Are Boer goats good mothers?

Out of many advantages the Boer goats offer, they are good mothers too. Boer goats are hardy, disease-resistant, and good sources of meat. Though Boer is a good mother, the kids do require a little bit of attention and care during the first few weeks.

Boer goats during their first kidding should be supervised. Their mothering instinct may not be manifested during their first delivery. Usually, after the first kidding, the Does make excellent mothers. Even after the first kidding if the Does just do not care about their kids, then it’s best not to keep her.

Minimal attention and care should be given the during first weeks of birth for both mother and kids. Ewes should get enough food and kids should get enough milk.

How many times a year do Boer goats have babies?

Boer goats can have 3 times in 2 years and have a minimum of 2 kids per kidding cycle. The ewes that are around 10 months of age are ready for breeding. Ewes should get enough food to be mothers in the coming months.

The Boer ewes get matured as early as 6 months, but not advisable to go for breeding. It will restrict their growth and lead to reproductive problems if early breeding is carried early. A minimum of 10 months Boer ewe and a two-third weight of the average body-weight of the adult ewes are suitable for breeding.

How old does a Boer buck have to be to breed?

The Boer buck will be ready to mate at the age of 6 months. If the Buck is present among the Does, they come into oestrus that lasts about 24 to 72 hours. The Does usually come to heat for every 18 days.

It is advisable to leave the Buck in the Does pen for not more than 36 days. This will give each ewe two chances to conceive. If the Buck is left for more than 36 days, the quality of the sperm reduces as the buck will be exhausted.

How do you prepare Boer ewes for breeding?

Boer ewes should be taken care with the following pre-requisites before 4 to 6 weeks of mating

• Deworming against roundworm and nose-worm.
• Immunization against enzootic abortion and enterotoxemia.
• The zinc and manganese are given to ewes to make them more fertile.
• Look for teats, if they have teats that are too large or damaged, cull them or do not breed them.
• The ewes gangrene is most problematic and dangerous. Inoculate the ewes against gangrene, when the uterus is 8 to 12 weeks before they kid. The Uterus gangrene can kill ewe 2 to 3 days after kidding.

How do you take care of baby Boer goats?

Baby Boer goats like any other kids will require certain care. The Boer Does and kids can be kept in a separate shed/pen. This enhances kids to drink milk properly. They can sleep with happy stomachs. For two to three weeks the kids and Does are kept together for their better care. They can be released out for grazing after three weeks. This buffer period will allow kids to stay on mother’s milk.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many babies do Boer goats have?

The Boer goats are polyestrous. This means they can breed throughout the year. The Boer goats are ready for breeding at the age of 8 to 10 months. They produce 3 times every 2 years. Usually, they give multiple births. Around 200 % kid crop is achievable. The Does will be pregnant for 5 months, then nurse their kids for 3 months and they are ready for breeding again.

What is the life expectancy of a Boer goat?

The life expectancy of a Boer goat is between 8 to 12 years under managed conditions.

What are Boer kid’s common diseases?

There are two main diseases that are commonly seen in goat kids, Heartwater and Contagious ecthyma(sore mouth)

Heartwater

• The disease is so common in the South African regions, the disease is spread by the bont tick.
• Symptoms include Chewing movements with high fever and trouble with walking. Sometimes Convulsions.
• Antibiotics can be used to treat the disease. Consult the vet for further instructions.

Contagious ecthyma

• Symptoms of the disease are sores around the kid’s mouth. The disease will transmit from kids’ mouth to udder of the Does. Some of the kids will get recover from this disease naturally. But few require vaccination.
• The disease results in weight loss and pain in kids.