Whole Goat Care

60 days before I boost the bucks feed and provide a protein block to ensure they have adequate nutrients for sperm production, as well as a slight fat store in case they forget to eat during that first few days of breeding. I do not flush all my does, but if I have a doe that has a history of single births, or needs a boost in body conditioning, I will boost feed and give a protein block to those does.

45 days before I worm my bucks and does, and again 20 days before, to ensure no parasite load.

Hoof trimming happens 30 and 10 days before the first doe goes in, cause once he is in rut there is no handling him for safety reasons, and lets face it, I really so not want to handle pee soaked legs unless I have to. I do the same for does.

30 days prior to breeding my bucks and does get a dose of BoSe

30 days before and the day before I examine the bucks testes and penis for infection, cuts, whatever might cause a problem in breeding.

If I am breeding in a pasture/area different from the bucks normal area I move him 10 to 15 days before breeding begins so he can get used to the area.

the day before does are moved I move feed pans to the buck area and add extra water buckets/troughs.

If I am using a marking harness on the buck I place the harness on him two to three days before.

Starting the week before I reinforce any weak areas in the breeding area and perform daily checks for fence damage. Also I make sure the electric fence is in good shape and nothing is breaking the current.

3 to 4 weeks before the does begin moving to the buck, I will separate the does into breeding groups. I select these groups based on what buck is breeding them and/or the time frame I want the doe bred. I try to make sure that there are no more does in a group that what I have for kidding stalls (if I have 6 stalls then only 5 does go in at a time, trying to keep one week in between each breeding group).

During all this I am also making sure I have one or two areas/stalls clean and available in case a doe gets hurt during breeding.