lost a kid, any idea why??

[lilfarm]

Camille, my oldest goat had her babies today. I didn't have my goats bred theast 3 years and this year bought a buck. Last time she had 4. This time she had 3. I got to the barn and the babies were still wet, one was dead. It was half the size of the other two. All developed, white soft hooves. Do you think it was born dead? Could it have died a couple weeks ago or would it have started to decompose in her? Thanks!

[Clovers_Clan]

Were the baby's eyes open (not still fused)? Had teeth erupted? Any other signs of prematurity. One of my does last year had twins, a healthy one and a stillborn. The stillborn was obviously of a different gestational age, meaning it had stopped developing in utero. I presume it had died of trauma, another goat slamming her. The kid was not mummified, no deterioration, flexible, no rigor mortis but you could tell full of fluid. The eyes were not open, no teeth had emerged, large skull with tiny muzzle, tiny features. It had the look of an immature fetus. And its body was all folded up like what you'd expect in utero, head tucked back. Is that how the baby looked?

This year, I also lost a tiny triplet. Actually he was much smaller than the stillborn from the year before. Very tiny, very thin, but fully formed, eyes open, teeth emerged. He looked full term. But very tiny and weak. He just wasn't getting a good enough share between 3 babies. He only survived about 24hrs. After he passed. his body was limp, neck extended, legs loose, not tucked up like the stillborn.

Hope these observations help. And sorry for your loss.

[lilfarm]

I didn't even think to feel for teeth. Its eyes were open. She didn't even clean it off at all. That's why I am thinking it was dead already. The other two were still wet and she was still cleaning them off when I got out there. But then again it was not bloated so maybe was just weak and she didn't get to it quick enough. Its sad to see. Thank you.

[lilfarm]

Oh and she was slightly curled, limp, legs out.

[chewie]

I had one like this too. ethel had 3, but walked over tiny one to tend the other 2. wouldn't even consider it, and when I showed it to her, she acted like "what about it, its not worth it, now let me lick those over there!" I tried to keep it going but it didn't make it, ethel knew better. it was about half the size it shoulda been. just a fluke I would guess, they all don't make it.

[LomahAcres]

When she was bred did you run the buck with her or pen breed for only a few hours?

When you run the buck with the doe it is possible for her to have a 'false' heat, followed by her cycle - usually within 5 days. It is also possible for her become bred/pregnant both times. I had a doe kid this way once. So you have kids growing - one 5 days younger then the others. Most likely the kid died because it suffocated in the sack - either she was too long in birth, or the kids were born too closely together and she could not clean them off fast enough. All you can do is guess really, without having witnessed the birth.