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Seasonal Variation in the Birth Rate of the Milking Goat in the United States^*

Department of Dairy Husbandry, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri

ABSTRACT

The date of birth of 37,047 kids of the four breeds of milk goats was tabulated to determine the frequency of births at various seasons of the year. It was observed that about five per cent of the total population kid in January and that the number increases rapidly until the first half of March when over 16 per cent kid (30 per cent for month of March). From that time the number of births declines each month until July, when about 3 per cent kidded. From January to June over 93 per cent of all kids were born.

These data are interpreted as indicating that the milk goats of the United States are seasonal breeders. Considering the period of pregnancy as about 150 to 151 days or roughly five months, the anestrus period of the goat covers at least the months of April, May, June and July. In favorable seasons (cool?) some does will come into estrum in August. From September to February or March regular estrus cycles of about 21 days will occur in normal does with a seasonal anestrus period following.

^* Contribution from the Department of Dairy Husbandry, Missouri Agricultural Experiment Station Journal Series No. 463.