Mike's Backyard Nursery

The Most Fun You Can Have With Your Bibs On!

  • Home
  • Recommended Tools
  • Products
  • Categories
    • Complete Guides
    • Gardening
    • Growing
    • Landscape Design
    • Plant Care
    • Propagation
  • Contact
  • About Mike
Home » Rural Living » 9 Tips for Breeding Goats

9 Tips for Breeding Goats

Updated : December 18, 2014

5 Comments

9 Tips for Breeding GoatsBreeding goats successfully depends on several factors and the implementation of good breeding practice.

Body condition of the animals, correctly recognizing the signs of heat and rut, mating conditions, parasite infestation, vaccination status, hoof condition, weaning of older kids and newborn nutrition are all important aspects of breeding to consider when creating the best environment for reproduction.

My Secret Potting Soil Recipe

1. Body Condition

In farm animals, the term fleshing refers to the overall body condition of the animal. Factors that can result in poor body condition include late kidding of twins and triplets, poor quality of pasture grasses and worm infestation.

Apart from noticing an obviously thin or overweight animal, determining an animal’s body condition takes hands on practice. When learning how to determine body condition in goats, practice should first take place by feeling the bodies of obviously thin and overweight animals.

Knowing the feel for the extreme conditions helps the breeder to learn what is moderate. The most obvious places on the animal to determine fleshing are over the ribs and on either side of the spine.

More practiced hands can detect body condition in less obvious areas such as the backbone, the hooks, the loin edges, the tail heads and the pins.

Related: This Secret Potting Soil Recipe Will Surprise the HECK Outta You

After breeders develop a feel for their animal’s condition, it is important to frequently monitor the goats and adjust feeding amounts accordingly.

When breeders observe fleshing well before breeding season, there should be ample time to correct any problems. Does that are too thin will produce less twins and triplets and maintain lower weaning rates.

Overweight does usually do not present with problems except for an occasional case of toxemia. Preparing an underweight doe for successful breeding begins one month before she goes into heat.

Flushing, or increasing the animal’s dietary intake begins at this time. Methods of augmenting a doe’s diet include moving her to a more productive pasture, adding corn and cotton seed to the food supply and administering 1/2 lb. per day of a high energy supplement.

2. Parasite infestation

Goats that have a significant worm infestation are not in good condition for breeding. Signs of worm infestation are a thin appearance with an inability to gain weight and rough hair.

An optimal time to deworm both males and females is before the onset of breeding season. Deworming does in the first 60 days of pregnancy is risky and may cause the fetuses to abort.

Free Today: Download These Simple Potting Bench Plans and Simple Hoop House Plans

Near the time of kidding, the hormonal changes in the doe create an environment conducive to worm egg production.

Because of this, does should be dewormed two to three weeks before kidding to prevent the spread to other animals.

3. Recognizing Heat in Breeding Goats

The onset of fertility in does appears early in life, sometimes as soon as two months of age. Normally, goat fertility begins between four to six months old.

The range occurs because goats breed seasonally in the fall. To ensure an optimal outcome, does should not be allowed to breed until they are at least seven months old.

Every 20 days or so, does will enter into estrus, or heat during the breeding season. Adult does display distinctive signs at this time, though the display is not as obvious in kids.

During estrus, the doe will display vigorous tail wagging, the vulva will swell and redden, her normal short bleats will develop into longer cries, she may mount other goats and allow herself to be mounted and she may fight with other goats.

Special: A Quick and Easy Way to Make Money at Home Growing Plants

She will also begin to parade in front of the males and rub up against their fence. A decrease in milk production may be noticed due to an increase in activity and less interest in feeding.

At the onset of estrus, the doe will emit a thin, clear vaginal discharge which whitens toward the end of the period. The duration of heat ranges from 12 to 48 hours.

Approximately 24 hours into the time frame, the doe will begin standing heat which means she stands firmly allowing bucks to mount her. Ovulation happens anywhere from 12 to 36 hours from the beginning of standing heat.

4. Determining Rut in Breeding Goats

Male goats known as bucks present with specific behavior during mating season. The behavior characteristic to breeding readiness is referred to as rut.

During rut, bucks emit an unpleasant odor resulting from the animal urinating into his own mouth and spreading the urine on his beard, chest and face.

The urine causes yellowing of the hair and can also burn the hair completely off the skin. An odor is also emitted from scent glands located near the buck’s horns.

