Exactly how old are they? You may have to daily behavior test them with the buck for 30 days.
Looking for heat in 2 Apline yearlings & a Nubian!
I purchased 2 Alpine yearlings 3 weeks ago. The seller said one of them had a heat the Sunday before. I was there on Wednesday. She said the other doe should come into heat any day. That was 3 weeks ago and I still have not seen any real signs of heat for either doe. I have a couple nubian yearlings that I bought the week before & they have both cycled, one of them twice. Their heats are quite obvious: discharge, tail wagging, playful behaviour with the bigger Alpine, standing to be mounted by the alpine. One day when the Nubian was in heat one Alpine was mounted by the other Alpine. I brought the buck over. The buck showed no interest in Penny (one of the Alpines who did the mounting) but did show interest in Mel, the one who was briefly mounted by Penny. Mel however didn't want anything to do with the buck. I don't know if she was in heat but being a first-timer wasn't sure how to handle the situation. Or was not in heat. Maybe the Alpines were just reacting to the Nubians very strong heat. The Alpine Mel didn't have discharge or tail wagging. Penny in the 3 weeks she's been here has shown no signs at all. Mel is the Nubians favorite doe when the Nubians are in heat. I am getting concerned I won't be able to get these does bred. Can does have silent heats? I've brought the buck over 3 times now at any slight or questionable behavior. I also show them a buck rag pretty much daily to look for flagging or sudden peeing etc. Am I missing something? I am not set up to leave them with a buck for weeks at a time. I was really hoping to hand breed.
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They were both born 3/2020Exactly how old are they? You may have to daily behavior test them with the buck for 30 days.
Mineral deficiency can also be a problem.
They have free choice sweetlix mineral both at their previous owner & with me. There aren't any other signs of mineral deficiency that I can see but it's possible. Would you recommend anything to correct that possibility? Also they are probably over conditioned. The seller was "flushing" them when I bought them but I don't think they needed flushing. They have a good layer of fat but I don't think they are obese. But they are huge as in look totally full grown. The vet estimated Mel to be 200lbs. She's a really big girl. Any rate, could being over conditioned make for weak/silent or absent heats?Mineral deficiency can also be a problem.
Can you post pictures of them?
Still no signs of heat. Additionally, I have a Nubian yearling also born around 3/2020 that has been her about a month now. She had a heat 23 days ago. I was hoping to breed her the next heat but she hasn't shown any signs since then. It is not possible that she has been bred. Her sister has had 2 heats and is super obvious about them. Also, Mel, the big Alpine can act Bucky sometimes. She plays the buck when the Nubians have been in heat. I at first thought this was normal but now I wonder if she is cystic or something. The does have come from 2 different farms. The one farm fed sweetlix magnum milk mineral free choice along with a cobalt block. The other used Manna Pro goat loose minerals free choice. I have sweetlix free choice here as well. So I think it would be odd for them to be mineral deficient coming from 2 different farms with good minerals and I would think it might be too soon to be so deficient from my farm that they don't cycle. We do have well water but it has no sulfur smell. Possibly there is iron but I don't know. The seller of the Alpines is certain they were never bred at her farm. I have been bringing a buck over every day now for about a week and will continue to do so. He is a young buck. He has not shown particular interest in any one doe. He is interested but I just don't think anybody has been in heat. None of the does are interested in him. Any thoughts or advice are greatly appreciated.
Can you borrow him for a month and have him in with them 24x7?
They look healthy. They do look over conditioned but not horrible.
They look healthy. They do look over conditioned but not horrible.
Well, I have 3 young bucks but and I could put one in but I have 2 young doelings that should not be bred & I don't have a place to put them for a monthCan you borrow him for a month and have him in with them 24x7?
They look healthy. They do look over conditioned but not horrible.
If you could find a way to rearrange everyone, it would be easiest this time to just have a male in with them.
If the buck doesn't smell "LOUD" - like ewww.... you may not notice quiet heats. Young bucks and virgin does don't always get what is supposed to happen. I would suggest penning him in with the girls you want bred is possible, if an experienced buck is not available....what breed is the buck and has he ever bred before?
I have one each of Nubian, Alpine & Lamanchas bucks. They are all born in March & have never bred before. & they are not that stinkyIf the buck doesn't smell "LOUD" - like ewww.... you may not notice quiet heats. Young bucks and virgin does don't always get what is supposed to happen. I would suggest penning him in with the girls you want bred is possible, if an experienced buck is not available....what breed is the buck and has he ever bred before?
I noticed today that the one Nubian who seemed to miss her heat recently has some weak looking pasterns. I will try to get a picture tomorrow. I've read here that weak pasterns can be a sign of selemium deficiency & I've also read Se deficiency can cause reproductive problems so maybe that is the issue with at least that one doe. The other Nubian & Alpines don't show any outward symptoms but I was wondering if giving some replamin plus to all these does would be good. Would that be sufficient for selenium if the one Nubian really is deficient? Is there any danger of over doing things if they have free choice sweetlix available? I've heard of giving 5cc daily initially & then once a week. Is that right?
Replamin Plus would be fine to give. Yes. 5 day loader dose than once a week.
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