Breeding Basics
There's no denying it, kids and lambs are adorable. Fuzzy little bundles of endless energy and insatiable curiosity, spending even a short time with a baby goat or sheep is guaranteed to bring a smile to your face. So naturally, a new goat or sheep owner might be interested in raising some youngsters, but just what is involved in breeding goats and sheep?
One of the biggest investments of money and time is the male. A single buck or ram can service many does and father kids year after year, but they are difficult animals to house and keep. Even the nicest buck is an unpredictable, dangerous animal and should never be thought of as a pet. Also, even males are naturally herd animals and should have the company of other males or wethers whenever possible.
For a new livestock owner, it's usually easiest to pay a local breeder to take your females for a week or two during which time they come into heat (every 18-21 days during breeding season) and return them. Unless you're planning to make a serious commitment to this, let someone else handle the tough part.
Once your doe or ewe is bred, what do you do? Usually the gestation period (five months) is usually uneventful. You'll want to make sure the doe's hooves are nicely trimmed to prevent strain with the extra weight. After about two months of pregnancy, you should start gradually increasing the amount of grain the mother-to-be is fed. Make sure the females get easy (not strenuous) exercise and their environment is free from unnecessary stress.
How will you know when she is ready to give birth? Start watching the ewe closely after about 140 days. Bagging up (udder filling with milk), discharge, loose tail ligaments, pawing at the ground, and avoiding other goats are all signs of close delivery.
Normally, the pregnant animal will not need you during birth, and you should watch from a reasonable distance. Common presentations include head and both feet first or both back feet first. The doe will normally pass the water sac first, then the kid, then the placenta/afterbirth. She should start licking the baby immediately, but you might want to wipe off it's face and nostrils with a clean towel just in case. It is important to her bonding with the newborn that she clean it. She might also want to eat the afterbirth, which you can remove if you prefer.
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