Reproductive Management
- Most Indian goat breeds exhibit oestrus throughout the year. A few breeds are seasonally polyestrous with the
extended breeding season
- Under extensive conditions, rearing of bucks (males) with females leads to mating throughout the year.
- Goats usually come to heat between September and November and March and April.
- Depending on the body condition, flush them with 300-350 g of concentrate feed daily along with ample green
fodder to improve body condition.
- Flushing around breeding increases the kid crop by 10-20%, increasing the number of twins born.
- During pregnancy, feed the doe about 300-400 g of concentrate daily during late gestation (2 months). This
transition feeding should continue for 2 months after kidding also.
- Transition feeding helps improve milk yield, nursing ability, health condition, birth weight of kids, reduces
stillbirths, and improves twinning and triplet percentage.
- During pregnancy, an increase of about 10-12 kg body weight is desirable.
- A doe can be first bred after it attains 65-70% of adult body weight. The age at first kidding is 12-14 months
and the gestation period of goats is 5 months and 5 days.
- Steps need to be taken to avoid inbreeding.
- Be watchful for a shiny udder, restlessness, sunken tail and hip, heavy breathing, and constant looking
sideways, which are signs of approaching kidding.
- Post kidding, provide the doe a bucket of clean water. Keep the doe and kid in the same cubicle for 3-4 days.
Thereafter, the doe may be allowed to graze with other goats.
The Doe's Estrous Cycle
The doe's estrous cycle is the interval between two estrus or heat periods that lasts an average of 21 days. The
estrus or heat can last from 12 to 48 hours. During estrus does are receptive to being mounted by bucks. For
artificial insemination, it is important to identify when a doe is in heat. Producers are encouraged to utilize
teasers, usually a vasectomized buck to identify a doe in heat.
| Age of attainment of puberty |
7 months to 1 year |
| Approximate weight at first mating |
15-18 kg |
| Age at first mating or insemination |
8 months to 12 months |
| Oestrous cycle |
Generally every 18-21 days |
| Duration of heat |
14 – 48 hours |
| Gestation period |
145 – 156 days |
| Age at first kidding |
13 –17 months |
| Ideal kidding rate |
3 in 2 consecutive years |
| Service period |
45 days |
| Minimum dry period |
30 days |
Signs of heat
- Wagging of tail. The frequency of tail movement increases in the presence of males.
- Frequent bleating, more so when the goat is alone.
- Excitement or restlessness.
- Anorexia and lack of interest in feed.
- Drop in milk yield.
- Vulva becomes swollen and oedematous.
- Small quantity of clear discharge from the vagina.
- Doe anxiously goes seeking the buck.
- It remains close to the buck and allows mounting.
- It mounts on other goats and allows to be mounted by others.
