Age or weight?

[Reed77]

Do you judge when a doe is ready by age or weight/shape? I'm starting a boer herd and trying to guess when my doe's will be ready (after I do the tests needed!) My does' still have months before being ready to be bred.

[Alice In TX/MO]

Weight. Age doesn't work if they aren't well nourished or if stunted by coccidia.

[Reed77]

So what would be a good weight for a boer doe?

thank you Alice!

[Alice In TX/MO]

Mmmmm. The target for dairy does is 90 pounds. I don't have Boers, so it's purely a guess that 90 pounds would be a reasonable weight for Boers, too. 100 if you are worried.

I found an article about evaluating meat goat does:
http://www.cals.ncsu.edu/an_sci/exte...6/nov96-2.html

[ozark_jewels]

Yes, always weight and condition. Never age.
My dairy does are 80-90+ lbs when breeding season hits. My Boer does were always the same before I bred them.
You must also be sure you have them on a constant gain pattern. If you breed them, then their growth stalls due to management, that can be a real problem. If you are not sure of your management yet, its better to wait until they are bigger to be safe.

[Goat Servant]

We wait for 10mos AND 100lbs.

[saanengirl]

I have a minimum age for breeding which is 7 months, but I rarely breed my does that early. After 7 months of age, I want a doe to be at least 90 lbs and in good body condition before breeding.