When do your does start cycling?

[phantomriver]

GoogleU isn't helping me answer this question but I bet you guys can. I'm in the Southeast US and wondering what is the earliest my Saanens may start cycling naturally. My BoerXs are cycle any time. My buck is starting to show interest already but the Saanens are not impressed yet. I bred in October last year but I would love it if I could breed them for November/Dec babies instead. I know fall is typical cycle time for them but what is the earliest?

[andabigmac]

Sorry, images of a fat boer doe on a Schwinn, rumen sticking out the sides, basket full of flowers, ears flapping in the breeze, ringing the little bike bell, riding down a tree lined lane got stuck in my head.

[wintrrwolf]

I believe your swiss or northern breeds are seasonal breeders so if you are really wanting to change their cycle you might have to do it chemically. My Saanen was an april/march kidder she would not accept the buck no matter how stinky and romantic until october/november.

[AuntKitty]

Depends on how persistent your buck is, I guess. My Nubian doe got bred this January through the fence, just 5 weeks after her December kidding. She never showed heat and he never went into rut, both are at least 5 years old. Knew it could happen but never thought her body would cycle that fast. Must have been the strangely warm winter we had - even for North Florida.

For what its worth, I thought I wanted December kids too and I will never do it again (on purpose anyway). There is just too much going on that time of year.

Kitty

[CarolT]

My Nubian girl was flirting like mad a couple of weeks ago. Made my buck start stinking and getting ready. Last year he didn't start until September or so. Yep, it's an early year.

[saanengirl]

I'm in middle GA. My Saanen does start cycling late September/early October. The earliest breeding I have ever had was August 31.

[Ranger]

I'm in Central Florida, and I have one Nubian doe who is about 30 days pregnant. My other Nubian doe is coming into heat, but won't be bred for about a month and a half. The LaMancha's haven't started yet.

[wolffeathers]

NC here. My yearling doe was mounting our buckling and our senior doe/herd queen was blubbering and and mounting the yearling doe as of last month. They are all nubians.

[cmharris6002]

I'm in Kansas, my Sable Saanen kidded last December. If you don't mind pen breeding you can put the doe in with the buck. His presence will often induce heat. I put two Nubians in with a buck for three weeks this Spring. They were no longer cycling and my buck was out of rut but they still got bred to kid in September.

[mekasmom]

They are like oysters...... think of them starting in a month with an R in it. Sometimes they will breed up to spring too if they aren't already settled. They usually don't breed up to April, but I have seen some be bred Feb/March if they missed the previous fall season.

[saanengirl]

Late February is the latest in the season I have had one conceive.

[CJBegins]

My buck has gone into rut already. My Saanen/togg/alpine doe wants nothing to do with him but her doe that is only 14 weeks old has come into a long drawn out heat cycle that seems like it is a month long. Needless, to say the buck is confined. I am sure the nigerian doe is bred for november kidding.

I really wish there was a birth control beside seperation that I could give the little doeling. She is a mess and just a baby.