When to breed Saanen

PrettyPaisley · #1 09/02/10, 12:21 AM

We took Millie and Buddy to establish a relationship with a large animal vet today. I figure we may as well do it before we need help at 3am and don't know them. I hope the $274 we left behind solidifies our new bond.

At least they were in good health. I didn't expect to agree to any chemical wormers or vaccines but I can't risk it. I didn't even think about rabies before he mentioned it.

The vet told me that even though Millie is right at 5 months old and coming into sexual maturity, he would wait to breed her until next year. Is that right? I'm so anxious for baby goats and milk I can't see straight. And since she's my one and only who can reproduce I worry something might happen to her and we will have to start all over.

I've already warned the family that if we can't breed her this fall we will be buying more Saanen doelings in the spring, whether we can get a permit for a few more or not! I am so itching for more goats!

Creamers · #2 09/02/10, 12:33 AM

$274? What on earth for?! Gasp!

I mean. . .I paid less than that to get my vet out of bed at 1 am, for a bottle of dex and a thiamine and an exam to realize what we are dealing with. . .

LOL - Sorry, that just seems so high to me, but you did the right thing in getting a relationship established now. It can make a life and death difference.

If she is 80lbs - the usual weight I and most folks I know go by - at breeding, then breed her. I'm looking for Saanen doelings right now, and the breeders all tell me they breed their good sized doelings in the fall.

Vets just do not know much about goats. . .sad to say.

I don't vaccinate for rabies. . .and I do my own CDT shots, Lysigin and such. To save in the future, I'd look into learning - it isn't hard and will save you a LOT.

shanzone2001 · #3 09/02/10, 01:12 AM

I have a Saanen doe who is possible bred- I bought her 3 months ago. My doeling is now 5 months and I want to breed her, too. Great question!
Geez, Shannon, we live parallel lives!

Minelson · #4 09/02/10, 04:08 AM

I thought there wasn't a rabies vx available for goats?? hmmmmmm.....
Sorry you had to spend so much to establish a relationship...Did you like the vet?

mekasmom · #5 09/02/10, 05:30 AM

Most people just let nature take its course. Goats have been reproducing without help since God created them.
You can do CD-T yourself for about two dollars a goat. Worming runs about the same price.
I hope you end up with the outcome you desire for that price.

Rockytopsis · #6 09/02/10, 06:12 AM

You could try for Jan-Feb breeding if she is 80 pounds or more at that time. That would put her 9-10 months old and the kids would be born June-July.
Nancy

Alice In TX/MO · #7 09/02/10, 07:05 AM

See how she looks/weighs in December or January. You do NOT want to breed her too young.

Buy a doe in milk rather than put the health of your first goats at risk.

#8 09/02/10, 07:12 AM

Keep in mind the size of the buck.

I had a beautiful Snubian named Minerva who got in with my Saanen buck. The baby was too big and I didn't get her to the vet in time. Her uterus got torn and she ended up having to be put down 6 painful weeks later. Minerva was 6 months old at the time of breeding.

I now wait a full year before I breed. Gives me more time to work with them and get them used to the dairy table.

Better to wait than to jump the gun and have the poor creature suffer or have to be put down.

Just because a 12 year old human girl can have a baby doesn't mean it's wise.

FunnyRiverFarm · #9 09/02/10, 10:03 AM

If you don't have experience with breeding and does kidding then I would let the doeling get to at least 100lbs before you breed her. I would expect a 5-6 month old Saanen to be 80lbs or more already. Sometimes moving to a new home can stall growth...if she's not close to 80lbs now, I would most likely keep her dry for 2011. She may not have the rate of growth needed to continue growing herself and easily deliver large, healthy kids.

mylala · #10 09/02/10, 02:09 PM

I have two doeling Saanens born May 31 that i plan to breed when they are 7 months old so they will kid at one year old. Their weight should be around 90-100 lbs when bred if they keep progressing at the same rate. Their momma did this and she did just fine.

Just my opinion but a twelve year old HUMAN girl is nothing like a yearling animal....way too many differences to make that comparison.

LaManchaPaul · #11 09/02/10, 03:46 PM

I agree with FunnyRiverFarm. Except they might be well over 80 lbs when they come in heat in Dec. or Jan. I'd wait til winter, but if possible; I wouldn't wait till next year.

I'll breed my Saanen doelings for experimental LaMancha crosses/ (the buck is much smaller than the Saanen buck.)

That is a great idea to find a vet now. Goat rabies vax is news to me. I know that you will need wormers - specific for your area, and they are expensive. Would you consider posting the items that costs that much money; 'cause I can't imagine! ?

Good luck with your new adventure. I hope that you enjoy your goats as much as I like the little stinkers! AND I LOVE the milk, cheese, and soaps.

