Breeding season:Female goats (does) are seasonally polyestrous and short
day breeders. This means that they have several cycles and can accept the male only
during the fall. This is an adaptive feature allowing the animals to give birth at a time
of year when climatic and environmental conditions are most favorable for the survival and
growth of the kids. The extent of this seasonal restriction varies with breed type and
geographical location, particularly in the temperate zones. Photoperiodism (day length)
has been known for a long time to influence seasonality, but other factors such as
temperature, rainfall and availability of feed play important roles. In the northern
hemisphere, the breeding season falls between August and December or January, and kids are
born during the winter or spring. Seasonality is almost completely absent in tropical
goats. The seasonal nature of goat reproduction leads to seasonal fluctuations of meat
and milk supplies. It would be advantageous for the goat farmer to be able to manipulate
the breeding season so that meat and milk supplies are ready when the prices are optimum.
Age at first breeding: Doelings are bred for the first time
when they are 7 to 10 months of age and/or when they weigh 60 to 70 pounds. As a rule of
thumb, it is preferable to breed by weight rather than by age alone.
Signs of heat (estrus): A doe comes in heat (i.e. estrus,
which means that the doe is willing to accept the buck for mounting and copulation) several
times during the normal breeding season. The length of the estrus period ranges from 24 to
48 hours. Unless the doe conceives, it will come in heat again within 18 21 days, and this
is referred to as estrous cycle. A doe that is in heat exhibits one or more of the following
behavioral changes:
- increased bleating
- increased frequency of urination
- unusual restlessness or higher incidence of interaction with other does
- tag waggling or flagging
- mounting other does or standing to be mounted
- increased curiosity and attentiveness
- swelling around the vulva (opening of the vagina) and change in color of the vulva from pale to bright pink
- mucous discharge from the vulva
- decreased milk production
Breeding Ratio:A young, active buck can breed up to 30
does during the breeding season. The determination of the doe to buck ratio depends on the
type of mating practiced. In pen mating, a ratio of 30:1 can be safely used. On pasture
mating, depending on the area of the pasture, a 15-20:1 ratio can be used. As a rule of
thumb a 20:1 ratio is sufficient to ensure more than 95 percent herd fertility.
Reproductive and nutrition management:The plane of
nutrition should improve considerably during the three critical physiological stages
breeding, last month of pregnancy and early lactation. During breeding, all does must be
flushed. In other words, supplemental feeding of 0.5 to 1 lb. of 14-16 percent crude
protein ration per doe should be provided 21 to 30 days before the introduction of the
buck. During the last month of pregnancy, does must receive an increase in the amount of
concentrate in the diet, and a decrease in the amount of calcium. This will prevent the
incidence of post parturient hypocalcemia (milk fever). The amount of concentrate is
monitored so that the does will not become too fat. Two to four weeks before kidding, does
are given enterotoxemia, tetanus, clostridium C D vaccines and selenium/Vit E injections.
During the first month of lactation, the plane of nutrition should increase to support the
milk production necessary to feed the newborn kids. Some goat owners feed an average of 1
to 2 pounds of concentrate during the critical physiological stages. If this practice is
too expensive, good forage and only 1/2 to 1 pound of concentrate could be used. The
concentrate should contain 14 to 16 percent protein to be satisfactory.
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