As the days shorten in my neighborhood, the oppressive humidity that dominated our sweltering summer days finally gives way to crisp autumn evenings. It’s then that I retreat to my outdoor oasis, armed with a refreshing glass of wine and settling into a plush chair by the warmth of the fire pit. The ambiance is idyllic, allowing me to unwind just as… Suddenly, the tranquility is shattered by a chorus of distressed bleats echoing across our rural landscape.
My usually placid blue-eyed doe, Fancy, has begun her loud and insistent mating call, signaling to Pythagoras, our majestic buck, that breeding season has officially commenced.
As the temperatures drop outside, the goat world is thrust into high gear. You see, for these nimble creatures, fall and early winter represent prime breeding time.
The cacophony of sounds I’ve grown accustomed to may seem chaotic at first, but it signals the impending arrival of new life in the form of adorable goat kids.
While some might find the commotion jarring, I welcome the start of the breeding season as a harbinger of joy and renewal. So, grab your preferred beverage – perhaps a warm cup of coffee or tea, or even another glass of wine – and join me on this journey into the fascinating realm of goat breeding!
A Few Terms Related to Goat Breeding
When it comes to raising goats for milk, meat, or fiber production, proper breeding practices are crucial. One key aspect is understanding the different life stages of these animals and using precise language when researching or communicating about them. This foundation sets the stage for making informed decisions and achieving your goals in goat husbandry.
Kids
From birth, young goats are affectionately referred to as ‘kids.’ During this juvenile stage, male and female kids can coexist without the risk of unwanted breeding. Nevertheless, as they approach sexual maturity, goat owners must take measures to separate males and females to prevent premature breeding in females.
Doelings and Bucklings
Goats’ reproductive development is characterized by distinct stages, with male and female goats exhibiting different characteristics. Bucklings, which are sexually mature but not yet bred males, are a notable stage in goat development. Female goats, on the other hand, can reach reproductive maturity as early as 3-4 months of age. Nevertheless, it’s crucial to wait until they have attained at least 80% of their adult size and are 1-year-old or older for their overall health to thrive.
Yearlings, which are 1-year-old doelings ready for breeding, mark a significant milestone in female goats’ reproductive journey.
Wethers
In most cases, male kids that won’t be utilized for breeding purposes are neutered at around eight weeks old. These castrated males are referred to as wethers, and they can make excellent pets or companions for landscaping tasks. On the other hand, uncastrated males don’t typically make suitable pets, as a single mature buck can successfully service a herd of 25 does, regardless of age. Ultimately, most male goats end up being either wethered or used as a meat source.
Does and Bucks
As you begin breeding your doelings and bucklings, they develop into does and bucks – also known as nannies and billies in certain regions. Specifically, bucklings can mature into bucks capable of serving 2-3 does around six months old. By one year of age, this capacity expands to 10 does, and at two years old, you can expect them to service up to 25 does.
Accurate terminology is crucial for a successful breeding program, but it’s merely the foundation – there’s much more to mastering the art of breeding.
Breeding Stock
While maturity and physical growth may be essential for goats to become suitable breeders, it’s not the only consideration. The decision to breed goats should be based on a thorough evaluation of several key factors. These include considerations such as the intended use of the offspring, the genetic quality of the parent stock, the health and well-being of the does and bucks involved, and the overall suitability of the breeding operation for achieving your desired outcomes.
Purebred and Registered Goats
When seeking to breed and sell registered or purebred goats at a premium price, it’s crucial to ensure the sire goats are registered. While registration is a voluntary process, it’s not a guarantee that the goat you’re buying is a true representation of the breed. Each breed has its own set of standards for perfection, dictating factors such as size range, coat colors and quality, body conformation, and other features required for registration.
To gain insight into these breed standards, consult general information from reputable organizations like the American Dairy Goat Association (AGDA) or the American Goat Society (AGS). Alternatively, seek out more detailed information from breed-specific associations, such as the American Nigerian Dwarf Dairy Association (ANDDA). As both a breeder and buyer of goats, it’s essential to familiarize yourself with these standards.
Then, focus on acquiring and breeding goats that meet those requirements, avoiding instances where registered goats fail to comply with breed expectations.
No Visible Defects
When selecting goats for breeding, it’s crucial to ensure that they have no visible defects. Physical imperfections, regardless of breed, can hint at potential issues down the line. For instance, an overbite or underbite can hinder a goat’s ability to forage for food, leading to malnutrition and subsequent health problems.
Similarly, excessively large heads in parents can be passed on to kids, making birthing more challenging for does, while narrow hip bones (rump area) can also complicate the process. Weak ankles in breeders can put their offspring at risk of injury from falls. Additionally, genetic issues like slumped backs, a history of difficult births, and testicular problems can be inherited by kids.
Whenever possible, examining the parents and grandparents of potential breeding goats can provide valuable insights into their overall fitness for breeding.
