absent. 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. One might also wonder, "At what age can you breed a Boer goat?" Depending on their age and breed, some goats can produce milk for up to 2 years or more if milked daily. Reading Time: 5 minutes BREED: The Nigerian Dwarf goat is an American breed developed for small-scale dairy production and companionship.. To decide when to do your goat breeding, determine the ideal kidding time you want to aim at. Heat occurs in a doe about every 21 days, and can last 12 to 48 hours. They get very aggressive during rut and will do just about anything to reach a doe for breeding. They are serviceable even for up to 12 years in exceptional cases, and up to 14 years in rare cases. Terms: Buck: Male Goat Proper goat breeding starts with picking the right goats. 2. A friend of mine retires hers at 10 yrs old. Our Nigerian Dwarf doe, a few moments after giving birth to twins.