? on Goat terminology

Naturaldane · #1 07/14/08, 07:04 PM

Ok, so, I used to think I knew allot about goats, only to find out that the more sirous I get about breeding that I didnt know as much as I thought I did.
Reading my Goat Rancher I noticed ads for stud service and something new seems to have been added to the list.
What does to flush mean exactly and why does it cost so much more? I'm at a loss, you can flush out a bitch or a mare to clean her out befor breeding but its not that costly of a thing, nor complicated to add to the expence so I'm thinking it may be something totaly different.

ann fr · #2 07/14/08, 08:01 PM

I may be wrong but I believe flushing is to feed a little extra ,condition does before breeding.Supposed to help them drop more eggs. Also as part of flushing some people well host a buck near the does pens to help them drop more eggs, for multiple kids.Some people do this with sheep too.
Like I said I could be wrong. Maybe what you read was about something differant.

**mygoat** · #3 07/14/08, 08:05 PM

Flushing is increasing a doe's grain intake so she is on an incline plane of health when bred. This causes her to drop more eggs.

I don't know what you mean as it being costly. You don't increase grain THAT much to flush. I also don't know why it would be in a stud service ad... ?

AnnaS · #4 07/14/08, 08:11 PM

It's part of an embryo transfer. A really good doe is treated with fertility drugs so she super-ovulates. She's then bred and her embryos are harvested and placed in receipient does who will carry them to term. Or the embryos can be frozen like AI semen, and sold and later inserted in recepient does.

Link for more info: http://motesclearcreekfarms.com/asp/...fer-step-4.asp

This is more common in dairy cattle than goats. The very best cows can have hundreds of calves with embryo transfer. Looks like there are some Boer breeders doing ET too. It's been done, but is uncommon in dairy goats.

AnnaS · #5 07/14/08, 08:18 PM

I was writing my post when ann & mygoats were posting... we are all correct.

Flushing is the term for feeding an increasing amount of nutrition in the month before breeding. This encourages the doe (or ewe) to produce more eggs, since the food supply is good.

Flushing is *also* the term for the hi-tech procedure I described.

If there's a huge $$$ difference, I would hope it's for ET harvest, and not just a couple of extra lbs. of grain!

Naturaldane · #6 07/14/08, 08:40 PM

Its not something I seen before, not that I have had much of a chance, but in this latest issue, they offer 500 stud fee or a 1000 for a flush and a 100 for a straw, hence why I considered using AI for my does to get them the best. I feed my goats well, and I dont believe in messing with mother nature reproductions, so fertility drugs dont apeal to me.

But for a grand for a breeding, I'd say the redneck would come out on me and say I want something more than just a breeding for that amount..lol.. Ahh, just not "into" it enough I supose, maybe one day.