An abortion is a premature expulsion of a fetus before full gestation has elapsed. (Considine, p. 93)  

For a complete summary on abortion, treatment, prevention,  how to send samples to the lab, and other information,  go to “Seminar notes” and read the notes from Reproduction and Breeding of Dairy Goats by Dr. Scott Haskell.

There is an excellent slide show by John Plant, Veterinary Specialist, on abortions in sheep at http://www.aasrp.org/.  It has photographs of what each disease looks like in the placenta, so you can identify the cause of abortion if you don't have access to a veterinary laboratory.  The diseases similar in a goat.  

If a doe aborts after 141 days gestation, the fetuses have a pretty good chance of survival.  Before that date, they generally die. (Considine, p. 93)  

If a doe aborts, give antibiotics or plain penicillin SQ in the neck, just ahead of the shoulder.  For an average size doe use 10cc.  Then give 5 more shots of 5cc. 12 hours apart. Isolate the doe until the discharge stops so she doesn’t contaminate the other does.  Clean the pen thoroughly after use. (Harvey Considine, p. 93)   

Links

 Infectious Reproductive Diseases Of Small Ruminants  http://extension.usu.edu/files/agpubs/sheep19.html 

(Gives a list of each illness, with causative agent, symptoms, mode of spread of disease, diagnosis , prevention/control, treatment, human effects/prevention.)

Buck: 5 months  (Smith, 440) 

Doe: 7-10 months (Coffey, G, 8)

Keep bucks separate from does after 4 mo. to prevent inseminating does that are too young.

(Coffey, G, 9) 

At first breeding, doelings should weigh 60% of the average adult weight for their breed.  If they are lighter than that, hold 

them back and increase their nutrition until they are the right weight, but do not go beyond 10 months of age or their 

reproductive performance will decrease.  (Harris and Springer) 

   (Average breed weights taken from Harris and Springer)

ADGA recommends that goats weigh at least 80 pounds before they are bred (ADGA).  

Breeding does at 7 months, to freshen as yearlings, increases their lifetime milk production. (Coffey, DG, 18)  

Only about 80% of doelings (first year fresheners) will conceive.  Approximately. 95% of does that kidded the previous year 

will conceive.  (Hart, Goat Management Tips)

Links

Artificial insemination article and overview of costs http://www.uky.edu/Ag/AnimalSciences/goats/newsletter/goatproducersnewsletter1105.pdf

Artificial Insemination instructions  http://cahe.nmsu.edu/pubs/_d/d-704.html  

Artificial insemination of dairy goats    http://cahe.nmsu.edu/pubs/_d/d-704.html

Reproductive Technologies http://www.luresext.edu/goats/training/advrepro.htm

Birthing Stages (stages of labor)

Stage 1: Dilation of the uterus

Uterine contractions force placenta, fetus and fluids against the cervix to dilate it.  This stage lasts up to 12 hours 

in first time fresheners.  Does who have given birth before will go through this stage more quickly.

Stage 2: Straining and delivery of kids

Contraction of abdominal muscles, lasting two hours or less, and is completed by expulsion of the last kid.

Stage 3: Expulsion of the placenta and involution  (decrease in size) of the uterus.

Normally happens within 4 hours of birthing.  (Smith, 431)

Normal presentation

Two positions are normal for birthing:

1) Anterior position  

Kid is head first, spine up, with both front legs extended forward out of the birth canal.  The head lays forward 

on the legs, with the infant's nose about level with the knees.  Over 60% of goats are born in this position.

2) Posterior position

Kid is butt first, spine up, with both rear legs extended out of the birth canal.

 

When there are twins, the first kid often comes head-first with front legs extended toward you, and the second 

with the hind legs extended toward you.  The following diagram shows normal delivery positions for a) single kids, 

anterior position.  b) single kid, posterior position. c) twins, one anterior position, one posterior position.

Diagram from http://adga.org/kidding.pdf

 

The birth canal has to be open three finger widths in order to allow delivery of the fetus. 

 http://www.goats4h.com/pigman.html

 

Kidding photos (normal births):

http://www.boergoatshome.com/Kidding_Photos.php  

http://www.greatgoats.co/articles/kidding.html

http://www.blackmesaranchonline.com/animals/goats_kidding.htm

Difficult births  (dystocia)

How to tell if all babies have been delivered and the placenta has been discharged  

("Bumping")

1) Stand to the side of the doe.

2) Reach around and under her with your arms, and lock your hands together under her abdomen.

