Stages of Pregnancy in Goats

Length of Pregnancy in Goats

The female goat, also called a doe, is pregnant for an average of 150 days. This is called the gestation period. To track the stages of pregnancy and accurately predict the due date, it is important to know your goat's estrus cycle. The estrus or heat cycle is the time when the doe will allow the male to breed her.

The heat cycle in the goat will occur every 18 to 22 days and lasts between 12 and 36 hours. Does in heat will have an increased discharge, swollen vulva and frequent tail wagging. There are three stages of pregnancy in goats. The first stage begins 24 hours after the doe is bred. Each stage lasts 50 days.

Stage 1

The first 50 days in a goat's pregnancy are the most critical. According to Langston University's Goat Research Division, an estimated 20 to 30 percent of pregnancies are lost in the first stage. Developing embryos are highly susceptible to environmental and nutritional factors. The health and age of the doe also play a role in the success of the pregnancy. During stage one of the pregnancy, the embryo starts to slightly resemble a goat. By day 20, the heartbeat can be detected. In between 20 and 50 days, the limb buds, nostrils and eyes become apparent. You will not notice much if any change in the doe's appearance or behavior during this period.

Stage 2

Stage 2 in a goat's pregnancy is the time between 50 and 100 days after conception. During this period, the developing baby, now called a fetus, starts to look like a tiny hairless goat. The limb buds develop into legs, horn pits appear on the head, teeth erupt and hair starts to cover the muzzle. A doe in stage 2 of pregnancy will start to put on weight. Her belly will become rounded and firm, and she will be less tolerant of other goats. By 30 weeks, you should be able to feel the baby kicking by placing your hand low on either side of the doe's belly.

Stage 3

The last 50 days of pregnancy in a goat is the time when the baby grows the most. Hair will cover the rest of the body, and the internal organs will finish developing. The doe's belly will nearly double in size, and her udder will become distended with milk. Between 145 and 155 days after conception, the doe will go into labor, also called parturition and kidding. In most cases, does kid naturally with no help from us. When birth is eminent, the doe will withdraw from the herd. She will become restless and may lay down and stand up frequently. You will notice a thick clear to milky discharge. This mucus lubricates the birth canal making delivery easier. It is not uncommon for goats to give birth to twins and sometimes even triplets.

References

• Goat Reproduction
• Reproductive Management in Goats
• Goat Fetal Devlopment

Resources

• Pregnancy in Goats