Opinions on breeding a 12 year old doe

kath2003 · #1 05/16/08, 08:21 PM

We were just given a beautiful Fainting doe. She is 12 years old, never been bred. Spent her whole life in the lap of luxury with her wethered brother. The brother died and the people wanted a new home for her. Now we have her. She is big, healthy, playful, just a gorgeous goat. The woman said she goes into heat every three weeks, and was always mounting her brother. I was wondering what everyone thought about giving her a chance at being a mom??
I went to Fiasco Farms website for some info, and it said does should retire around 9 or 10, but that is after a life of breeding. It says they have had or heard of goats living to be 24

sungirl · #2 05/16/08, 08:37 PM

If she isn't very fat and doesn't have any health problems i would breed her, if she kids fine and can raise the kids then try again... My worry is she is to fat, then again the heat sounds fairly odd. I would if you can have a goat vet look at her.

kath2003 · #3 05/16/08, 08:56 PM

Oh no, she isn't fat at all. She looks and feels just right to me. I do have a goat vet. Fainter cycle about every 21 days or so, I think thats what she meant when she said every three weeks. They can breed year round.

Zone · #4 05/16/08, 08:58 PM

Depends upon the doe. If healthy with energy to handle kids, and not fat, but having the weight to support their nutritional needs as they grow (inside and out) then IMO I would try it.

Corky · #5 05/16/08, 09:29 PM

My Thirteen year old just kidded for the last time.
I should NOT have bred her.
It is too hard for them to get back in condition at that age. TRUST ME!
I have been pumping CMPK and Red Cell in her for two months now.
She is just now beginning to eat grain again. She is skin and bones.

Yes, she was in good condition when she was bred.

RiverPines · #6 05/16/08, 10:41 PM

If you want to risk her and try to get a kid out of it, well you can try.
I wouldn't bother. Just wouldn't be worth all the possible bad that could happen.

But I also wouldn't bother with a 12 yr old doe, except to make hamburger out of.

Vicki McGaugh TX Nubians · #7 05/16/08, 11:17 PM

Huge difference between having your last kids at 13 or your first kids at 12. I think its a horrid idea. Just think of her structurally. Her pin bones and everything she will need to now move, to pass the kids, is likely cemented into place, I would look into my crystal ball and see a C section in her future, a c-section that the vet will put her to sleep with instead of doing a standing one and she will not recover from anesthesia at her age.

Honestly my first thought was the nerve of her LOVING owners to not put her down when they lost her brother. I can't even imagine sending a 12 year old to a new home. It was irresponsible of them because of the exact reason that you are now writing this post.

I also would doubt many goats if any got to 24, like old ladies cats, they forget how long the animal has really been around. And can you even imagine the quality of life for a 24 year old goat? Vicki

kath2003 · #8 05/17/08, 06:16 AM

Here is a link to the 24 year old statement!
http://fiascofarm.com/goats/breeding.htm#olddoe

Not sure why someone would make hamburger out of a perfectly good doe, but then again, I did ask for opinions, lol.
Thanks all!!

goatsareus · #9 05/17/08, 07:58 AM

for the health of the goat, it is an extemely bad idea to breed her.

I would think the hamburger suggestion would be related to the fact this doe is toward the end of her useful life. If she is in good condition, I would take advantage of that and butcher her, not having any emotional attachment to her. But I agree with the above post, the previous owners were cruel to this doe to sell her, they took the easy way out for them, not for the goat.

Corky · #10 05/17/08, 08:12 AM

I was tols by well meaning goat people that I should breed my 13 year old as she would just go down hill fast if I pulled her out of production so I did it.
Two reasons. I selfishly wanted another doe from her. One that looked like her.
My best milker is her DD but she has a purebred Togg for a Sire and looks just like him and not Molly who is a sundgau Alpine.

Molly kidded OK because her kids were early and very small but one had to be put down as it was not well enough developed to make it.
The other is fine and does look like her Mom but is frosted instead of pure black. Thats OK and I am happy with her. She is growing well.

Molly on the other hand is NOT recovering well.
She has calcium and phosphorus problems thought the Vet says she is not bad in that respect.
Thats just because I had been pumping CMPK into her from the start and still am. She is recovering but slowly. I bred her at 11 and she stayed open at 12. I should have known better.
I will NOT breed her again and if the buck should get loose and get to her I will abort the fetus. No mors kids for Molly.

I will not sell her or butcher her.
She is going to live out her life here where she has been sense she was a yearling. She still loves to go to the woods and browse and to the meadow which is up on a mountain top where she can lay in the grass and see for miles. She has been a joy to have and she deserves to live out her life here.

As you can see. I am attached to her.

If you are not, then buy yourself a younger doe and butcher this one. I would make her meat into hamburger. It is wonderful stuff!

RiverPines · #11 05/17/08, 08:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kath2003

Not sure why someone would make hamburger out of a perfectly good doe, but then again, I did ask for opinions, lol.
Thanks all!!

Because, for us, we don't keep livestock thats unproductive. I would consider a 12yr old, never been bred, to be unproductive. 12 yrs old is not choice meat so she would be hamburger here.

kath2003 · #12 05/17/08, 08:50 AM

I guess the other owners felt it was better for her to have a herd or at least another goat to be with her. They gave her to us free, they didn't want anything in return, just a nice farm for her. Well, she will just hang out here then and look pretty, lol.

Corky · #13 05/17/08, 12:55 PM

Good idea Kathy.

DixyDoodle · #14 05/18/08, 06:45 AM

Kath, I think your not breeding her is best. After all, she would be a senior goat. Even if she is in good health, she's still not in her prime condition. I don't think the risks for her health and that of any babies is worth it. What if she ended up with triplets or more? I would be concerned that it would possibly be too much for her.