3) Quickly lift her belly right in front of the udder and allow it to fall down into your hands, which are still clasped under her.  If it feels like:

a) a thud or a falling rock, that indicates that there is a baby in there.

b) a soft ball of doughy material, that signals that the placenta has not passed 

c) soft and flaccid (relaxed muscles) and no kids are felt, then the goat is done birthing and the placenta is out. (Nickel, p.17)

Navel Cord Care

Dip cord in tincture of iodine.  This prevents infection and promotes rapid drying and breaking away of the cord 

from the navel.  If cord is long, cut it to a 3-4" length.   If cord bleeds, tie off with surgical suture material. (Dawson) 

Numbers of fetuses

Goats generally have 2-4 babies, but there are rare instances of 5 or 6 babies.  Twins are average.

Signs that the goat is within 24 and 12 hours of birthing.

 

 

Ligaments

 

 

Ligament test: 

Face the back end of the goat. Place your hand flat on the goat’s back so your fingertips 

touch the tail. Spread your index and middle fingers apart in a “v” shape.  Rub back and forth and feel 

the “cords” under the skin.  (See red line in diagram.)  They are about a 1/4” in diameter.  If you know 

what that feels like normally, you will be able to tell when the doe is close to kidding. 

When the cords loosen and begin to sag, the doe will normally deliver within 24 hours. 

When you don’t feel the ligaments any more at all, and the area feels like a big wad of bubblegum, then the doe is 

within 12 hours of birth. (Smith, 432)

Links:

See http://www.jackmauldin.com/management/detecting_labor.htm for photographs of the signs that take place

 one week prior to birthing.  When you see these signs, get the doe to the birthing area.  There are also pictures 

of the signs the she is very close to delivering.

 

Signs of Labor

Early labor: 

1) Goat seems restlessness

2) She lays down and gets up often

3) She makes a "nest" in the bedding, often off in a corner or in a dark, private place.

4) Looks back at her tail to see what is happening.

5) White discharge appears

Late labor:

1) Discharge increases

2) Hard labor pains about 2 minutes apart

3) Lips curl and ears stand out from straining

4) Bubble full of fluid appears and breaks.

5) Larger bubble appears

6) Both feet appear, followed by head and body, or both feet appear, followed by butt, body and head.  

If something else appears, see the "Abnormal Presentation" section.

Summarized from www.goats4h.com/Pigman.html, Haskell, Herd Health Program, and interviews with experienced producers.  

Supplies needed for birthing

Time of birthing

Goats generally birth after midday, less commonly at night. (Haskell, Caprine and Cercida3e Reproduction)

Uterine Inertia

Older goats sometimes can't expel their kids due to weak uterine muscles.  A helper can hold up a doe's belly, 

maneuvering it to get kids closer to the vaginal opening so that another person can reach in and grab them if the 

mother can't deliver. (Nickel, P.19)

What to expect after birthing is over

A discharge  (lochia) will be seen for up to three weeks post-birthing, but it should not smell.  If it continues longer, or smells, then the uterus is infected and you should call the vet and have the goat treated.   The uterus should return to pre-pregnancy size within 4 weeks of birthing.  (Smith, 431)

Milking the goat after delivery

The goat should be milked out into a separate container and the colostrum should be heat treated and bottle fed to the newborn as soon as possible after birthing.  You can milk her on the pipeline, but do not put colostrum into the 

pipeline and bulk tank.  Use a mini-milker to milk the newly delivered goat after all of the well goats have been 

milked, but before the sick or mastitis goats are milked.  If the goat is very weak, you may need to milk her by 

hand.  See the nutrition section for instructions on heat treating and feeding of colostrum and milk to kids.

 

You may want to give the mother some warm water with Karo syrup or molasses in it after she births.  Watch her carefully for several weeks after birthing.  If she stops eating or seems ill, call the vet.

Links:

Kidding photos:

http://www.boergoatshome.com/Kidding_Photos.php  

http://www.greatgoats.co/articles/kidding.html

http://www.blackmesaranchonline.com/animals/goats_kidding.htm

Difficult Births (dystocia)

Dealing with Difficult Births http://sheepandgoat.com/news/dec2005.html#dystocia  

 

Herd Health Program .(has birthing information) www.adga.org/kidding.pdf accessed 8-04-06

 

See the diagrams in Harvey Considine’s book Dairy Goats for Pleasure and Profit at p. 108.  Shows different ways the fetus can be arranged in the uterus and what to do to help the doe deliver.  

 

Pre/Post Kidding Preparations For Dairy Goat Does and Kids http://www.goats4h.com/pigman.html

This article contains complete instructions for delivering kids where the presentation is abnormal.

