Goat Notes

Coloring Outside the Lines

Fall breeding season is here! To help you be prepared for the arrival of lambs and kids next spring, use a marking harness or marking paint on your bucks/rams. Especially if you are pen breeding. This will make it possible to keep records of which females were bred and when, and changing the color of the marker used about every 18 days can help identify which ones were bred a second time, giving a better estimate of when they are due to kid/lamb.

At Home Pregnancy Test

Don't want to wait for test results from the lab and ultra sounding isn't an option? There are now kits available that use a blood sample to test for pregnancy in livestock that producers can purchase to use at home. Sheep and goats need to be at least 28 days post-breeding for pregnancy to be detected. These kits are sold by a few different supply companies.

Monthly Management Tip

The weather forecast for southeast Kansas has a few good temperature swings in store for us. From highs in the 90s earlier this month to highs in the 60s. With these temperature swings, keep an eye out for sick animals. Signs to watch for include: separating themselves from the herd, not coming up to eat or being slow to reach the feeder, a runny nose, coughing, and standing hunched up/looking cold. If you notice any of these signs, take their temperature right away! Normal temp for goats and sheep is 101.9 to 103.

Gestation Calculators

Find out when those spring kids and lambs will be arriving! Two calculators are linked below.

The ABGA calculator uses the exact breeding data. The Wyoming calculator asks for when the buck/ram was put in and taken out to give a kidding/lambing window, and it will also show what date late gestation and early (peak) lactation starts.

Wyoming Sheep and Goat Calculator

ABGA Calculator

Upcoming Events

Coyotes are a common predator of sheep and goats. Join us in Girard to learn about coyote biology to better understand pack dynamics, which times of the year they are more likely to be a problem, and management options to control them if you have a problem.

Adaven Rohling

K-State Research & Extension Wildcat District

Diversified Ag. & Natural Resource Agent

620-331-2690

adaven@ksu.edu Vol. 3, No. 1