life expectancy?

[TxCloverAngel]

I have just been in contact with a breeder of Mini lamanchas (thanks for the hook-up Vicki!!) and am considering buying a few 3 yr old girls from them..
How long do they live?
How long do they produce good milk?
and at what age should I stop breeding them?
wow that's my record I think... 3 questions in one post! hehe Thanks!

[GoldenWood Farm]

Ok..let me try to answer your questions

1. I believe they can live for about 14-15 years (does)..but that I might add is a doe who I believe hasn't been bred before. As for does who freshen every year I would say 13 years?

2 & 3. I haven't been in goats long enough to know. My friend generally stops freshening her full size La Manchas between 10-12 years of age. Depending on how well the doe holds up through kidding. So if she had a 9 or 10 year old doe who was having problems kidding (but never had them before) she would let her retire. But if she is still going strong she would breed her and have her in milk again. So how long they have good milk I guess is how long you breed them. I mean some people just keep them freshened for a couple of years. But most just breed them every year.

Hope that helps!

Oh yes and GO MINI MANCHAS! I my self am getting into the little bugger . I so far have one buck lol.

MotherClucker

[Vicki McGaugh TX Nubians]

I am not sure there enough of the crosses around to tell you how long they live, and not enough breeders breeding them long enough to have old does We had several Lamancha's who kidded at 10 and 11 and milked long lactations on really good feet and legs, once they can no longer be bred or milked, they usually also loose their place in the pecking order, a sad thing for a herd queen, so we opt to put them down. With CAE tested for in most dairy animals, longevity of does is up. Keeping the goats in good health, having their teeth checked once around 5 or 6 and then doing it yearly, keeping their feet trimmed, not letting them get obesse, keeping them bred and/or milking, no long extended dry times. Barren does who are allowed to get fat rarely live long lives, and fat does have a hard time getting bred when older. Bucks are usually sterile around 9 or 10 long before they would die a natural death. Vicki