Breed sooner or later?

[mygoat]

I've been thinking about my breeding schedules...

Normally I breed my goats for summer kids.

However, I realize that with dairy goats, breeding for summer kiddings is rather unintelligent, hehe. I'd like to begin showing in ADGA shows, and since that only happens during the summer, my does might not be freshened yet for a local show and I might have to miss it! SOOOO...

I only have two dairy goats, and I think I will go ahead and breed them for spring kiddings. JUST those two, though. I dunno what I'm gonna do when my herd gets larger...

With my miniatures, summer kiddings is no big deal, but since dairy goats must be freshened to show... I think I'm gonna have to have two separate kidding seasons! At least, until I graduate HS... Senior year!

[DocM]

If you're serious about showing, breed so you have a combination of senior (before March 1), intermediate (March), and jr kids (after April 1). Earlier in April the better, kids do best when born before the heat comes on and they can start nibbling on green browse. Bigger (older does) in a class give the judge more to look at. By spreading your breedings out, you won't be overwhelmed, and you'll have kids to show in each class.