The Earliest Time at Which a Meat Goat Should Be Bred
Goats are seasonally fertile and only mate in the autumn and early winter--so that kids are born in the spring--and will mate every three weeks until conception occurs or the mating season ends.
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Age
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Most kids are born in the spring; the females or does, will come into season and show signs of being ready to mate during their first autumn when they are around 6 months old. Though it is possible to breed them at this age, they are likely to have problems giving birth and feeding the kids. Most goat breeders do not breed does until they are in their second autumn or around 18 months old.
Male goats or bucks are sexually mature at a few weeks of age and may be used for breeding during their first autumn.
Sexual Readiness
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A doe has a fertility cycle of 21 days and is able to be mated for only two or three days during each cycle. To test if a doe is ready, you can run your hand along her back, bring a buck nearby or let her smell a "buck rag"--a cloth smelling of male goat. If she is ready to mate then she will waggle her tail, bleat repeatedly and leap away as you touch her rump. Does should be mated as early in the mating season as possible so that if conception does not occur, she can try again every three weeks.
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Body Condition
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A meat-breed doe should weigh 150 lbs. and have a well muscled body before she is mated. Fat does will have low fertility with more single births and an increased likelihood of problems while giving birth. Thin does may have problems feeding their kids and are less likely to conceive in successive years.
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References
- Photo Credit goat image by matko from Fotolia.com
