Reproduction

Animal Husbandry > Goat

Disease Management

Reproduction

Doe

Age of attainment of puberty	:	7 months to 1 year
Approximate weight at first mating	:	15-18 kg
Age at first mating or insemination	:	8 months to 12 months
Oestrous cycle	:	Generally every 18-21 days
Duration of heat	:	14 – 48 hours
Gestation period	:	145 – 156 days
Age at first kidding	:	13 –17 months
Ideal kidding rate	:	3 in 2 consecutive years
Service period	:	45 days
Minimum dry period	:	30 days

Signs of heat

Wagging of tail. The frequency of tail movement increases in the presence of males.
Frequent bleating, more so when the goat is alone.
Excitement or restlessness.
Anorexia and lack of interest in feed.
Drop in milk yield.
Vulva becomes swollen and oedematous.
Small quantity of clear discharge from the vagina.
Doe anxiously goes seeking the buck.
It remains close to the buck and allows mounting.
It mounts on other goats and allows to be mounted by others.

Buck

A young buck may be selected based on the production performance of its dam and/or its sisters. Their yield must be 1.5 kg per day. Bucks should be masculine and virile with straight legs and long feet. Preference may be given to the one in the twins or triplets. Must possess good libido and good semen quality. While selecting male goats for meat purpose weight at 6 months should not be less than 12 kg. A buck should be put into service only when it is 10 to 12 months of age.

Age at puberty : 5–7 months.

Age at which kids of different sexes should be separated : 3–5 months.

Age at which training for semen collection can be started : 9 months.

Age upto, which bucks, can be used for breeding purpose : 6–8 years

Gestation period

Symptoms at various stages of gestation in goats

Stage of gestation	Cervix	Vagina	Uterus
Non pregnant or before 25 days	No tension of the wall	Within pelvic cavity no hypertrophy	Located within pelvic cavity, no clear asymmetry of horns (slightly asymmetric in some of the does), harder consistency.
30 days	-do-	Within pelvic cavity	Located at pelvic brim, clear asymmetry of horns with softer and fluid filled consistency.
45 days	Slight stretching of the wall	Located at pelvic brim, slightly hard in consistency but no hypertrophy	Located in front of the pelvic brim, complete retroversion into the pelvic cavity possible. Clear distension of uterus, softer in consistency, horns distinguishable in some cases.
60 days	Stretched forward	At pelvic brim, slightly hypertrophied and soft.	Located in front of the pelvic brim, complete retroversion possible in about 20% cases, marked distension of uterus, fluid filled consistency, uterine horns indistinguishable.
90 days	Stretched forward	In front of pelvic brim, slightly hypertrophied and softer.	Uterus within abdominal cavity, only posterior aspect of uterus palpable. Internal ballotment of foetus possible in 80% of the cases, placentome slip palpable in 30%.
120 days	Slight relaxation of vaginal stretching	In front of pelvic brim, large and soft, difficult to palpate in 20% cases	Only posterior aspect of uterus palpable, internal ballotment of foetus possible and placentome slip palpable in all cases. Foetal parts and large placentomes palpable in 90% of the animals.
145 days	Slight relaxation of vaginal stretching	In front of pelvic brim, large and soft, difficult to palpate in 20% cases.	Foetal parts palpable within pelvic and placentomes palpable in 85% of the animals.

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