Open does--none settled

4Hmomwyo · #1 02/19/08, 02:15 PM

A little background,
We had our 3 Nubian does at the breeders from November 30th to January 16th and she saw the buck do his business with each of them. We had our Togg doe AIed on January 6th.

Friday night the Togg came back in heat.
Saturday we had the three Nubians ultrasounded--nothing!!!!

We brought the buck home with us Saturday. He has "done his business" with the Togg and one of the Nubians so far with another doe showing signs of coming into heat this morning.

I am really sad!!!

We had plans of May and June babies, now we are looking at mid-July babies...just one week before county fair.

The best laid plans of mice and men!!!!

Jyllie63 · #2 02/19/08, 02:28 PM

I'm sorry. I know how disappointed you must be. I have a feeling I'm in the same boat as you. My girls LIVE with the buck and I don't think any of them are pregnant. I was really hoping for May babies as well!

Starsmom · #3 02/19/08, 04:25 PM

Some does will often have a heat after being bred. I have a doe that will come into heat at least once, sometimes twice after being bred. She is a nightmare as I am never sure if she was bred, but she usually kids on the first due date.

Teacupliz · #4 02/19/08, 04:28 PM

they could of resorbed the kids- get good minerals, make sure they are up on selenum. and feed a good goat feed. I have a friend who bought a $500. buck and he did not get one of her does bred. Each year is different game I guess.
liz in NY

4Hmomwyo · #5 02/19/08, 04:35 PM

They have free choice minerals, good grass hay and a small amount of grain each day--it's been really cold here! The buck covered and bred all but one of the breeder's does, so we know it was not him (Their ultrasounds showed babies, ours were empty). We wonder if it is because of the extreme cold during the time they were at the breeders, but are not sure. Selenium is absolutely not an issue--we have plenty! The buck is at home with them, so hopefully this time will work. Two of the does kidded last year, so I know they can, the other two are FF, so we will see. I appreciate everyone's kind thoughts and advice.

DQ · #6 02/19/08, 05:10 PM

how well do you know the breeders? did you pay for the service irregardless of wether they settled or not? I hate to think ill of people, but what I am getting at is ...did the breeder lie? it seems strange from my limited experience that none of them got bred successfully. I this year I hauled my girls down the road to local bucks when I saw signs of heat, and they all got bred the first time (5 does) it was very stressful on two in particular due to injury and one with an especially fearful nature yet they all got bred the first time. seems fishy.

goatkid · #7 02/19/08, 10:19 PM

Do your goats have enough copper. Lack of it can cause infertility. Cold weather should not keep them from getting pregnant.

susanne · #8 02/19/08, 10:36 PM

i would not relay on the result of the ultrasound alone as this is very early if the does where bred in january. a blood test would be more reliable.

AnnaS · #9 02/19/08, 10:47 PM

Susanne is right, and the ultrasound can be inaccurate in Nubians.

There was a dairy in MN that had several breeds ultrasounded. The Alpines & Saanens all ultrasounded bred, the Nubians ultrasounded open.They Luted all the Nubians to induce a cycle and they all aborted kids. Turns out that their Nubians carried their kids much higher and more forward than the alpine breeds. Not that this means your does ARE bred, but....

Trace mineral issues are possible, but they'd have to be pretty severe to prevent all your does from conceiving. Another possiblity is that transport stress caused your does to reabsorb the fetuses.

4Hmomwyo · #10 02/20/08, 01:25 PM

You guys are wonderful! I trust this breeder implicitly and that is why her buck is staying at my house right now. I thought about the transport issue--maybe. He for sure has mounted one of the 3 Nubians on Monday, have not seen the other 2 bred although we thought 1 was in heat yesterday. No signs of copper deficiency and they eat their mineral good. The only other thing I can think of is...they are rather spoiled (enclosed barn, lots of bedding, etc.) and the breeders place was somewhat less cozy--(not as enclosed, etc) is it possible that their bodies spent the energy staying warm instead of actually passing eggs or maintaining the pregnancy????

Thanks for the info on the Nubians and ultrasound, that helps some.

dkdairygoats · #11 02/20/08, 02:11 PM

I second the inaccuracy of ultrasound. My experience is with Alpines....I do not think ultrasound is a reliable preg-check. I use www.biotracking.com and so far have had 100% accuracy with about 30 does.