Pregnant doe and buckling questios

Goat Mania

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Hi everyone,

I tried using search and couldnt find answers to these so im posting them here:

1) I have a pregnant Saanen/ Alpine doe who has suddenly become weak, her coat has become coarse and eyes puffy and anemic. Ive lost a doe previously due to this as well. Any suggestions on a cure and why this happens?

2) One of my boer bucks is completely healthy but he lacks in fertility (doesnt go into rut much). He is about 14 months old. Plus one of his legs is shorter than the other one. Is this due to inbreeding and will he throw this to his kids?

3) I have 2 boer bucklings almost 2 months old. Both their testicles have descended but the scrotal sac isnt full. Its like half way filling the sac. At what age do the testicles descend fully and cover the sac?

Thanks in advance!
 

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Greetings and welcome to BYH! So glad you joined us. There's a wealth of info, knowledge and experience shared in the multitude of threads. Browse around and see what interesting stuff you can find. By all means post away when the desire strikes you, especially if you have questions (provide as much detail/info as possible and pictures truly help)... With all the great folks here, generally someone will respond in no time at all. Please make yourself at home! Please consider taking a minute to visit the new member's thread and introduce yourself so folks can welcome you properly. https://www.backyardherds.com/forums/new-member-introductions.17/

In my limited experience;
For #1, I believe you may have multiple issues including parasites (eyes and anemia) and mineral imbalance (coat, weakness). You need to have a fecal analysis done to determine if parasites are an issue and what will be the best course to address them if there. You will need a blood draw to have a mineral analysis done. Have your goats been vaccinated for CD&T? Do you provide free minerals for them? Are you providing proper/adequate nutrition for them? I would suggest a vet visit with the doe to a goat knowledgeable vet.

For #2, Lack of fertility could be due to poor nutrition, chemical imbalance, biological/inherited genetic issues. No idea why one leg would be shorter unless there was some sort of injury or a genetic issue (which could tie in with the lack of fertility). Obviously, if genetic, then it could be passed on, and if genetic he should be neutered and not bred. I would send him to freezer camp.

For #3, The scrotal sac should grow along with the testes as they grow. I've only had one buck, and his sack is no bigger or smaller than the testes that it contains... :hu It isn't like a loose bag with a couple of golf balls jiggling around inside it. My wether lost his sac along with the testes that were in it when I banded him.

I'll tag a few other goat folks that can probably give you more/additional/better advice/suggestions/answers, but it's already the start of kidding season for many, so most goat folks are pretty busy this time of year: @babsbag @frustratedearthmother @ragdollcatlady @Mini Horses <---all w/Boer experience. There are many other great goat folks here in addition to those.

PLEASE put at least your general location in your profile. It could be very important if/when you ask for or offer help or advice. You know, climate issues and such. I recommend at least your state as most folks won't be able to figure out where if you put anything more specific (county, town, street, etc) by itself. Old folks like me will never remember & look there first. To add it, mouse hover over Account top right and a drop down will appear. Click on Personal Details and scan down. You'll see the spot for Location. Then go to the bottom and save changes. Thanks! Hope you enjoy the site!
 

Goat Mania

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Hi Latestarter

Thanks for taking out the time to reply and the warm welcome. I am from Sri Lanka, yep from almost another planet to most people here :)

#1 could be mineral imbalance. Will you believe me if I told you we dont have a feed specific for goats here. Forced to mix our own and no Vet is interested in formulating something practical to feed them. There are NO vaccinations for goats in the whole country except for foot and mouth disease. Just last month someone got down Mastivac but thats all

#2 Specifically one of his pasterns is longer than the one on the other leg.

#3 I am attaching a picture. The whole area im holding with my thumb is empty. But testicles are in the sac above my thumb. He is 7 weeks old now. His teats have 2 nipples btw
 

Goat Mania

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Here is the picture
 

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Bayleaf Meadows

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I can't say too much from experience, but the double nipples and the lack of testes would be enough to remove him from the breeding line up in my herd and put him on the path to barbecue.
 

frustratedearthmother

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I am attaching a picture. The whole area im holding with my thumb is empty. But testicles are in the sac above my thumb. He is 7 weeks old now. His teats have 2 nipples btw
At only seven weeks I wouldn't worry about the testicle size yet. As he gets older and larger the testicles will grow. However, as a mature animal testicle size can be related to fertility.
Double nipples are discouraged in breeding animals here.

This link has a good description of what to look for in breeding animals.

http://articles.extension.org/pages/63281/goat-reproduction-selection-visual-appraisal
 

Goat Mania

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thanks @Bayleaf Meadows it was very useful and @frustratedearthmother i will have a go through, with strict quarantine and red tape, almost no one is able to import good genetics into the country so one has to make do with whatever is available. I read that the Boer breed standards allows for double nipples on the bucks. As you suggest I will grow him out to see what hes made of
 

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Yes indeed... the other side of the world! Very nice to have you here with us! I must have mis-read regarding the age & sack... I'd expect the testes to grow in size to eventually fill the sac. That is of course unless you decide that he should be neutered. ;) Sorry to hear you're so limited in quality stock.
 

ragdollcatlady

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About his testes, it is hard to say, they are smallish, but if he stays healthy, they may grow fine. He could be pulling them up because you are touching him too. My big bucks sometimes have a small area at the bottom of the scrotal sac (a small pointed area), that has nothing in it. They use the scrotum to regulate temperature to keep sperm at better temps. Cold temps, bring them closer to the body, warm weather and they hang low in an attempt to keep them cooler.

As for rut, boers are seasonal breeders. In my little corner of California, rut starts in late summer, early fall and is strongest in about September to November. Right about now, most hormones are calming down and rut smell and behaviors have weaned.... until fall. My big boys should be better behaved for several months. My nigerian dwarf bucks will be ready year round as they are not as seasonal, but willing to breed and kid year round. Different breeds.

The double nipples are tolerated in boers, but it is much better if you have 1x1. Even if you are breeding primarily for terminal animals (food) you still want your breeders to have good or excellent mammary systems, plenty of milk and the drive to feed their kids well and be good mothers.Your kids will grow better and faster with great milk and good mothering. Choose the best out of what your options are and go from there.
 

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