Health Inspection
A goat’s overall well-being can be gauged by its physical appearance. A thriving goat typically boasts a luscious, full coat that begins to thicken in the fall as it prepares for winter. Its bushy tail and vibrant eyes, free from excessive watering, are also indicative of good health. Clean teeth are another sign of a healthy goat. Any deviations from this norm can signal underlying issues, such as mineral deficiencies, environmental problems or health concerns.
For instance, poor coat quality might be a symptom of copper deficiency, which can lead to fertility and birthing complications if left untreated. Alternatively, it could be the result of inadequate nutrition or parasitic infections, both of which can impede breeding and kidding success.
Similarly, excessively watery eyes may indicate environmental hazards or injury, but they can also be an early warning sign of Chlamydia psittaci, a disease that can transmit to humans and cause abortion in does. Accurate diagnosis and prompt treatment of health issues before breeding are crucial for ensuring the health and well-being of kids and does during delivery.
Preparing to Breed Your Goats
Once you’ve validated your breeders’ suitability for breeding, it’s crucial to ensure they’re physically prepared for the task ahead. This involves putting them in prime physical condition to increase the chances of successful mating and a healthy litter.
Fatten Your Goats
When it comes to goat fertility and reproductive success, body condition plays a significant role. In general, goats with a moderate amount of fat tend to have higher fertility rates and fare better throughout their pregnancies. Goat owners use the Body Condition Scoring (BCS) method to assess their goats’ physical condition for breeding purposes. The BCS system ranges from 1, indicating severe malnutrition, to 5, representing excessive nourishment.
For does, body scores of 3-5 are ideal for reproduction. Similarly, bucks should start the breeding season with a slight surplus of fat reserves. During their ‘rut,’ when they’re intensely focused on reproduction, bucks often neglect their food intake. Maintaining a moderate weight will help keep them healthy throughout the breeding season.
Consider Mineral Supplements
When considering goat mineral supplements, it’s essential to conduct thorough research as the need and benefits will differ depending on breed, diet, and soil and water quality. While some goat owners may find it necessary to provide does with supplements prior to breeding, others might not require them at all. Two common supplements worth exploring are copper boluses and vitamin E and selenium shots.
Copper boluses offer a slow-release source of copper during gestation, while vitamin E and selenium shots enhance fertility and protect against muscle disease in kids. Ultimately, the right doses of these supplements can ensure fertility, ease birthing, and healthy offspring. However, it’s crucial to note that incorrect dosages can be lethal. To make informed decisions, it’s vital to educate yourself and consult with your veterinarian to determine the best course of action for your goats.
Consider Treating for Parasites
When it comes to goat worming, there are two prevailing approaches. The first is a preventative measure, where regular worming becomes the norm. On the other hand, some goat breeders opt for a more targeted approach, only intervening when necessary based on the health of their herd. Both methods have valid points. Regardless of which camp you fall into, it’s crucial to assess your goats’ parasite load before breeding them. This proactive measure can help inform any decisions regarding worming.
If you’re already in the habit of conducting fecal tests, perform one before breeding as a precautionary step. Alternatively, consult with your veterinarian or local agricultural extension office about having them analyze samples on your behalf. In addition to evaluating parasite levels, it’s essential to monitor your does for signs of anemia using the FAMACHA rating scale – a simple yet valuable tool that can benefit any goat owner.
If you find that your does are at risk of developing parasite overload before pregnancy, consider de-worming as a precautionary measure to avoid potential complications later on.
Ways to Breed
The nuances of breeding within a managed herd can vary significantly, influenced by the approach taken to ensure the continuation and diversity of the population.
Artificial Insemination
For goat breeding, some practitioners employ artificial insemination (AI) techniques, injecting semen from a sire goat into a doe in estrus. To successfully utilize this method, it’s crucial to have the necessary equipment and be able to recognize the visual cues indicative of heat in your goats.
When seeking AI services for your goat herd, consider reaching out to reputable associations specializing in goat breeding, which can provide valuable connections to trusted professionals.
Online forums dedicated to goat enthusiasts often serve as a platform for sharing knowledge and resources, potentially leading you to reliable AI providers. Additionally, local agricultural offices may be able to supply you with a list of approved AI services operating in your area.
Stud Service
When selecting a breeding method, some goat keepers opt for stud or sire services. This involves either hiring a goat to mingle with their herd or transporting their own goat to the buck during mating season. While this approach may seem convenient, it’s crucial to consider the responsibilities that come with it.
Stud services must go above and beyond in terms of disease testing, ensuring their entire herd is healthy and free from transmissible diseases.
This requires significant investment in infrastructure and personnel to manage the bucks year-round. As a result, you can expect a substantial fee for this service.
Before any encounter, you’ll likely be required to test your goat for diseases as well, adding to the overall cost and effort.
The Old-Fashioned Way
If these methods don’t resonate with you, consider maintaining a self-sufficient operation where you raise and breed your own goats. I’ve chosen this route for my homestead, where I provide a dedicated pasture and shelter for my buck. To keep him company, I also keep a wether goat alongside him at all times, as goats are naturally herd animals that thrive in social settings. When it’s time to breed, I bring the does together with the buck for a month-long stint.