Related: This Secret Potting Soil Recipe Will Surprise the HECK Outta You

Both scents are attractive to does. The males exhibit distinctive facial gestures at this time by curling the upper lip. They also grunt, blubber and snort.

Activity levels are greatly increased while they fight and mount each other and can engaging in breeding up to 20 times a day during rut.

Dietary increase may be necessary due to the extra exertion. Beet pulp, leafy branches and grain are good dietary additives during rut.

5. Mating Conditions

When the presence of estrus is determined in a doe, she may be placed in together with a buck. The sexual activity lasts for a few seconds. The pair should be allowed to mate two or three times during a session to ensure fertilization.

Success is usually determined when the doe fails to enter again into estrus. On occasion, a doe will refuse to mate with a specific buck. Also, some older bucks fail to show interest in younger does.

6. Vaccinations

Enterotoxemia and tetanus vaccines should be administered to the animals to ensure a healthy breeding flock.

New: Video Reveals a Simple Way to Root Plants from Cuttings (Watch Now!)

Bucks are vaccinated yearly and Does are administered the vaccine approximately five weeks before kidding to allow the immunity to be passed to the kids.

7. Trimming the Hooves

Poorly maintained hooves in goats can be a great impediment to breeding. The animals are often unable to move well and limp.

A doe that is limping may refuse to mate and bucks with hoof problems experience less mating or none at all.

8. Weaning the Kids

Kids that are allowed to nurse and pasture alongside their mothers are relatively healthier than those that are weaned earlier.

As a rule, kids should be allowed to nurse as long as the mother’s body condition does not begin to deteriorate. Allowing the mother enough time to regain good fleshing is essential for a healthy outcome in the next breeding season.

Kids that are weaned may show signs of Coccidia infection. The disease should be treated immediately because it damages the lining of the intestine which ultimately inhibits growth.

New: Video Reveals a Simple Way to Root Plants from Cuttings (Watch Now!)

9. Newborn Nutrition

Colostrum is the most essential first food for newborn kids. Colostrum contains essential antibodies and a concentrated supply of vitamins and nutrients.

It is extremely important that colostrum is the first food newborn kids receive after a sucking reflex is established. Weaker kids may need assistance from a bottle or tube.

It is imperative that the antibodies are ingested before the kid comes in contact with its mothers bacteria contaminated teats.

A healthy goat population can be achieved by following a few important guidelines. Observation of animal health and implementation of good breeding practices helps to ensure a sturdy and productive herd.

Take a gander at these posts...

  • Tips On Planting Bulbs
  • Mike’s New Nursery… From The Beginning!
  • 9 Things to Consider Before Moving to the Country
  • 7 Ideas for More Energy Efficient Homes
  • 7 Reasons Why You Should Get a Goat

Comments

  1. Peg Bastin says

    July 21, 2013 at 12:06 pm

    I get lots of great ideas from your newsletter! Not just plants, but building, and goats, and helpful hints from other subscribers. I do have one question though… did you pick names for your goats or did I miss the newsletter with that info? Thanks again for so much helpful info.

    Reply
    • Mike says

      July 21, 2013 at 9:03 pm

      Peg,

      We were name searching for the donkeys and we did pick names. Finnegan and Fergus. New photos coming soon.

      Reply
  2. James says

    July 11, 2013 at 3:00 am

    Just a heads up,

    I’ve unsubscribed to your email list because you’ve lost focus on growing plants. I’m in no way interested in goats or donkeys.

    Good luck & thanks for the older plant growing content that you had in the past.

    Reply
    • Mike says

      July 11, 2013 at 7:53 am

      James,

      I’m not sure why you unsubscribed but it’s not because I’ve lost focus on plants. I’m putting out more plant related content now than ever in the past.

      Because many of our readers, customers and most importantly prospects are interested in things like bee keeping, raising goats, miniature donkeys we are trying to diversify to keep people interested.

      The donkey are my project and if you look at the comments on the donkey post my list is overwhelmingly enthused about me getting donkeys. Doesn’t mean I’ll stop doing plants, but people who can’t have donkeys will enjoy seeing mine. People who visit my nursery will enjoy the donkeys.

      Most of the content about goats and bees and who knows what’s next is posted by Duston in a effort to engage people on our list and give them an opportunity to share their expertise in different areas.

      It’s rare, if ever, that I send out a newsletter that doesn’t have a focus about plants. Although I do appreciate my critics, they keep me on my toes, I wish for just a millisecond that people could realize how much effort and work it takes come up with new content and new photos to use in these posts each week.

