I have 2 second year does-"scrub"nubians, for our personal milk. Last Sept I saw signs of heat, and got a buck for them last Sept-Nov.I did not observe a mating, but they all ran together during the days, after AM milking. They got big(like could both be carrying twins), and looked nice and preg in Dec. I dried them off end of Dec., hoping for kids in Feb.In late Jan. they all began to thin, and now do not look very preg.One does not look preg at all, and the other looks like maybe one kid, but who knows.No signs of labor ever.... What might have happened? Can I breed in the spring here? I assume not... I really miss the milk, and was planning on some by now. All goats from a local lady who does well- -does some showing, but these were extras. She likes getting others into goats, and has been a great help so far.

-- JJ (menzel@netins.net), April 22, 2001

Answers

Response to breeding problems?

Hi JJ, if you took the buck out the last day of Novemeber you would have a possiblility of kids the end of April still, but, you would see obvious udder development, especially in older does who have been milked before. Nubians are seasonal breeders, the last heats we have here are usually in January, though we did get two older does bred in Feburary.

In your question you mentioned running the does with the buck only during the day after the morning milkings. Most of the breedings in standing heat here at my farm are in the middle of the night, especially when it is hot out. When pen bred, the only signs a doe is bred is a nasty tail the next morning and the buddy buddy attitude the doe and buck have for the day after she is bred, until someone else comes into heat. 99% of the time when you put a buck into a pen of does all the does will cycle and be bred in the first 2 weeks, you of course will have some that recycle if the group is large and the buck is young.

How old was the buck? What area are you in and are you in a selenium defficient area? Are you mimicing the grain, minerals and hay feeding, along with any supplements, that the gal you bought the does from uses? Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh TX (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), April 22, 2001.

Response to breeding problems?

The buck is a yarling, but used by the owner previous. We are in NE Iowa, no idea if we are selenium defecient. I do not mimic. We have had these does since 3 mo old, and bred them last year with no problems. Each had a kid, both on own when we were at church. Yummy milk, and good for my kiddos, esp a then-weaned babe which seemed prone to ear infection on cows milk.

I feed dairy calf mix from a local mill, with 15%protein; loose mineral including some selenium; and free choice hay, as well as grass when in season. Lots of fresh water.I was SURE they were preg, as so big and round in Dec...could they re-absorb when that far? Or was I really wrong?

I figured I would wait until May to rule out kids altogether, but do not want to have the same problems next year.

Really missing the milk!!!

-- JJ (menzel@netins.net), April 22, 2001.

Response to breeding problems?

One of my Nubian does had a false pregnancy the first year we had them, and she had been bred to a yearling. Got nice and big, and come due time, passed a lot of fluid and that was it. Quite disappointing. Perhaps my Nubians are an exception, but I have found they will breed any time of year. We have bred them to get kids every season. I don't think it would hurt to try again, particularly if you have a buck or the fee is not too high.

-- mary, texas (marylgarcia@aol.com), April 22, 2001.

Response to breeding problems?

JJ, You are far enough north that I would think you might get another shot at breeding. leave them with the buck around the clock. I have one nubian doe that consistently kids in October (I am in Michigan) Good luck, and I know what you mean by missing the milk. I dryed mine all off early one year so I could go to Haiti on a missions trip and was quite a while without milk. Didn't like that at all.

-- diane (gardiacaprines@yahoo.com), April 22, 2001.

Hey we bought 2 does from a guy way out in the middle of know where we were just getting in to goats so after buying our second goats for 125 we were excited to find 2 for 75 each they didn't have papers but were just old goats. the man said they were pregnat. They were and are the wildest things. Well off the story about what a bad deal we made and on with the story time passed and we were absolutly sure one wasn't bred and the other we were having doubts about. Well one day whent out the one we had doubts on had 2 kids. The other droped 1 that same night me and dad are still trying to figure out where she puts them cause she never gains wait. every years same story only this year dad and I are getting rid of them there wildness ruins the herd! Does any one in IL (or willing to drive here) want two goats? REALLY! We wouldn't mind if you came and got them! Let us know what happens

-- lindsey (l_shamhart@hotmail.com), April 28, 2001.

I talked to "my goat lady", and she assured me that the buck was good, as he sired many other good kids this year. She said that almost ALL standing heat for sheep and goats happens in the night, so that was probably was my problem, as they were apart in the PM. Also said she had no luck with spring breeding, so I will count it as a lesson and be ready next fall for another round. Meanwhile, salivating for that creamy rich milk :).... Sadder but wiser, JJ

-- JJ (menzel@netins.net), April 28, 2001.