? how old is too old if have never been bred?

backwoods · #1 10/01/12, 02:15 PM

Have an opp to buy 3 reg Saanen does. Don't know if they were ever bred or milked. Nice looking from pic. Owner passed away, and a neighbor is selling them for relative of deceased. My question is, if we can't find out if they were ever bred, what is the likelihood they will, and at what age should we say forget it? We've had goats but always bred them as yearlings, so have no experience with this situation.

CaliannG · #2 10/01/12, 07:43 PM

I have personally seen first fresheners that were 6 years old. They had healthy kids and no kidding problems.

I wouldn't say that 6 years old is the top end. If the does are in good condition, healthy, well fed, and have no mineral deficiencies, as well as being disease-free, I would probably give it a try on a 9 or 10 year old doe.

I think if they were over the age of 10, I wouldn't bother.

mpete · #3 10/01/12, 07:47 PM

I have bred 5 year old does whom I know for a fact had never been exposed. They kidded out twins no problems (1 was nubian, the other maybe a kinder). I would expose them to a smaller buck their first time. You may be able to find out from ADGA if there are any prodagies registered with the doe as dam.

backwoods · #4 10/01/12, 08:43 PM

Thank you both! Always have heard that older goats won't breed, if never bred before, which in a way, never made sense to me. Checking with ADGA is also a good idea! Forgot about that!

CaliannG · #5 10/01/12, 08:53 PM

I've heard that about horses too. I had a neighbor that was a FIRM believer that if a mare had not been bred by the time she was 10 or 12, she'd never catch.

Boy was she surprised when her 17 year old maiden mare gave birth to a bouncing, baby colt after she put her with a yearling stud (who, by the way, according to her, was too YOUNG to breed).

Now, what I *have* found with both older goats and older horses is that they tend to be very, very dominant, and the often won't *stand* for a really young buck. They want a buck more their age and/or status. I have a doe like that. She remained open last year, not because she didn't go into heat, but because she wouldn't stand for either of the boys.

I guess I can understand that. I am in my 40's and if, for some weird act of fate, I was to enter the dating game again, the idea of some 20-something guy just....ewwwww. My *son* is your age! Get away from me! I guess I am a complete fail as a Cougar.

noeskimo · #6 10/01/12, 10:09 PM

CaliannG ; You are a hoot, but correct

backwoods · #7 10/02/12, 12:58 PM

CaliannG you got me chuckling on that one!

Thanks, I'll HAVE to remember that!

Squeaky McMurdo · #8 10/02/12, 04:38 PM

CaliannG. She fails as a cougar but is adept at Japanese Rope Bondage. lol

CaliannG · #9 10/02/12, 07:56 PM

I could explain the rather innocent entrance into learning Shibari, but I think it is so much more fun to have ya'll thinking I am some wild, freaky, kinky gal.