Older does

KimM · #1 04/30/08, 01:07 PM

At what age and / or conditions would you "retire" (in one way or another) a doe from breeding?

hobbyfarmer · #2 04/30/08, 01:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KimM

At what age and / or conditions would you "retire" (in one way or another) a doe from breeding?

I have a 9 year old who is bred right now and due for September. She's in excellent health but she had a miscarriage after being hit by a much larger doe earlier this year. Those were supposed to be her last kids but she mourned so much after she aborted (they were almost due when it happened and fully formed) and she is in such good physical health I decided to breed her one more time. I will retire her after this freshening but her dam was 13 and still kidding and showing well as of this past year. I don't really have a rule - just that I think she's earned her retirement. We'll keep her around as a pet.

**mygoat** · #3 04/30/08, 02:29 PM

I will continue to breed my does as long as it does not affect their health. However long that is, depends on each individual. I will also be one to 'retire' my ladies, because after years of service I believe my old girls deserve to live out their last few years just being themselves with no obligations or stresses, and I couldn't butcher them simply because they are 'done'. While I see my goats as livestock, but after 10+ years of production I think a year or two just hanging around isn't going to break the bank... plus most of my ladies are those girls that you love and respect too much - they're more like friends.

steff bugielski · #4 04/30/08, 02:57 PM

I also let the older ones stay around. I have one now who is 12 she has had triplets every year but last. She did not get bred this year. Poor thing looks terrible.. Her right side hangs down past her ribs while her left side looks normal. The vet said she is like a women who's abdomen simply has no more muscle left.

marvella · #5 04/30/08, 03:08 PM

i have one who is 13. quit breeding her last year. to beat it all, the last was the first triplets ever and she raised them all. prior she was dependable for 3 kids a year. it shows.

Vicki McGaugh TX Nubians · #6 04/30/08, 03:21 PM

If in good health, and taken care of, not to much rehoming, they will eaisly kid and milk to 10...in a better care home for the whole life, or especially their original home 12 and 13 is common. Just like I have a living will for myself since I have asthma, I don't keep a geriatric pen. It's about quality of life and a barren old doe who looks like hell and is picked on by every young doe in the barn isn't getting any quality of life. When an older doe doesn't get bred, and looses her place in the pecking order I put her down. And old does...well before they are a sack of bones and dieing in the corner because it's more humane...make wonderful sausage. Vicki

KimM · #7 04/30/08, 04:04 PM

The doe in question is just 7 years old and is really good flesh yet, she has triplets on her now and they're all growing great. I just wasn't sure how old 'old' is for goats. I guess she's good for a few more years then!

Corky · #8 04/30/08, 04:20 PM

I didn't even start breeding Molly till she was 8 years old.
She had three sets of triplets and twins this year but her health is suffering because of it and her kids were early this time so never again! She is 13.

I bought three of a set of quads a few years ago and the dam was 14.