Breeding and a new Buck

[dockamo]

I have a couple of questions--i have a couple of girls that are 3 years old--one is a nubian and the other is an Oberhasli/Alpine X--very sweet loveable-PETS -i was thinking about getting a 50-75% boer buck to breed them with this fall--was wondering since this will be their first babies would the boer buck be to big for them--and also would i keep him in a pen by himself till i am ready to breed them. thanks -lou

[RiverPines]

Why a Boer buck may I ask?
Another dairy would seem more practical, unless you want meat animals.

And always keep bucks separate unless you don't want to know if a doe is pg and when she will birth.
Its quite difficult to know if trouble may be happening if you have no clue when she was bred.
Plus, depending on your location, if they breed to soon, you could have kids in winter when its cold as heck out. I had January kids this year and will never do that again!!

[dockamo]

i guess i was thinking of more of a meat type goat-but my main concern is since this will be their first kids-i wonder if a boer goat will be to big for them--i think i just need some ideas on what way to go-i am in illinois so i don't need any babies born when its freezing out--i'm thinking april or may would be nice-

[mygoat]

Alot of people show concerns over the first time a doe kids. Quite honestly, it doesn't get any easier for them after that, lol. While FF may need to 'stretch' while giving birth, they deliver just fine most of the time. I'm always there to assist because they often need a helping pull to get the kids out. The doe will regulate the size of the kids to some extent. I don't see why breeding boer would be a bad idea.

Keep him separate, but make sure he shares a WELL REINFORCED fenceline with your girls. Then, when they start flirting with him through the fence, they're in heat. Put them together, let them do the deed several times (I usually leave them in for the entire day, overnight if she's still flirting at the end of the day).

Start increasing their grain ration just a LITTLE bit starting a month before breeding. This is called Flushing, and will cause more eggs to drop to be fertilized. This is a good thing, because the more kids a doe has, the smaller they are.

Keep the buck right next to the fencing until they are confirmed bred, then you can move him back to his normal pen. Make sure to leave him there at least a month after each doe is bred to see if they come back in heat.

Continue the doe's increased grain ration until they are confirmed bred, then taper back.

Feed NOTHING but quality alfalfa hay until two weeks before kidding. Then gradually start your does on ration. I usually give my FF 1 lb grain per day.

One week before kidding, start checking ligaments 2x per day and have your kidding supplies/area ready. Once the ligaments go, stay in the area because she'll kid within the next 12 hours.