PrettyPaisley · #12 09/02/10, 04:03 PM

But she just doesn't seem that big to me. He wasn't able to weigh her because the scale was down but she just can't be close to 80 pounds.

So I don't have to worry about her being pregnant in the summer months? I was pregnant in June/July/August in the NC summer *with* air conditioning-I can't imagine having to live outside in that condition!

How do I weigh her? Take the bathroom scale outside and see if I can get her on it? I'm not being snarky-it's the only scale I own!

The receipt is in the other car but I will list the breakdown later. And I called to find out what type of rabies vaccine they gave her and am a bit ticked off. They gave her a large animal vaccine knowing she is smaller than many breeds of dogs! It's a horse vaccine called Imrab. I went back and read the bio on the doctor off the website and it seems horses are his forte. I'm a bit upset by this; the reason I do not like to submit anyone I care about to vaccines without first researching them! They told me this is what they give to cows and horses and goats-large animals.

shanzone2001 · #13 09/02/10, 04:05 PM

Can you set a piece of plywood on the scale and have her stand on it...then deduct the weight of the plywood???

Alice In TX/MO · #14 09/02/10, 04:11 PM

Use a tape measure and the conversion table on this page:
http://fiascofarm.com/goats/weight-chart.htm

Alice In TX/MO · #15 09/02/10, 04:12 PM

I think the rabies was a rip-off. Find another vet.

PrettyPaisley · #16 09/02/10, 04:20 PM

UGH! I live outside of Charlotte. Where the heck will I find another vet that will see my goats?

Fiddlesticks. I knew it was too good to be true.

Thanks for the chart. I've got a tape measure so that will work just fine!

Cheryl aka JM · #17 09/02/10, 04:28 PM

The rabies was a rip off. So was the entire price. Does the vet advertise himself as a large animal vet? $275 for vaccines and advice with no weight...... Don't go back to that vet. Look around your area for property with nice animals on them. Large animals (your goats are small but a large animal vet is what you need) Then approach the houses that own those animals and explain that your new in the area, see that they have great looking animals and would they recommend their vet to you? Get several opinions if you can. You'll make new friends and find the better vet in the area.

PrettyPaisley · #18 09/02/10, 04:53 PM

Here's the thing-it didn't look like a hole in the wall!

http://www.greenockfarm.com/

Wouldn't that look like a decent place to take a goat?

But SO and I were talking about the rabies thing. In Mecklenburg County were we live if we were required to vaccinate the goats for rabies (like is required for cats and dogs) animal control would have required it before issuing us a permit for the goats. I think we were taken this time. Live and learn ...

Minelson · #19 09/02/10, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PrettyPaisley

Here's the thing-it didn't look like a hole in the wall!

http://www.greenockfarm.com/

Wouldn't that look like a decent place to take a goat?

nope...it's too nice. Looks like high prices to me.
Here is what I would do...check with other small town small animal vets. The vet where I work (small animal clinic) USED to be a large animal vet. A lot of small animal vets left large animal because of the hours/risk/weather. He doesn't know a lot about goats...there just are not too many vets that do...but he has larger animal experience and a great mind for science. He has helped me figure out stuff for my goats and knows all about using meds off label. Also...he used to be a vet for a sale barn. So check those too and ask if they have a vet who "knows" goats. And of course ask any breeders in the area...For minerals/wormers/supplements/health issues I always start here on the forum. If there was an emergency like a laceration, eye injury, skin disease I would feel confident with my small animal vet....and since he is my boss I can call on him anytime

HappyFarmer · #20 09/02/10, 05:42 PM

I just wanted to chime in here about the cost for the check up. In my neck of the woods that is about what they charge, too. Very expensive compared to other areas of the country. I will admit I'm a bit shocked that in NC you are seeing those prices, but up here they are common.

Disbudding: $40/goat
Dehorning 6 month goat: $180
Spay female pyrenees, 6 months: $350 with mandatory bloodwork, overnight stay, everything.
Rabies for 2 (maybe 3) month old pup: $45.00, no office visit because that was on my part of the bill.
Lyme disease test: $80.00 mandatory 3 tests: lyme, heartworm, and a 3rd I don't recall, again office visit was extra.

I think that rabies vaccination should be illegal-to the best of my knowledge and according to 1 of my vets, there is not rabies vaccination for goats, and it is given off-label. My other vet never heard of vaccinating goats for rabies.

So the purpose of my post is to say that others near you and in close states are saying the price you paid is too high, I'll bet you can find a better vet that is more reasonable. Oh, and I have developed a wonderful monetary relationship with my vet, lucky you. I paid over $2500 in the past 11 months alone, and my vet wont give me a Nuflor prescription to keep on hand, nor Bose. She wants the office visit, exam, and prescription charges to my account.
What's worse, she now has an assistant, fresh out of college, who received about an hour of training on goats, who's going to help me with my herd management. Go figure.

HF