Alternatively, if you plan to breed your entire herd simultaneously, you can bring the buck to the does in the fall. Once kidding season arrives and the babies start arriving, be sure to move the buck back out to maintain the health and well-being of your goats.
Estrous Cycles
Identifying the signs of a doe’s estrous cycle can be crucial for breeding and managing your goat herd. Most breeds of goats, including popular varieties like Nigerian Dwarf goats, exhibit this pattern in fall and early winter. The estrous cycle typically lasts 17-24 days, with the actual heat period lasting around 12-48 hours. Does will go into heat repeatedly over several months during this time.
While it’s relatively easy to recognize estrus in mature does, spotting the signs can be more challenging in younger females like doelings or yearlings. However, there are distinct physical and hormonal changes that occur during heat. For instance, goats may become more vocal, calling out for a buck, and exhibit increased tail wagging as they waft their scent to attract males.
My own does have been known to stand at the fence nearest the buck pasture, loudly announcing their presence while vigorously wagging their tails. In addition to these behaviors, you may also notice signs of dominance or submission, such as mounting or being mounted, and changes in social behavior. Some does may exhibit abnormal competitive behavior or altered dispositions during estrus.
Furthermore, a physical discharge at the vulva can be an observable sign of heat, along with swelling or reddening of the vulva area. Nigerian Dwarf goats, in particular, are notable for their unique reproductive cycle, entering estrus approximately every 21-23 days throughout their entire lives.
Planning When to Breed
As you stand ready to breed your goats, with their physical and mental health optimal, a clear plan in place, and the ability to identify the subtle cues of estrus, the timing of breeding becomes crucial. Two key factors to ponder when deciding when to proceed are:
Climate Planning
After the breeding process is complete, it takes approximately 150 days for full-sized goats to give birth, while miniature goats have a slightly longer gestation period of around 155 days. However, this extended timeline can be particularly hazardous for young goats born in winter months, especially in colder climates where hypothermia becomes a significant risk factor. To mitigate this risk, it’s essential to establish a ‘do not breed before’ date that takes into account your local climate.
This allows you to breed goats only when they’re in estrus after that date. For instance, in North Carolina, I set my ‘do not breed before’ date as October 15th, ensuring that births don’t occur prior to mid-March. Additionally, providing a heat source and offering assistance in drying off kids born on cold spring days can provide an extra layer of protection against the elements.
Staggering Births
When space is a concern, it’s essential to strategically plan goat breeding to avoid overcrowding. In my case, having a single birthing and bonding area means I can only accommodate one doe’s pregnancy at a time. To prevent simultaneous births and ensure each goat receives the necessary attention, I stagger breedings every couple of weeks.
‘Doing the Deed’ for Breeding Goats
When it’s time for breeding, does enter a state of receptivity known as estrus. During this period, they’ll stand calmly and allow bucks to mate with them multiple times before becoming agitated. The buck, sensing the doe is in heat, will apply a fresh coat of urine to his face and beard to impress her, then proceed to rub her rump with his cheeks and beard as a sign of affection and ownership. He may even rear up like a stallion and mount her quickly.
This process is repeated several times, with the buck rearing up again each time he’s rebuffed. Eventually, the doe will tire of the buck’s advances and run out of range, prompting him to give her a break. Once she’s no longer in estrus, the buck’s attempts to breed may become less frequent.
How to Tell If Your Goat is Pregnant
Determining a goat’s pregnancy requires a reliable method. While blood tests or ultrasound examinations performed by a veterinarian remain the most accurate ways to confirm pregnancy, experienced goat keepers can also rely on their observations of the animal’s estrous cycle. The 17-24 day heat cycle, also known as estrus, is a telltale sign that a doe is not pregnant. Once a doe conceives, she will no longer exhibit this characteristic heat cycle.
Although rare, some cases of false estrus have been reported in pregnant does, particularly when breeding late in the season. It’s essential to differentiate between a lack of estrus signaling the end of the breeding season and actual pregnancy. As the pregnancy progresses, goats typically display noticeable physical signs, such as weight gain and stomach hardening, after around three months.
Initially, kid growth is slow, and winter coats can make it challenging to detect any changes before this stage. In my experience, if a doe was in estrus when bred and the buck and doe are both in good condition, pregnancy is extremely likely.
Final Advice
As you venture into the world of raising goats, breeding is just the beginning. The journey doesn’t stop there – it’s followed by prenatal care, birthing, and the arduous task of kid-raising. To ensure a seamless experience, I strongly advise that you input the date of breeding into our gestation calculator, taking into account the specific breed characteristics. This will provide an accurate estimate of your goat’s due date.
In the lead-up to that anticipated arrival, take this opportunity to educate yourself on the various phases of goat gestation, identifying signs of labor, and mastering kid care techniques. The anticipation is palpable, but being prepared for what’s to come will make all the difference.