Bucks & Does

Before one buys a buck,some things to consider are (if a milk breed),do his parents come from families which are good milkers,his mother is known to kid twins or better,have no malformations,injury,infection or inflammation,good sound feet and legs.If he is of breeding age,what is the history of his offspring?What is his general disposition?What is his overall health history?Are there records to support this?Will this buck improve the quality of your herd.Prior to his introduction to any does,he should be examined for any signs of disease or abnormalities.He should be in good weight because he may tend to loose a little during breeding season,should increase his concentrates about 3 weeks before the first breeding.Extreme heat may reduce fertility in breeding males.Provide shade,some breed in the cooler evening or morning hours.Sometimes multiple births tend to be more multiple when does are bred in the middle or later part of the normal breeding season.

Does:
make sure the does have received proper vaccinations and deworming.Are they of good weight,solid and trim but gaining slightly.Some believe having the buck within eyesight makes the does come into heat sooner.Does bred in their first year must be of proper weight.On average,does will come into heat (cycle) every 21 days.This can vary greatly,espically with younger does and early in the season.Usually,however it will fall into the 19-22 day range.Some infections reproduction diseases can lead to mating that do not result in pregnancy or abortions that occur shortly after breeding.Individual heats last from 12-36 hours,usual signs of estrus may include,nervousness,tail twitching,pinkness and swelling around the vulva,small amounts of discharge,erect hair on the spine,talking,decrease of appetite,decrease in amount of milk produced,allowing other does to mount her,rubbing other does or objects,fighting.A doe in heat may respond to your rubbing your hand down her back by twitching her tail or raising the hairs on her lower spine.