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Goats: Breeding

Goats: Breeding. 3116 Lora Sommers. I. BREEDING SYSTEMS. A. Different breeding systems offer advantages and disadvantages.    1. The most important factor in the development of breeding animals is selection.

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Goats: Breeding

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  1. Goats: Breeding 3116 Lora Sommers

  2. I. BREEDING SYSTEMS. A. Different breeding systems offer advantages and disadvantages.    1. The most important factor in the development of breeding animals is selection. 2. Some breeding systems are used more often in commercial operations than in purebred operations and vice versa.

  3. 3. Several factors should be considered in determining the breeding system to use: a. Climatic conditions - some breeds and crosses are more adaptable to certain weather conditions than others.     b. Markets - the location and type of market will influence the breeding system used.     c. Knowledge of genetics - some breeding systems are genetically more complicated than others.     d. Size of operation - certain breeding systems require more space than others.

  4. 3. Several factors should be considered in determining the breeding system to use: e. Personal preference - this has a direct influence on the system selected as some individuals prefer one system over another.     f. Available resources - this includes financing, equipment, and labor. g. Goals of the breeder - the production and economic goals of the breeder can dictate which system is used.

  5. B. Grading up.   1. Grading up is the process of mating purebred males to commercial females. a. The purpose of this system is to improve the quality, develop uniformity, and increase performance in the offspring or progeny.        b. Breeding replacement females from within the commercial herd back to purebred sires results in offspring that are more genetically like the purebred sire.        c. A noticeable improvement through the fourth generation can be expected when this system is used. After the fourth generation, the herd will carry 94 percent of the purebred characteristics of the sire.

  6. C. Crossbreeding. 1. Crossbreeding is the mating of two different purebred animals.      2. Many commercial breeder refer to the progeny of grade animals as one breed mated to a purebred sire with the result being crossbreds or F1's.      3. This system may be referred to as indiscriminate crossbreeding.      4. Two principal reasons for crossbreeding are to combine the desirable characteristics of two or more purebreds to form a new group of individuals which will have greater adaptability and to produce hybrid vigor or heterosis.      5. New breeds have been developed through working with this system, but more commercial breeders are interested in developing quality offspring than in starting a new breed.

  7. D. Inbreeding. 1. This is a practice of breeding animals that have closely related ancestors on both sides within the last four or five generations. 2. Inbreeding is used more in purebred operations than in commercial operations. 3. The purposes for inbreeding are to concentrate the inheritance and to fix desirable traits in a group of animals.

  8. E. Linebreeding. 1. This is less intense form of inbreeding which is used to maintain and further improve animals. 2. Like inbreeding, linebreeding is more often used in purebred operations. 3. The breeder using the linebreeding system should recognize the potentials and limitations.

  9. II. Selecting a Breeding Season A. An integral part of the returns from the producer's investment is affected by the selection of the breeding season and the related birth season.

  10. B. A number of factors must be considered in selecting a breeding season. 1. Climatic conditions - A particularly important consideration since it affects the amount of equipment, feed, and housing needed. 2. Available labor - This may determine the system of mating to use, as well as the time of year the offspring are born. 3. Time animals are to be marketed - Prices are usually better during certain periods of the year. 4. Equipment and housing available. 5. Availability of grazing. 6. Livestock show dates. 7. Purpose for which livestock is produced.

  11. A. Season of birth, temperature, nutrition, rate of maturity, and heredity affect the age at which animals reach puberty. B. It should be emphasized that age of puberty and breeding age are two distinct areas. 1. Just because an animal has reached puberty does not mean that it is capable of reproducing. 2. Usually, it is advisable to allow animals to develop and mature after reaching puberty. 3. Breeding ages will vary according to the development of the animals within a breed and among the breeds within a specie.

