Problems Giving Birth?

[LoneOakGoats]

In your opinion, does one breed have more problems giving birth than others? I know there can be issues with any breed of goat, but wondering if the dwarfs are more prone to problems due to their small size.

 

[SheepGirl]

Don't have goats, but I have sheep. My sheep are Babydoll Southdown crosses, considered a "miniature" breed. But they are really just maybe 4 or 5 inches shorter than a regular medium sized sheep. But while they are smaller, they also have proportionately smaller babies. So no problems lambing.

 

[LoneOakGoats]

Thank you SheepGirl for your input.

 

[Southern by choice]

Nigerian Dwarfs tend to be easy kidders with few problems.
Pygmy's are known to have more difficulty.

ND's that are too small, or have been bred to a larger buck are more prone to harder births. IMO there is a genetic factor. I have seen this with some goats where the grand dam had difficlty then her offspring and down to the next generation.

Overweight goats have more difficulty, that's any breed.
Those that have singles, often because a single can be too large.
Those that consistently have quads as the kids get "tangled".

There has been research done also on the affects of fescue grasses. Long term feeding of fescues causes a toxicity issue and build up. This is thought to affect kidding. Thick and some times retained placentas being the biggest issue, and general kidding complications.

 

[LoneOakGoats]

Thanks Southern. Our buck is tiny.

 

[Southern by choice]

@LoneOakGoats are any of your other does having difficulty or was it just the one girl?

 

[LoneOakGoats]

Just the one. Vet said it was a fluke, sometimes things like this happen. The other girls popped those babies out before you could blink.
Thankfully!