REPRODUCTIVE PROBLEMS OF DOES

There are many reasons why a doe might fail to breed or, if bred, be unable to carry and give birth to live, healthy kids.

Probably the most common reason that a doe does not breed is nutritional. An improperly-balanced diet -- especially one lacking in essential minerals such as copper, selenium, iodine, and zinc -- will prevent a doe from conceiving. See this author's articles on vitamin and mineral deficiencies and nutritional problems on the Articles page at www.tennesseemeatgoats.com.

Poor nutrition, not only in terms of vitamins and minerals but also in energy, long fiber (roughage) and protein, can prevent a doe from breeding. The most complicated part of raising goats under managed conditions is nutrition. Find a qualified goat nutritionist and enlist his/her services. The cost is minimal compared to the problems the producer will avoid. The person does not have to be local; the Internet allows producers to contact and utilize the services of professionals world-wide. If you don't know a qualified goat nutritionist, contact someone whose knowledge you respect (but not a person who raises show-goats) and ask him/her for a referral.

On the other side of the coin, a doe that is too fat may not breed and certainly may not deliver full-term healthy kids. Fat in a goat layers around internal organs (heart, liver, kidneys, etc), "suffocating" their ability to properly function. Boers in America are very prone to heavy fat layering, so producers need to watch processed feed input carefully. Once a goat has fat layers on its body, it takes a long time to get it off -- and the producer does not want to do this during a pregnancy.

Some breeds of goats cycle into heat only when the light of day begins to shorten. Daylight impacts breeding cycles. In the United States, this timeframe is from mid-July to mid-December. This is particularly true of dairy breeds but it also applies to certain meat breeds under unique climatic conditions. The buck cannot breed her until she cycles into heat. Does usually come into estrus every 21 days during breeding season. Producers who wish to breed "off-season" may have to use estrus-inducing drugs in order to bring the does into heat. If this is the producer's choice, then professional supervision is recommended.

Occasionally a doe is born that cannot become pregnant. A freemartin is a sterile female of a male twin. During fetal development, male hormones can be transferred through placental walls and render a female incapable of breeding. This is a relatively rare situation in most herds. In 15 years of goat production, this writer has seen what she believes to be freemartinism in her herd only one time.

A doe that has not been put with a buck for several years after she has reached sexual maturity may not be able to breed if she has developed cystic ovaries. Breeding-age does need to be bred. Veterinary assistance is needed to determine this condition and possibly correct it. In many herds, the cost involved exceeds the value of the doe, so the goat is usually culled.

If the producer pasture breeds, he can incorrectly conclude that breeding is not happening if he doesn't see mating behavior taking place. Many goats in hot climates tend to have the good sense to breed in the cooler night hours. Just because the producer does not seen breeding activity does not mean that it isn't occurring.

A doe that is too old will not breed. Just as human females reach a timeframe beyond which they are fertile, so too with female goats. It is a safe bet that once a doe reaches 9 to 10 years of age, she is not likely to become pregnant. If an older doe does indeed breed, extra care will be needed to make sure she carries successfully to term; she will have special nutritional needs and her udder likely has so much wear and tear on it that her kids will need assistance in accessing its milk. Commercial producers normally rotate out breeding does at five to six years of age and replace them with younger breeding-age females.

A doe that has been bred too young (five months of age or younger) may experience dystocia (birthing difficulties), particularly if she has been unwisely bred to a buck of a larger-framed breed. If she survives kidding problems, she could have a torn uterus or other internal damage that would prevent future conception. The producer should wait until a doe is at least 10 to 12 months old before placing her with a breeding buck. Always breed her to a buck of her breed or, if cross-breeding, use the services of a buck of a smaller-framed breed. Cattle producers long ago learned this valuable lesson after losing many cows bred to big-breed bulls (and their calves) to birthing problems.

A host of abortion diseases can interfere with/prevent a doe from breeding and/or carrying live fetuses to term. GOAT MEDICINE, by Dr. Mary C. Smith of Cornell University, is an excellent source for learning about abortion issues. Published in 1994, this book is still ten years later the definitive professional work on goat health -- a sad commentary on the lack of progress in research of goat-related matters. Cost is approximately $85.00 but well worth the expense. GOAT MEDICINE can be purchased from any major book seller; its identification number is ISBN 0-8121-1478-7. Another easier-to-understand source on goat health, nutrition, and management is this author's website's Articles page.

Injuries, illness, heavy worm load -- all of these situations can cause a doe not to breed. A doe needs to be in top condition -- not fat -- to successfully breed and give birth to healthy kids.

Sometimes a producer thinks that a doe hasn't bred simply because he has miscalculated her breeding date. A sonnogram can tell the producer if a doe is bred and how many fetuses are present at about 30 to 45 days into the pregnancy. However, for many producers, sonnogramming is an expense they don't want to incur.

A doe can experience a drug-induced abortion. The de-wormer Valbazen and corticosteroids such as Dexamethazone should not be used on pregnant does or does suspected of being bred. Think before using medications on does that may be pregnant.

Occasionally a doe can look pregnant (even appear pregnant on a sonnogram) and have a cloudburst pregnancy (hydrometra). She carries as if all is normal and delivers only fluids. If this occurs in your herd, do not be too concerned unless it is a regular occurence, at which time veterinary assistance is required.

To summarize, many things can cause a doe not to breed and not to carry to term. The producer needs to become familiar with all of these possibilities and be prepared to act accordingly.

The author, Suzanne Gasparotto, hereby grants to local goat publications and club newsletters, permission to reprint articles published on the Onion Creek Ranch website under these conditions: THE ARTICLE MUST BE REPRODUCED IN ITS ENTIRETY AND THE AUTHOR'S NAME, ADDRESS, AND CONTACT INFORMATION MUST BE INCLUDED AT THE BEGINNING OF THE REPRINT. We would appreciate notification from any clubs or publications when the articles are used. (A copy of the newsletter or publication would also be a welcome addition to our growing library of goat related information!)

[GoatCamp™] [Tennessee Meat Goats™] [Myotonic Goats] [TexMaster™ Goats] [Which Breed is Right for You?]
[Ranch History] [The Present & Future] [Meat Goat Mania]
[Registry of Myotonics, Tennessee Meat Goats™ and TexMasters™]
[News & Events] [Health and Management Articles] [Links] [ChevonTalk Discussion List] [E-Mail] [Home]

All information and photos copyright © Onion Creek Ranch and may not be used without express written permission of Onion Creek Ranch. TENNESSEE MEAT GOAT ™ and TEXMASTER™ are Trademarks of Onion Creek Ranch . All artwork and graphics © DTP, Ink and Onion Creek Ranch.