Breeding question? + more

[au natural]

Can or should you breed brother to half sister? My FF just kidded 1 hr. ago and gave me a beautiful 7 1/2 lb. buckling. My other goat kidded last month with two beautiful polled doelings. I was wondering if I could or should use this new little buckling to breed with this fall or if I should go with another buck.
Also, when I milked out my doe, I only got about 8 oz. of colostrum. The baby guzzled it down and looked for more. Should I milk mom again, or give him the other goats milk until mom has more colostrum?
One more question. At what age do you give CD+T and any other shots? One place said 1 week, next said 3 weeks, and the next said 4 weeks. Help!

[Vicki McGaugh TX Nubians]

My gut feeling in answering this question is always, if you have to ask and know so little about genetics than the answer is always NO. But if you don't have a buck and your stuck breeding to whatever you can find, than sure keep him...now know he will accentuate everything about his dam...so faults and good things will be stamped all over his daughters. Unless she has 2 heads or 3 eyes, faults like you think won't be seen Vicki

[au natural]

Thanks Vicki. Can anyone else help me with these other questions? Please?
Also, when I milked out my doe, I only got about 8 oz. of colostrum. The baby guzzled it down and looked for more. Should I milk mom again, or give him the other goats milk until mom has more colostrum?
One more question. At what age do you give CD+T and any other shots? One place said 1 week, next said 3 weeks, and the next said 4 weeks.

[AnnaS]

He doesn't need any more colostrum. (no matter what he thinks) 8 oz. is sufficient. Feeding regular goat's milk within 12 hours of colostrum will make the colostrum less effective for immunity.

When a newborn ruminant first ingests something, pores in the small intestine open up and catch large protein molocules that pass by. Ideally, these are the IGgs that will provide immunity to the kid until he can build up his own immune system. These pores are not selective, and will pick up any large protein,like e.coli or butterfat. The pores close after they grab a protein, and will close forever within 24 hours.

Dr Jennifer Johnson did a great study & seminars on goat colostrum and ruminant colostrum fuction. I was lucky to attend her presentations

As far as the first dose of CD-tet- you can use the UC-Davis protocol of 3, 6, 9 & 12 weeks. This protocol was developed by Dr. Joan Rowe,who is also a prominent Togg breeder & ADGA judge.

Personally, I do a CD/Tet at 6 weeks and the next one two months from kidding. I know a breeder who vaccinates his entire herd monthly. So there is a wide range of successful CD/Tet programs among various breeders.

[Goat Servant]

I have done CDT at one week, then 28 days later. Have also done it at about a month or so. Whenever it is first given, it needs to be done again 28 days later, whether their first dose was at one week or 1 month.
After that I give it once a year and few weeks before breeding. Some give it again a few weeks before kidding.