Breeding questions...

[Middle River]

This is my first year breeding goats, and well, i just have a couple questions. These are all Alpines.

I currently have two outside does here to be bred to my buck ( they just arived last night ) they are i belive ( or will be ) a 3rd and 5th fresheners - so they have done this before :+) My question with them is, is there any tricks to bring them into heat soon so they don't have to stay long ? How many times should they be bred ? Should they stay for a period of time after that ( such as a couple days ) to settle and not be stressed - or will it not matter if they are picked up right away ? Is bringing the buck to them daily ok to check for heat ? Is their a best time of day to do this ?

Ok, now for my does, and kinda does in general. Two out of 4 of my does are scared of him, will this surely change when they are in heat ? Shoot, i had more questions, but can't remember at this time. Thanks all !

[Feral Nature]

In the presence of a buck, does will be triggered to come into heat but it will not "make" them come into heat. You may end up with the does there for weeks or maybe just days.

As soon as the does are bred, they can go home...like right then. No wait, it will not disturb the pregnancy. many does are taken to a buck the day they come into heat, bred, and taken back home right then.


it's actually good to take them to the buck (or vice versa) daily to check for heat as sometimes heats can go by unnoticed. That is a good way to be sure. I like to have mine bred by the buck twice, once in the morning and once in the evening if possible but it doesn't always work out perfect.

Some does are scared of bucks and run for their lives. Others are hussies and flirt shamelessly and stand for breeding. It takes all kinds

[Middle River]

Thanks ! but with the does that are scared - and really do fear their life - will they come around once in heat, or what needs to be done ?

The buck is very nice, not aggressive at all with the girls, so she is just being silly - but will she get over it is what i'm worried about ? Both of my does that are scared of him ( one is way more then the other ) have never been bred either. Even though my one is terrified of the buck, will she still show signs of heat - or will my buck know and persue her more ?

Thanks !

[Vicki McGaugh TX Nubians]

Put him on a leash and let him hang out with the does each day, they will be interested in him when they are in heat. Honestly my advice for new folks is to pen breed, put the buck in the pen with the does for 21 days, this way you will not miss heats at night and you will not have dry does next year. Vicki

[Middle River]

how long is the average doe in standing heat ? what are the chances of having a doe that only comes into heat for a short period that could easily be missed ? I really prefer to hand breed so i have dates, and another reason pen breeding won't work for me is that my does just fit in their pen, there is no more room in there ( shelter or "floor space" ) as i'm in the process of saving up the money ( which the stud fee goes towards ) to get what i need and fence their hopefully soon to be new home area ( about 2-5 acres ).

I do bring him over there every night after i do the chores - about 6:30pm, i started with my does on Fri. evening, so tonight will be day 5 - and did this last night with the other does. I have him with them for about 20-45 min. Thanks !

[Feral Nature]

If you are putting your buck in with the girls for up to 45 minutes everyday, I would think he would get them all bred that way. Some does fear for their life with bucks all the time and make you feel bad for putting them through the whole ordeal. Watch for those flagging tails and hopefully your does will have good outward signs of heat. Keep doing what you are doing and take good notes, what seems really easy to remember now will fade from memory by next spring and certainly by next fall when you do all this over again!

[AnnaS]

When I've brought a buck in, my does usually come into heat within three to ten days, depending on where they were in their heat cycle. A stinky mature buck really cranks up their hormones.

I doubt you'll have silent or missed heats with mature does, a smelly buck, and twice a day visits. Does are pretty demonstative when they come into heat.

Does that are afraid of bucks have a whole change of attitude when they come into heat. I had a doeling last year who would run away from the herd and hide when my buckling made his daily butt check. She finally came into heat at a breeder's, escaped from a quarantine pen, and stayed all day in a pipe gate pen with five bucks. Quite a change of heart.

[Middle River]

good, i'm feeling like i can do this then - i'm no dummy to breeding, it's just that this is my first time with goats - so i guess i must learn, i must say though, you all are wonderful !

the two does that are here to be bred are mature. But my does, i only have one that is a 2 year old FF - the other three are 3 yrs, 1 yr, and a doeling ( not yet been bred ). They are who i'm worried about - well not the doeling as i'm not sure i'll breed her this year, and if i do i would in Jan. or Feb.

AnnaS - how far are you from Duluth ? What breed(s) do you raise ?

[southerngurl]

Now what about using a buck rag to check for heat. Have y'all found that effective? Do you just rub an old stinky buck down with a rag?

[AnnaS]

Originally Posted by Middle River

AnnaS - how far are you from Duluth ? What breed(s) do you raise ?

I'm about 3 hours from Duluth. Halfway between Fargo and Brainerd. I have Toggenburgs- just posted a couple of pix on another thread.

[Starsmom]

I have some friends that live about 1 1/2 hours away and use my bucks each year to breed. I give them a buck rag and they use it and call when the does are in heat. So far it has worked out good, no second trips necessary.

[Middle River]

I never thought of using a buck rag - will does that have never been bred before respond to it ?

AnnaS - you are only about 3 1/2 hours from me ! I'm about 15 min. outside of Superior, WI. Sometime we may have to meet :+) Maybe you could give me some pointers ( since i no nothing about it ) on showing my buck next year - i don't know where any shows will be in MN, but i know there will be a couple in WI next May or June - the only problem is right now i don't have a way to haul a big goat - but i hope to get that taken care of soon.

Last night there was no action either - GT does his part - the tasting pee, blubbering - all that, but the girls had no interest yet. GT acts like a mature buck - this isn't his first rodeo, he is ready anytime, but seems to not chase them down for no reason - i guess it's a good thing he doesn't use energy he doesn't have to at his age :+)

Thanks everybody !

[DocM]

My girls don't respond to a buck rag, they want the real thing. I can let them into the pasture that borders the buck pen. It's visible from the dining room window, so I let the girls in there every morning, then sit there and do paperwork. I just watch for when one of the girls starts the exaggerated rubbing on the boy's fence, like she's suddenly come down with the worst case of lice. Otherwise, I can barely ever tell one of them is in heat. They just don't advertise it. So far, 3 of 9 are bred using the "fence stretch rub" method.

[Middle River]

ok, GT bred one of the visiting does last night - heat sure does make them change ! She was skittish and running from him, but last night as we ( GT and I ) were walking over to her she was at the gate flagging her tail ! What a hussy !

So she stood for him and flirted, is that one breeding enough ? Can i send her home now ? Thanks !!!

[AnnaS]

Originally Posted by Middle River

AnnaS - you are only about 3 1/2 hours from me ! I'm about 15 min. outside of Superior, WI. Sometime we may have to meet :+) Maybe you could give me some pointers ( since i no nothing about it ) on showing my buck next year -

You have to come to the MN Dairy Goat Convention! It's at the U of MN in St Paul, usually the second or third Saturday in January. Tons of info for all levels of goat owners and you can meet some fellow breeders. MDGA also has a showmanship video you can buy from them or ADGA.

Pick up a copy of "Dairy Goat Judging Techniques" from Caprine Supply or Hoeggers. There is a couple of chapters on showing and lots of do & don't pictures. My showmanship isn't too hot.

[Bear43]

hi,I put my boer billy in with my girls and they were all bred within a week.2 reg,toggs and 4 100% boer nannys

[Middle River]

AnnaS - i'll have to try to make it there - that would be awsome!