AI Protocol for Nigerians on natural heat cycles
We are transitioning to almost solely using Artificial Insemination for breeding. I am going to be documenting our practices so that as we learn and tweak our methods, we have real data to work with.
Breeding Preparation-
We only breed for spring kids so our breeding season starts in September and ends in December.
August 1st- Feed and Supplements
Start increasing feed intake on dry does to flush them. Dry does normally get 1/4 pound of grain per day and we will be increasing that to 1/2 pound. Does in milk get free choice grain on the milk stand. Any doe in milk will not be dried off until after they are bred. Hay and loose minerals are always available. All does will receive 2 cc of BOSE as we are in a selenium deficient area and want to prevent short cycling in does and white muscle disease in kids. We administer 5cc of Replamin gel 1x per week for a month at the beginning of breeding season and again in spring.
August- Tracking Heat Cycles
We do not keep bucks on the property so we watch the does for about 15 minutes 2x per day. We are looking for behavior changes and mucus. I will be documenting heat cycles on the spreadsheet below. It is very important to watch for a short cycle about 5 days after the start of heat. In our experience, the short cycle is the REAL heat in which the doe is fertile.
September- Breeding
We do not want kids to hit the ground until mid to late February so we will not start breeding until mid to late September.
We are transitioning to almost solely using Artificial Insemination for breeding. I am going to be documenting our practices so that as we learn and tweak our methods, we have real data to work with.
Breeding Preparation-
We only breed for spring kids so our breeding season starts in September and ends in December.
August 1st- Feed and Supplements
Start increasing feed intake on dry does to flush them. Dry does normally get 1/4 pound of grain per day and we will be increasing that to 1/2 pound. Does in milk get free choice grain on the milk stand. Any doe in milk will not be dried off until after they are bred. Hay and loose minerals are always available. All does will receive 2 cc of BOSE as we are in a selenium deficient area and want to prevent short cycling in does and white muscle disease in kids. We administer 5cc of Replamin gel 1x per week for a month at the beginning of breeding season and again in spring.
August- Tracking Heat Cycles
We do not keep bucks on the property so we watch the does for about 15 minutes 2x per day. We are looking for behavior changes and mucus. I will be documenting heat cycles on the spreadsheet below. It is very important to watch for a short cycle about 5 days after the start of heat. In our experience, the short cycle is the REAL heat in which the doe is fertile.
September- Breeding
We do not want kids to hit the ground until mid to late February so we will not start breeding until mid to late September.
