I am starting a goat farm in Vermont. I want to try to have a seasonal dairy. I would need to breed my goats in mid or late April. My market is looking for winter milk. I would like to know if anyone has any ideas for breeding out of season. I would rather not use drugs if I can help it.

-- Theresa Hack (TTRHack@aol.com), October 22, 2002

Answers

As far as I can see you would have no choice but to use lutelayse to bring them into heat at that late of date. Nubians will go into heat late in the season, but April is REALLY late and I would think it would be sketchy at best. Perhaps you could use a buck rag to try and bring them into heat? Might work. The other possibility is to keep an older stinky buck on premises and let him in with the girls for a week or so and hope that brings them around.

Best to you!

-- Doreen (animalwaitress@yahoo.com), October 22, 2002.

Have you considered Dwarf Nigerians? They produce a good deal of milk highest in butterfat of all goats. They can be bred twice a year and pretty much come into heat every month if not. There's a lot of information on them. They are also easy keepers and don't eat as much or take as much space as alpines.

-- karencarr (karencarr@ont.com), December 19, 2003.