      Keep in mind, we don’t get paid for creating content and the only ads on these pages are for the one and only product that I sell to support the 10,000 plus hours I’ve devoted to this.

      I’ve been doing this for over 14 years. Subscribers come and go, I know that. I’m fine with that. Many of them often come back. I’m also aware that I can’t please everybody, not everybody is going to like me and there’s nothing I can do about that.

      So for those who appreciate the effort that me and my very talented and capable team (that would be Duston, Amber and Cathy) put into creating unique content that you can’t find all over the web, stay tuned. We’re listening, our goal is to provide you with good information and if we can make you smile every now and then all the better.

      Sincerely,
      -Mike McGroarty

      Reply
      • Coleen says

        July 11, 2013 at 12:20 pm

        I celebrate getting all your posts. I think many of us relate because we’re trying to get more self sufficient. Don’t stop putting posts out because of one person who is not satisfied. I’m just getting to know about goats but I’m pasturing two. It is getting easier because I learn as I go. Thanks Mike

        Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Busting Gardening Myths!

Posted On May 1, 2022 By Mike

How to Move Heavy things the Easy Way.

Posted On April 13, 2022 By Mike

21 Plants that are Easy to Grow and Sell Like Crazy!

Posted On March 25, 2022 By Mike

Hardwood cuttings of Dappled Willow.

Rooting Dappled Willow from Hardwood Cuttings and Starting a Fun Little Business with Nothing but a Handful of Sticks.

Posted On March 21, 2022 By Mike

Tips and Tricks for Growing Plants from Seed.

Posted On February 2, 2022 By Mike

What is a Plant Patent and How Do they Work?

Posted On November 12, 2021 By Mike

Dianthus, Appleblossom Burst

Fall Plant Sale at Mike’s Plant Farm!

Posted On August 8, 2021 By Mike

Mike McGroarty sucks at landscape design.

My Landscape Design Skills Suck!

Posted On May 8, 2021 By Mike

Japanese maples balled in burlap.

How to put a ball and burlap on a bare root tree that has been previously dug.

Posted On April 15, 2021 By Mike

Mike McGroarty interviews a successful backyard grower from Tennessee.

Mike Interviews a Very Successful Backyard Grower from Tennessee.

Posted On February 23, 2021 By Mike

Complete Guides

Growing, Rooting and Propagating Dappled Willow in Tree Form from Cuttings.

Growing Seeds, Winter Sowing, in Milk Jugs and Kitty Litter Jugs.

The Correct Way to Pot Rooted Cuttings, Nursery Stock Liners and other Plants.

Training Arborvitae and other Conical Evergreens to Grow with a Single Leader.

How to Propagate, Root Cuttings, of Dwarf Alberta Spruce.

Recent Posts

Mike McGroarty sucks at landscape design.

My Landscape Design Skills Suck!

That's what he told me. He said my landscape design skills totally suck. Or something to that effect. Last summer when I did a post about landscape lighting some helpful visitor to my website suggested that I stick to growing plants because I was a … Read Full Article

Japanese maples balled in burlap.

How to put a ball and burlap on a bare root tree that has been previously dug.

One of the most important things you need to learn as a gardener is that there is a digging or transplanting season that has a beginning and an end. Digging season starts in the fall, usually around Thanksgiving, after deciduous plants have lost their leaves. … Read Full Article

Mike McGroarty interviews a successful backyard grower from Tennessee.

Mike Interviews a Very Successful Backyard Grower from Tennessee.

See more photos and learn more about Nathan and his nursery here. Questions, comments, mean things to say? Post them below and I will respond. Until then, by any and all means stay inspired! I often share this quote with Our Members . . . “Until one … Read Full Article

Red Prince Weigela

Red Prince Weigela

Red Prince Weigela is one of the best selling plants that I grow. I guess it's the striking red flowers that attract attention that make it such a great seller. Red Prince grows well in zones 4 through 8. Red Prince loves full sun but it will also … Read Full Article

Bare Root Japanese Maple Trees about to be Heeled in.

Digging and storing bare root trees for later potting.

These are rules for digging trees and other plants. Only dig trees or plants when they are dormant. Here in Ohio dormancy occurs usually right before Thanksgiving, after we've had at least on night with temps down around 28 degrees F. or lower.That's when … Read Full Article

Copyright © 1999-2022 · McGroarty Enterprises Inc. · Privacy Policy · Earnings Disclaimer · Terms of Service