Tag: selection

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Goat Reproduction Selection Breeding and Performance Records

Breeding and Performance Records

Keeping records can provide valuable information about how the animal has performed over its productive life. Keeping records can help producers meet their performance goals and make sound selection decisions. Visual appraisal does not always indicate how the animal will perform or how its offspring will turn out. Basic records should include the following:

  • Animal ID
  • Birth date
  • Birth weight
  • Sire
  • Dam
  • Sex of offspring
  • Number born
  • Birthing difficulties
  • Frequency or number of kiddings
  • Number weaned
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Genetic Selection

Basic Principles of Selection

Traits of Importance in Selection

Selection Methods

 

In each generation of animals in his herd or flock, the breeder must select those to be saved for breeding from those to be used for other purposes. Perhaps he will also select animals from other herds for use as breeders in his. These are the most important things he does.” Breeding Better Livestock. Rice, Andrews, and Warwick 1953. Selection of breeding stock is critical to the success

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Goat Reproduction

Reproduction

Photo of dam nursing kids.

Understanding reproduction in goats is essential to increasing productivity, which is largely a function of pregnancy rate, the number of offspring born and weaned and the frequency with which kids are produced. Therefore, goat reproductive management should produce a high level of fertility (greater than 90 percent) and an optimum litter size (two kids) with a high rate of survival to weaning. Understanding reproductive processes in the goat will help producers manage their herd …

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Goat Reproduction Parturition/Kidding

Preparing For Kidding

Kidding may occur on pasture, or you may need to provide does with a clean, dry, well-ventilated shelter, depending on the weather in your area and your preference. It is wise to watch animals carefully, in case they should require assistance. Straw or pine shavings, or an inexpensive hay, can be used for bedding in shelters, if desired. Pregnant animals will get an enlarged udder starting one to six weeks prior to kidding. Some signs that parturition, …

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