Breeding for early Winter Kidding

[bpawb]

We have nubians and they are already going in heat, I keep telling myself wait until October 'ish.

My question is - Do many of your does kid in Dec/Jan & what are the advantages and disadvantages in kidding that time of year?

[rootsandwings]

I used to kid only in late spring/summer. now I stagger for milk levels, but I have found that February kids are stronger and have fewer parasite issues, even long-term. Also the kids are weaned as the pasture comes in instead of when it is going out, and are ready to breed the first year.

Disadvantage is keeping them warm and kid watch in bad weather.

[KSALguy]

the disadvantages would be mostly corrected due to the fact that your in GA and its not as cold there as it is up north, if you dont mind possibly being out in the barn to help them kid if need be then there reallys isnt that much of a problem,

[steff bugielski]

I love Dec/ Jan babies.
No many parasites to worry about and my advantage is I sell most off for meat and they are just the right size for Easter.
As for the cold, I do not worry about it. The barn gets closed up tight at night. I have had babies dropped out in the pasture in sub freezing temps. They made it just fine.
This year we had a few born in March and what a hassle, they are now 3+ months old and no buyers, had to give extra herbs for parasites. And they drink all my milk just when I have lots of customers who want to buy it.

[kasilofhome]

10 does--note outside temp reach minus 40 during this time. In the basement a birthing pen is installed. It is very common her to do so. Winter bottle babies are common.

[chamoisee]

I used to breed mine on their first heat. Since they were Alpines, this had them kidding in February, which is often the most brutal month here in northern Idaho, with temps as low as -35. It doesn't get that cold here anymore but my point is that they kidded out fine at those temps, with no losses due to cold. The early spring kids grew out the best and were then ready to breed (I bred them late in the fall to allow for growth) to kid as yearlings. This saved me a lot of money and time in terms of progress on the breeding program.

[billygoatridge]

Ditto to most of the previous posts. Much healthier faster growing kids because of parasites and much higher market prices in winter thru early spring for your left over or cull kids. I got $1/lb less for my later kids that I sold in june than I did in April.

[Oat Bucket Farm]

We plan on breeding the girls this month when they cycle again. We will see if the boys are up for it.

[houndlover]

No more winter babies for me. Too much work, no green grass, cold babies, threat of electricity out, snowed in, too many other winter worries to be dealing with goats and milking. If you have a lot of time to devote to goats, go for it. Spring babies grow faster.