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Mating
/Pregnancy /Kidding |
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Mating |
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Boer Does are usually not mated
until they are around 1 year. However well grown young does can be mated from
about 7 Months with the kids being born at 1 Year. It is important that young
does continue to grow at this time so adequate food must be made available.
Most breeders in New South Wales would join their goats in Autumn to provide
kids in spring. Kids born at this time have a high growth rate.
Boer Bucks will mate at most times of the year, however the "rut"
period, when bucks display sexual behavior patterns like self-urination &
give off a strong buck odor, is from January to May. The Bucks performance can
be influenced by such things as age, plane of nutrition, the temperature and
his general state of health |
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| Pregnancy |
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The
average gestation period for the Boer goat is 150 days but
this can vary by 5 days or so either way. The kids grow more
rapidly in the last six weeks of pregnancy so it is important
that plenty of good quality feed is available. Supplementary
feed may be required and is recommended in order that maximum
birth rates are achieved. The critical birth weight for
survival is said to be 2.2kgs. We have been achieving birth
weights of 3.8 to 5+kgs. It is most important
that the doe is not stressed at this time so breeders should
avoid trucking, harsh handling, overcrowding or poor
nutrition. Severe stress could result in abortion. |
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| Kidding |
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Does
should kid within 30 minutes of the first signs of labor. Mature does
usually get on with it and surprise you with happy suckling kids before
you new kidding was due. Maiden does however can have problems and we have
had to assist some does
in the end but usually like them to have as little interference as
possible.
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Most Does are excellent Mothers; always staying near their
kids |
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There
is a natural bonding between doe and kids but with twins and
triplets or more this can be negated if attacked from foxes, wild
dogs and other predators. A program to control predators should be
in place before during and after kidding to reduce losses. We have
not had any losses to predators in our 4.5 years breeding Boers(
there are plenty around who have taken neighbours sheep). We bait for
foxes in advance of kidding, bring the mothers close to home and
estimate birth dates so as to be able to have secure areas for
kidding. Electric fencing is also beneficial.
Newly
born kids need to get that first feed as soon as possible after
birth. Kids receive antibodies via the colostrum in the mothers milk
at this early stage.
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We have had
problems with crows at kidding time so we have added Snowy,
our puppy Maremma, to the herd hoping by next year he will
give our Boers some extra protection from all predators. |
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