testing goats and breeding them

[wendy]

we are looking at buying some goats and the people do not test for CAE. would you buy from someone that does not test for this? we are looking at buying some goats for milking, probably only want two. also, we read that you should breed between 7 to 10 months old. the person that has the same goats we are talking about says they wait till theres are 75 lbs and over a year old. we live in central louisiana and no one near here sells dairy goats. seems all people here use goats for is to eat grass and brush. any help would be appreciated!

Wendy

 

[helmstead]

I think it's a personal decision as far as CAE goes. You can always put a deposit on them, then have them tested yourself if you're worried about it. Please bear in mind, CAE testing is not a perfect science. Any goat that has ever been exposed to it will have antibodies and produce a false positive.

Sounds like this breeder has a sound breeding practice. It's really individual to each doe as to when they're ready. I like that they wait - it's much safer for the does to be around a year old and of good size.

 

[Skyesrocket]

I copied this from the Dairy Goat Journal.:

Doelings reach puberty by 6 to 8 months of age and are usually bred at 7 to 10 months of age. At the time of breeding they should weigh about 80-90 pounds (60% of adult weight). If the doelings are not at an optimum weight, breeding should be delayed since puberty is more dependant on body size than age. However, delaying breeding much after 10 months of age decreases the reproductive performance.

 

[wendy]

thank you both for the information. my husband read that on dairy goat journal to about the age that is why i decided to ask on here to get other opinions. i knew there were some goat owners on here as well and i have been a member here since 6/07. we are still waiting for a response from the dairy goat site to allow us to join there forum. my husband emailed them two days ago. i knew byc's respond alot faster! lol!!

Thanks again! Wendy

 

[Chatychick]

Well age makes a difference ..are they large goats or small like Nigerians? Larger type milk goats differ in breeding and with Nigerians and Pygmys I would wait till almost 2 to breed them but with the larger like Nubians and Alpines you can breed earlier but I would still wiat till they reach the right weight and size. I dont breed anything here till its at least 14 to 15 mths old. With Nigerians I wait longer than that and I have Alpines, La Manchas and Nigerians. I look at it this way with Nigi's Would you let your 13 yr daughter have a baby? That is what the Nigis are at 1 yr...with larger frame does like the Alpines and others its a little different. I wait alot longer with my smaller goats than the larger types.JMO

 

[greyfields]

I have a doe out of a CAE positive goat who was 12 years old when she had her. So, CAE does not necessarily mean your animal will lose any productivity or longevity. That particular breeder bottle feeds everything, so I wasn't worried about it being passed along to the doe.

Since we had all bucklings this year, we elected to let them nurse naturally rather than milk and pasteurize. CAE cannot be passed from sire to offspring.

 

[Skyesrocket]

However, delaying breeding much after 10 months of age decreases the reproductive performance.

I think this statement is more for production breeders. Breeders that want to get as many babies out of a doe over her lifetime as possible.
Not that it is right or wrong. Just an observation.
Some people breed for sales to 4-Hers, Some breed to refresh their milk goats, or to restock their herd.
I think it's that sellers preference for their situation.

 

[wendy]

the type of goats we found are saaneens, i think i am spelling it wrong. anyway, we want to be able to have milking goats and keep the milk going. we want to be as self sufficent as possible and we have our chickens and ducks, and garden. the milking goats would help to add to that and keep our money in our pocket instead of over $4.00 a gallon for milk

at the store. thank you for the information.