Getting Milk goats bred back

[francismilker]

I'm still full of questions on this goat business! I'm wondering if goats are difficult to get bred back while in production. For instance, I have an Alpine that lost triplets back in February. She's in excellent body condition and producing well but I've not noticed her with a heat cycle since birth.

It was a normal birth, but the babies were a little premature and didn't make it. She didn't appear to get too stressed and didn't have much difficulty with it. Just wondering if that might have something to do with it.

As well, once you've got a goat in production after a spring kidding, do you separate them from the buck until Fall and wait until then to rebreed? Do you dry them up prior to Fall breeding? Or, do you simply let them rebreed when they get good and ready?

Thanks all for the constant help you give me on this goat stuff. I'm just so used to cows!

[steff bugielski]

My method might be a bit unconventional but it has worked for me for the last 13+ years.
I keep my buck with my girls 24/7/365

They typically breed in July with December Kids.
I do time their selenium supplements to bring on heat, not sure why this is but it seems to work.

I milk for around 9-10 months depending on the doe. She has already bred with no help from me I just write the date down on the calender.

with good genetic she should produce for 10 months then she gets 2 months off prior to kidding and we start all over again.

Most goats only come into heat once a year so yours most likely will not come into heat until the fall. Is she a first freshener? I find many of them do not understand what that is coming out of them the first time around. The kid needs to yell and make lots of noise to trigger the maternal instinct in some of them.

I would think it would be the same for cattle.

[Alice In TX/MO]

Alpines usually are seasonal breeders. She will come into heat in the fall.

Here's good info to read about breeding:
http://www.fiascofarm.com/goats/breeding.htm

[coso]

With you being in Oklahoma and she being and Alpine. I will guess she won't start cycling until late August early September. My .02.

[saanengirl]

Most dairy does in temperate regions won't cycle naturally after February. Typically they start cycling again in September. Sometimes they will cycle in August, but my does usually start toward the end of September.

[francismilker]

Thanks all for your help. I too have noticed the buck being interested in the boer does but not the milk does.

[mabeane]

my nigies lost her twins due to premature birth in February and has been rebred for October kidding. But...Nigies are not seasonal breeders.