ALABAMA A&M AND AUBURN UNIVERSITIES Criteria to Select ...

1 UNP-110 UNP-110 UNP-110 UNP-110 UNP-110 ALABAMA A&M AND AUBURN UNIVERSITIESC riteria to Select GoatBreeding is important to understand Criteria to selectand replace breed does and bucks in order toimprove the productivity of meat goat , become familiar with some commonlyused terms for male and female domestic goats(Capra hircus) at different stages ofreproductive their contemporaneous group. Onlydoelings that have achieved good growth andare structurally sound should be kept asreplacement selections are made at the yearlingstage when the female is ready to breed.

2 Inthis stage, choice is based on cyclicity andpregnancy. Young does that do not showestrous cycles or do not become pregnant arecull final selection is made after young doeshave weaned their first kids. Replacementprospects are determined according to whetherthe does adequately raised their kids. Thispractice is only valid when doelings are underthe same management traits to consider when selecting replace-ment doelings: Females must be feminine, which includesgood structural conformation including goodfeet and legs.

3 The vulva must not be infantile. A smallvulva with a tuff of hair is a sign ofintersexuality. The length of the upper jaw should be equalwith the lower teeth touching the superiordental pad. Mouth malformation willprovoke bad bites and will prevent theanimal from eating efficiently. This trait canalso be transmitted to offspring. Watch for a higher average daily weightgain during development in comparison totheir contemporary DoesThe maintenance of mature does in thebreeding stock should be based on higherreproductive performance.

4 Does are expectedto wean kids annually. A doe should also exhibitgood structure. The udder must be of goodTermDefinitionDoelingA doeling is a female goat that isless than a year or NannyA doe is a mature female buckling is a young male thatless than a year or BillyA buck is an adult goat yearling is a female or malegoat that is a year wether is a castrated male of ReplacementDoelingsReplacing doelings in a breeding program is amulti-step process that is based on breed,season of birth, and management first screening begins at weaning when thedoelings are between 3 to 4 months of age.

5 Itis based on weight and development. Doelingsare selected from their contemporary group in aherd and kept for further evaluation. At 6 to 8months of age, the doeling should be re-evalu-ated based on their growth and development2 ALABAMA cooperative extension Systemstructure, not pendulous, and with goodligaments, with one functional teat on each halfto facilitate nursing of the kids. Havingoversized teats is a cull valuable traits: A doe must be capable of breeding with nomore than two services (rate to effect apregnancy) required to conceive in abreeding season.

6 The does must be able tocarry out a pregnancy to term. She must be prolific with a history ofkidding multiple births and have raised thekids up to weaning unassisted. Keep inmind that the reproductive merit of a doecannot only be measured by the number ofkids she has kidded, but by the number ofheavy kids she has weaned. Does must have good milk production asindicated by the weaning weight of the ReproductiveProblems in a Doe Herd andCriteria for CullingIn an existing goat herd it is expected toannually cull 10-20 percent of the stock.

7 Agoat production system should rely on doeswith higher reproductive performance; doesthat can reproduce, raise, and wean the kidswith lower input. The reproductive efficiency ofa goat herd is determined by the kidding andweaning rates in a herd. Another importanttrait is the prolificacy or the ability to delivermultiple kids. Goats should have a weaningrate of 1 kid per year. A rate of kids peryear is a good herd goal, The percent herdprolificacy can be calculated by the totalnumber of kids born over the total number ofdoes kidded in a season X 100:Percent herd prolificacy =number of kids bornnumber of does kiddedPercent herd weaning rate =number of kids weanednumber of does matedCriteria for Culling Does froma Breeding ProgramThe maintenance of poor reproductiveperformers will lower profitability.

8 Following aresome Criteria that can be considered for culling:1. Eliminate does with poor health and highersusceptibility to nematodes (worms) ascompared to others in the herd. Also, makesure that does do not test positive forcaprine arthritis encephalitis (CAE),toxoplasmosis, CL abscesses, or chronicmammary and/or uterine Avoid does that present frequent prolapseduterine, or the eversion of the internal uterinelayer to the outside the doe's vagina. Theseabnormalities may be attributed to thegenetic makeup of the doe, or are commonamong does with a history of dystocia ordifficult Eliminate does that have poor or lower milkproduction and are incapable of rearing kidsto wean unassisted.

9 Does with poorconformation of the udder and teats preventkids from suckling Cull does with poor fertility rates, such asolder does that are no longer reproducing;does that fail to reproduce in a productionyear; or does that require several servicesper conception. A reproductively sound doeneeds no more than two services perconception. However, if the majority of doesreturn to heat in a breeding season, anexamination of the buck's ejaculation andan evaluation of management practicesmust be Remove does that fail to maintain adequatebody 1.

10 Culling does: Cull does with poor conformation ofthe udder and teats, and/or with mastitis, an inflammationof the mammary gland that will prevent kids from X 100_____ X 100capable of serving a large number of does inheat. In general, a good herd sire should beselected based on structural and breedingsoundness. Structurally, a good buck mustpresent male characteristics such as thefollowing: masculinity, adequate muscling,conformation of the head and neck, andstandard buck vocalization. Bucks must havetwo testicles in the scrotal sac.