  12. 4. Although the recommended breeding age varies, the doeling can be bred when she reaches nine months of age or about 75-95 pounds, if she is in very good health C. Breeding ages for males.  1. Breeding ages of males is not as important as for the female.    2. The principle consideration is the number and quality of offspring that the male can sire in a given season.    3. Total number of services allowed will vary according to age, development, health, temperament, condition, breeding system used (hand or pasture mating), and distribution of services.

  13. IV. Reproductive Cycles of Goats A. Factors that control reproductive cycles of females include: 1. Duration of the heat period (estrus).      2. Duration of the heat interval (estrous).      3. Time of ovulation in relation to heat.      4. Gestation period for pregnant females. B. The heat interval (estrous) is the internal reproductive and hormonal changes the female has on a scheduled basis after reaching puberty. C. The heat period (estrus) is a part of the heat interval during which the hormones estrogen and progesterone are secreted by the female ovaries.

  14. D. Does begin to cycle in the late summer and show signs of heat (estrus) for 2-3 days about every 21 days until mid-March. E. The strongest heat cycles occur in November, December, and January. 1. These hormones, especially estrogen, cause outward signs of receptivity to breeding to which males can respond. Signs of heat in the does are restlessness, bleating, bossiness, frequent urination, flagging tail and a swollen, red or wet vulva.      2. Count 21 weeks ahead on the calendar (5 months) and mark the due date.      3. She will kid in about 145 to 151 days.      4. A mature doe often carries twins or triplets.

  15. 5. To maintain milk production over a period of years, you will want to breed you doe once a year. 6. Breed her about seven months after she kids. 7. Continue to milk her until about two months before the kid is due. a. At that time, dry her up by switching her to dry feed and cutting out concentrates.      b. Do not milk her for seven days.      c. When her udder fills up, the pressure will turn the doe's system away from milk producing.      d. At the end of the week, milk her out again. e. You may have to milk her out slightly before that, if she is an especially heavy milker. 

  16. V. Raising The Kid A. When a doe has kids, her system produces an especially thick rich milk, almost yellow in color which is known as colostrum. B. The colostrum is high in protein, minerals and vitamin A.     1. It contains antibodies which help protect the kids from diseases.     2. It also serves as a mild laxative and helps clean the prenatal residue from the digestive system of the newborn kid.     3. It is very important that the kid receive this colostrum for the first three days after birth.     4. The first feed should be within 20-30 minutes after it is born. 5. Without the colostrum, the kid probably will not survive.

  17. C. At birth, the kid weighs approximately 7-9 pounds. 1. Following the three-day colostrum feeding period (feed approximately one pint of colostrum two time daily), the kid may be changed to cow's milk or fed a good milk replacer (same feed used for dairy calves) if the mother's milk is needed for human consumption.     2. Some kids do not take to milk replacer. a. If scours (diarrhea) occurs, return the kid to its mother's milk.       b. The kid should receiver 2-3 pints of milk each day (or the equivalent in milk replacer) in 2-3 feedings until it is weaned.       c. It is best to feed from a nipple bottle or a nipple pail.       d. Most kids can be weaned at 8 - 12 weeks of age.       e. Be sure to clean and sanitize all feeding equipment after feeding.

  18. D. At 2-3 weeks of age, the kid should be offered a small amount of concentrate mix.  1. A good calf starter with 16-18 percent crude protein should be adequate.   2. Start offering good quality green hay at the same time concentrate feeding is begun.   3. A mixture of good quality hays -- such as alfalfa/sudan grass or alfalfa/prairie -- is preferable to an all-alfalfa or all-grass hay.   4. Feed hay and concentrate mix twice daily and only what the kid will clean up.   5. Be careful not to overfeed.   6. Supply clean, fresh water at all times. E. Kids that do well should gain from 1/4 - ½ pound per day so that they will reach a weight of 85-90 pounds by breeding age.

  19. VI. Castrating Buck Kids A. If you do not wish to keep your buck kid for breeding purposes, castrate him before he is two weeks old. B. This can be done with a clean, disinfected knife or use an elastrator.

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