When can is a doe able to be preg?

AtHomeDaughter · #1 05/20/07, 10:22 PM

I have read in many different books that say she is able (but not capable physically or safely) at 3-4 mon.? Is this true?

Freeholder · #2 05/20/07, 10:33 PM

Someone on this forum had a doe bred when she was only about a month old, though that would be rare. It's best to separate the doe kids from the bucks by the time they are eight weeks old, though. And no, it's really not good for a baby doe to get pregnant that young. She needs to grow up before she's asked to grow a baby.

Kathleen

Sweet Goats · #3 05/21/07, 10:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlueJuniperFarm

Someone on this forum had a doe bred when she was only about a month old, though that would be rare. It's best to separate the doe kids from the bucks by the time they are eight weeks old, though. And no, it's really not good for a baby doe to get pregnant that young. She needs to grow up before she's asked to grow a baby.

Kathleen

How can you seperate them if they have a sister and are still nursing? I still have my babies (including a buck) all together. he is three months old now. I will seperat them in a few weeks.
I would say if a goat is bred a 1 month that would be so very rare, I would rather take that chance then to seperate them so young. I will be seperating them at about 15-16 weeks.

mary,tx · #4 05/21/07, 12:37 PM

I've started pulling the bucks out at about 11 weeks. By then, they are plenty big enough for weaning (and plenty interested and capable of other things). You are taking too big a risk to leave them together past that. 15-16 weeks and you are asking for trouble.
mary

PygmyLover · #5 05/21/07, 02:55 PM

depends on what breed we are talking about. Pygmy doelings CAN (doesn't mean they WILL) cycle at around 2-3 months old. Bucks CAN (doesn't mean they ARE) furtile at that same age.

Dairy goats don't go into heat until the fall months (september through February). And they are usually around 4-6 months old by that point.

Not sure about boer goats since I do not have experience with that breed.

dosthouhavemilk · #6 05/21/07, 02:59 PM

Our Nubian/Boer buckling settled his dam at 3 months and 8 days old (so 13 weeks old). I had been trying to separate them for a week prior. The next buck she had that we left intact, I insisted he be gone no later than 12 weeks.
Ours are castrated at 8-10 weeks just to be sure. Then those boys can stay with their family unit until the following Fall when the meat wethers are separated out from the main herd. No worries about mastitis by force weaning, and no unhappy mothers or kids.
The only other intact buck I've sold for breeding was being bottle raised and went to his new home at just shy of two months old.

mary,tx · #7 05/21/07, 03:03 PM

Don't count on a goat not going into heat before the fall. My Nubians have bred in every season.
mary

PygmyLover · #8 05/21/07, 03:04 PM

I should have stated except nubians..............and depending on weather conditions.

Some places tend to bring the does into heat sooner.

**mygoat** · #9 05/21/07, 05:59 PM

The person that had a preggo doe at 1 month had boer does. If I remember correctly, she kidded fine but I believe she was stunted ever since. I believe the doe was bred to her father... Not sure how that worked out... And Not sure if I have my info straight, either.

HaysFarm · #10 05/21/07, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PygmyLover

Dairy goats don't go into heat until the fall months (september through February).

Ok i've read,and been told, that Dairy breeds for the most part can come in to season any time of year.
Any yet on the same note, read and been told that they only come in to season in the fall,
Which is right. cause i dont' want to waste time or money trying to breed at the worng time.
There's a lady that raises Nubians and she's going to make me a buck rag, To help bring the girls in. Is this a waste of time?
Sorry dont' mean to change the thread subject

**mygoat** · #11 05/21/07, 08:26 PM

Eh, it depends doe to doe. Some are seasonal, some can go year-round. A buck rag is good for detecting heat, but not for causing it, I don't think. Present it to a doe or tie it to the fence once a day, and see if any react. Then cart your doe off asap to the boy! hehe.

Jim S. · #12 05/22/07, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PygmyLover

I should have stated except nubians..............and depending on weather conditions.

Some places tend to bring the does into heat sooner.

It's actually a matter of latitude. The closer to the equator you get, the more likely any goat of any breed is to be polyestrus (year-around breeder). Spanish goats that were diestrus (dual season) breeders in Spain became polyestrus after just a couple generations when conquistadors brought them to equatorial South American countries.

This is a difference between goats of all breeds in the Northern U.S. vs. goats in the Southern U.S., as well.

There have also been university studies in which goats were kept in lighted barns to force estrus.

Freeholder · #13 05/22/07, 08:23 PM

If you have nursing bucklings in with their dams and sisters, you can either castrate them before eight weeks old -- and most bucklings should be castrated anyway -- or wean them then. I weaned two nursing bucklings at eight weeks this year, and it hasn't hurt either one of them a bit. They didn't even slow down their growth much (though we did have stereo baaaaing for a few days!), and are picked back up and growing fine now.

Kathleen