Getting Ready for Breeding Season: A Guide for Dairy Goat Keepers

Amanda Goodwin
Jul 30
4 min read

As summer winds down, dairy goat breeders across the country start gearing up for one of the most important times of the year: breeding season. Whether you're a seasoned herd manager or a first-time goat owner, preparing well in advance can make the difference between a smooth kidding season and unnecessary stress.

In this post, we'll walk through the key steps to take before breeding your goats — from health prep to planning future kiddings — to help ensure a successful season and healthy kids.

🗓️ 1. Plan Your Kidding Window

Decide when you want kids to arrive. Count 145–155 days backward from that target date to determine when to breed.

Want spring milk for market or babies for show season? Aim for fall breeding.
Cold climate? You may want to avoid kidding in deep winter.
Tip: Staggering breedings gives you a steady milk supply and reduces kidding chaos.

🧬 2. Select Your Breeding Pairs

Good pairings are the foundation of a productive herd. Consider:

Conformation strengths and weaknesses
Milk production and udder traits
Temperament and parasite resistance
Linebreeding or outcrossing goals

Keep written records or use a goat management app to track your pairings.

ADGA Genetics is a great tool!

🩺 3. Perform Health Checks

A healthy doe is more likely to conceive, carry to term, and deliver strong kids.

Checklist:

Hoof trims – prevent stress and injury
FAMACHA & Fecals – address parasites
Copper bolus – as needed based on your region
Body condition – ideal score: 2.5–3.5
No active infections or discharges
Access to good minerals
We also give a Multimin 90 shot (this is a cocktail of vitamins and minerals) Use caution if you have given copper bolus.
Bucks should also be in top shape, especially feet, fertility, and libido! The get their yearly CDT and BO SE (if needed) - We give the does theirs when they are a month away from kidding

📊 4. Prep Your Records

Keep detailed records of:

Breeding dates
Buck used
Signs of heat or exposure
Ultrasound or blood test results
Estimated due dates

Having this info ready makes it easier to track who’s bred, who's open, and who needs rebreeding.

Don't know where to start? We offer a digital download in our store.

Perfect for breeders and goat owners to organize all vital information in one place. From breeding logs to medical records, we have you covered!

Click on image to get your download for only $5.99!

Digital Goat Record book. — Keep track of your herd with our Digital Goat Records

🔍 5. Heat Detection Tips

Most does come into heat every 18–21 days and show signs like:

Tail wagging
Mucus discharge
Restlessness or vocalizing
Standing for the buck

Use a teaser buck, teaser rag, marking harness, or keep a close eye on behavior during breeding season.

🧼 6. Prepare Your Facilities

Before breeding begins, check your:

Breeding pens: Secure fencing and dry footing
Buck housing: Bucks will be working, pacing, and possibly fighting
Handling areas: For ultrasounds, hoof trims, and AI (if using)

You may also want to clean and organize your kidding supplies now, while it’s still calm.

🎯 Final Thoughts

Breeding season is more than just putting a buck with a doe. It's a carefully timed strategy that lays the groundwork for the next generation of your herd. With the right planning, prep, and record-keeping, you'll set yourself—and your goats—up for success.

Let’s raise happy, healthy kids and keep our does productive and thriving.

Have questions or want help planning your breedings this year? Reach out—I’m always happy to help other goat keepers succeed!

NOTE: 🕰️ Breed Differences: Year-Round vs. Seasonal Cycling

One important factor in planning your breeding season is knowing when your goats are actually cycling — and that can vary depending on the breed.

Standard-size dairy breeds like Oberhasli, Alpine, Nubian, and Saanen are typically seasonal breeders, meaning they come into heat primarily in the fall months (as days get shorter).
In contrast, Nigerian Dwarf and Pygmy goats are year-round breeders, with does cycling every 18–21 days regardless of the season.

🧠 Why it matters:If you're working with standard dairy breeds, you may have a limited window to breed each year unless you’re using light manipulation or hormone protocols. With Nigerians or Pygmies, you have more flexibility in scheduling breedings throughout the year — ideal for staggered kiddings or extended milk production.

🧪 What We Do at Goodwin Family Farms

Now that you have the basics of breeding prep, I’ll share a bit about how we approach breeding season on our farm.

We actually synchronize our does to breed on a specific schedule, especially when aiming for kids in January and February. This method works well for both Artificial Insemination (AI) and natural breeding.

Here’s a quick overview of what we do:

We insert CIDRs (Controlled Internal Drug Release devices) to manage the cycle timing.
After 14 days, we pull the CIDRs but we administer PG600 about 36 hours before removal.
This helps synchronize heat cycles so we can breed multiple does at once.
NOTE: Some breeders use Lute (Lutalyse) in their protocols. We’ve found that unnecessary for our goals, but every herd is different.

This year, we plan to AI one doe and breed the rest naturally, as we have a new stud buck we're excited to use.

📌 Reminder: Always do your own research, and don’t be afraid to reach out to experienced breeders. What works for one farm might not be ideal for another. Synchronization protocols, especially those involving hormones, should be tailored to your herd health and management goals.