Body Condition Score during breeding season

Body Condition Score should be 2.5-4.0 at the beginning of breeding season, and should be maintained throughout pregnancy. If a goat has a body score of 4.5 or more, or under 2, the goat very likely will get pregnancy toxemia. 

Make sure you have propylene glycol available. (Langston, training, Nutrition section)

Breeding cycle

3 parts of cycle: non-breeding, transition period at beginning and end of cycle, and main breeding period. .(Haskell, 

Caprine and Cervidae Reproduction)

(Table adapted from Damerow)

*  Heat: the female reproductive cycle  

**Standing heat: that point in a doe's heat cycle when she is receptive to the buck

General Breeding Patterns

Tropical climates: goats potentially can breed year round.

Temperate climates: heat cycles begin in response to decreasing light.  The amount of light outdoors diminishes as 

summer gives way to fall, and this stimulates heat in the does. (Smith, 412)

Breeding “in season” in Wisconsin  (breeding September –December, birthing February –May)

In temperate climates, goats can potentially breed August through March. (Smith, 412)

The doe is usually bred 45 to 60 days into her lactation and should be bred every year.  (Harris and Springer)  

Breeding “out of season" (light manipulation)

Since heat starts in response to diminishing light, you can stimulate “out of season” heat cycling by putting a 

timer on your barn lights.  Set it for 20 hours a day starting January first.  Leave it at 20 hours for 2 months.  

Do this for both the does and the bucks.  Then reset the timer to 15 hours a day on March first and slowly 

decrease the # of hours of light until you are at the same daylight hours as the outside light.

 

Does will come into heat in May.

 

You may need to pen them with the buck instead of breeding individually, as the heat period may be shorter 

than normal, increasing the chance you will miss the heat period. (Kapture)

 

When you use lights to stimulate heat you need to get the does bred just as soon as they first come into heat. 

Don’t wait. If you happen to have a period of intense early spring heat outdoors 2 weeks before the does 

are bred (mid-April), it shuts off their heat period, and this can result in half of the pregnancies not developing.  

It destroys all your work with the lights.  

Check does at 18-24 days post breeding.  If in heat, the first breeding didn’t take.  Rebreed.  (Considine, 92)

 

To get adequate light for out of season breeding, you will need one foot of fluorescent light fixture (hanging 9 

or 10 feet off the floor) for every 10-11 square feet of floor space. The man who invented this program used 

fixtures with two four-foot long fluorescent bulbs.  You can use other fixtures as long as you get the same 

amount of light.  (Kapture)   Some extension offices have light meters that can be loaned out to test the lights 

levels in your barn to make sure you have enough light..  Also, don’t forget to wash your barn light bulbs 

after fly season.

 

Does bred out of season have a heightened risk of hydrometria (cloudburst) pregnancy.  The doe looks and acts 

pregnant, but isn’t.  (Smith) 

Breeding out of season (Progesterone, Progestins with gonadotropins, Prostaglandin)

See Scott Haskell, DVM, MPVM.  Caprine and Cervidae Reproduction, from Small Ruminant Clinical 

Diagnosis and Therapy  http://www.rmncsba.org/smallruminant.pdf..

Breeding older does

There are two management options to decrease risk to older does.

1) If you need milk production, just milk her through and don't breed her every year.

2) Of you need kids more than milk, you can extend the length of her kidding years by drying her up after kidding.  

Then let her rest until the next breeding. (Nickel, P. 19)

Buck harnesses for recording breedings

You can buy "ram" harnesses that can be used on bucks.  When the harness is put on the buck, and the buck mounts 

the doe, chalk rubs on her backend, letting you know that she has been bred.  When she comes in for milking you can 

see the chalk and write down the breeding date.  This really helps when you are pen breeding.

 

The harness which is sold at Fleet Farm will not stay on the buck and causes sores on the buck's chest. You must 

sew the straps so they don't loosen and slide around and pad the chest piece with sheepskin. For an alternative, see http://www.premier1supplies.com/img/instruction/24.pdf .  There are also good instructions there for using a buck

 harness.

Flushing

"Flushing", or adding supplement to increase nutrition prior to and just after breeding to increase kidding rate, , is not necessary if does have a good body condition score (BCS 3-4)  If body condition score is low (2 or below) then 

flush with 0.5-1.0 lb. of whole shelled corn/head/day. (Hart, Goat Management Tips)

Forms

Breeding plan (PDF)   Excel Chart that allows you to coordinate breeding of different groups of goats

Breeding Plan (Word) Excel Chart that allows you to coordinate breeding of different groups of goats

Breeding and Birthing Chart  Excel cha