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Getting Into Breeding
Getting Into Breeding Goats
Breeding goats can be an incredibly rewarding part of goat ownership, but it also comes with responsibilities and complexities that need careful consideration. This guide outlines the key aspects of goat breeding, including preparation, care, and the realities of the process.
Things to Consider Before Breeding
- Breeding Bucks:
- Challenges: Bucks are smelly, messy, and often require their own space. They live shorter, stress-filled lives due to the rut.
- Alternatives: Raise bucklings for a single breeding season, then castrate them.
- Health Risks: Avoid using breeding bucks from other farms to maintain biosecurity.
- Dams (Female Goats):
- Breeding Age: Wait until they are at least a year old or weigh around 70 pounds. Avoid breeding young or inexperienced dams unless you have experience with births.
- Preparation: Proper nutrition, health checks, and planning for birthing season are essential.
Key Steps in Breeding
- Timing:
- Breed your doe in the right season to ensure optimal health and growth for both the mother and the offspring.
- Birthing:
- Normal Cases: 90% of births happen without complications.
- Complications: Be prepared for emergencies—know how to handle difficult births or when to assist.
- Training: Learn how to help with birthing through courses or mentorship.
- Raising Kids:
- Bottle Feeding: For well-socialized kids, pull them from the mother within the first 3 days and bottle-feed.
- Dam-Raised Kids: These require extensive human interaction to remain tame but may not bond as well for specific uses like packing.
Milking After Birth
- Frequency: Start milking twice daily, then reduce to once daily as milk supply stabilizes.
- Production: Average goats can produce up to a gallon of milk daily, which may be more than your household needs.
- Milk Care: Learn how to properly chill and store milk, and understand how to handle mastitis or other udder issues.
Managing Health and Biosecurity
- Nutrition:
- Balanced minerals and a proper diet are critical for pregnant does and kids.
- Avoid sending goats to or from other farms to prevent disease transmission.
- Health Challenges:
- Diseases like CAE and Johne’s are prevalent in goats. Strict biosecurity and health checks are non-negotiable.
- Parasite control and vaccinations are essential for a healthy herd.
Why Breeding is Worth It
- Babies: Raising kids is a joyful experience and allows you to expand or improve your herd.
- Milk Production: Fresh milk offers personal use benefits and can even become a small-scale business.
- Bonding: The process deepens your connection with your goats and enhances your goat-keeping knowledge.
Tips for Success
- Education First: Take courses, join goat clubs, and learn from experienced breeders.
- Plan Ahead: Know your resources, such as vet availability, and have a birthing kit ready.
- Patience is Key: The first few times can be challenging, but preparation and practice make the process smoother.
Encouragement
Breeding goats is a fulfilling and beautiful aspect of goat ownership. With the proper preparation, resources, and dedication, you can enjoy the rewards of baby goats, milk, and a thriving herd. It’s a journey that requires effort but pays off with unforgettable experiences.
Here are two courses that would be extremely helpful for you in our Goat Birthing Course or you can grab the combo course consisting of the Goat Birthing Course and A-Z Milking Goat Course.
