Yearling Doe - Spent 4 Months with a Buck - Bred?

Ravie

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Hi everyone,

I am a new goat owner. Today I purchased a yearling Nubian doe. She has a smaller frame and is roughly 60-70lbs. She's exactly the same size as my other yearling doe.

As I was leading the little lady to my trailer, her previous owner said, "Oh, by the way, she's been with a buck for four months. Don't worry! She's not bred. She is way too small to have heat cycles." I brought the doe home anyway, but the more I think about it, the more I think this goat is probably bred.

What do you think? How likely is it that I'm gonna be a goat grandma this summer?
 

SA Farm

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:welcome I would definitely be keeping an eye on her (for heats or pregnancy signs) and preparing for kids! Does generally begin having heat cycles around 6-8 months of age, so it is entirely probable that she's pregnant.
 

Ravie

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Thank-you for your response. I thought so too, but even today the owner emailed me to say that Nubians are seasonal breeders so my doe is NOT pregnant. I am not sure what to think! I probably should do the pregnancy test. As a new owner, I'm afraid I'll miss something. I don't want her to have insufficient nutrition.
 

SA Farm

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From what I understand, they are seasonal. Someone will have to correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought the season was usually from about September to January? Perhaps since this was a harsh winter she would be less likely to go into estrus that late? I'm not sure. I have Pygmies and Dwarf goats and they are year-round breeders and when I had standards they were usually bred by October/November at the latest.
 

Ravie

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Since I've never had a pregnant goat before, if she were bred in January, would she be "showing" yet? She definitely does not look pregnant at this point.
 

MaggieMay

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Size has nothing to do with it, its the age of sexual maturity. Ive had 4 and 5 month olds acting very much in heat trying to get to the buck.....
Last year, I let my friend breed her saanen/ alpine doe to my ober buck at the end of March till mid April. I had read somewhere that swiss breeds, vs nubians and boers, since they originated north of the equator, were very difficult to get bred after January/ Feb. He also didnt act that interested in her, and she was pretty mean to him. That August, she had two doelings.
I think your idea to have her tested is a good one, goat grandma ;)

Also, my friend with nubians had 2 yearlings freshen this year who you would swear to look at them werent pregnant even right before they kidded.
 
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