Mating and Reproduction
There are a lot of differing opinions about when the best time is to wean a baby goat. Some say 6-8 weeks is ideal, while others recommend weaning by bodyweight rather than age.
Baby goats are little bundles of fluffy joy – until you wean them, and they pass all hours of the day (and night) calling for their moms.
Whether you’re bottle-feeding or relying on the doe to raise her baby, there comes a point at which the kid must be separated from its primary source of milk, but when can a baby goat leave its mother?
There are a lot of differing opinions about when the best time is to wean a baby goat. Some say 6-8 weeks is ideal, while others recommend weaning by bodyweight…
If your goat is pregnant, it's far more likely she's expecting "kids" plural rather than a "kid" singular. While singleton caprine pregnancies occur, the doe most often has twins or triplets -- or more. Rarely, goats may give birth to five kids.
If your goat is pregnant, it's far more likely she's expecting "kids" plural rather than a "kid" singular. While singleton caprine pregnancies occur, the doe most often has twins or triplets -- or more. Rarely, goats may give birth to five kids.
Goat Fertility and Kidding
Most female goats are seasonal breeders, going into estrus in the fall and giving birth in late winter or early spring. Goat gestation lasts between 145 to 155 days, or a little less than five months. Ideally, goat breeders…
When raising dairy goats, the first step is breeding the doe. You may then wonder, “How long is goat gestation?” Taking a look through the entire process will set you up for a more successful start.
Before breeding, some goat owners will flush her, to bring up pre-pregnancy weight. Flushing is done by adding extra grain or higher-quality forage to the doe’s diet and can cause her to release more eggs during estrus, thereby increasing the chances of a successful breeding.
Seasonal Breeders
Most goat breeds, including most dairy breeds, are seasonal breeders, meaning they come into a season of estrus for a few months out of the year. This includes Pygoras, a fiber-producing breed. Nigerian…
