Breeding Stock, Heat, Conception and Parturition in Sheep and Goats for JSS 1

Breeding in sheep and goat

Performance Objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

1. explain the meaning of breeding;
2. state the purpose of breeding;
3. select a breeding stock;
4. observe signs of heat, conception and parturition in sheep and goat.

Meaning of Breeding

Breeding is the science and practice of mating selected male and female animals to produce offspring with desirable qualities.

In livestock farming, breeding ensures that the best characteristics of the parent sheep and goats are passed down to their young ones. This helps farmers maintain or improve the quality of their farm animals over time.

Purpose of Breeding

Farmers engage in breeding sheep and goats for specific economic and production reasons.

The main purposes of breeding sheep and goats are:

1. Improving reproductive performance: This involves increasing the fertility and prolificacy of the animals. Fertility refers to the ability of the animal to successfully reproduce. Prolificacy refers to the ability of a female animal to give birth to multiple offspring, such as twins or triplets, at one time.
2. Improving growth rate: Breeding helps produce offspring that grow faster and reach mature market weight in a shorter period. This reduces the cost of feeding and increases the farmer’s profit.

Selecting Breeding Stock

Breeding stock refers to a group of male and female animals kept specifically for reproduction to produce the next generation of livestock.

Selecting the right animals is critical for successful livestock farming. Farmers use specific criteria to choose the best sheep and goats for breeding.

The main criteria for selecting breeding stock include:

1. Good body conformation: The animal must have a well-formed body structure. This includes strong, straight legs to support its weight, a deep chest, a straight back, and well-developed reproductive organs. Good body conformation ensures the animal can move easily, feed well, and carry pregnancy successfully.
2. Health status: Selected animals must be free from diseases, parasites, and physical deformities. Healthy animals have bright eyes, smooth coats, alert behavior, and a good appetite.
3. History of multiple offspring: Farmers select female animals (ewes for sheep, does for goats) that come from families with a history of giving birth to twins or triplets. This increases the chances of producing prolific offspring.
4. Adaptation: The selected animals must be well-adapted to the local climate, weather conditions, and available pasture in the area. Animals that adapt easily are more resistant to local diseases and environmental stress.

Observe the diagram below showing the physical features of a healthy breeding animal.

Observing Signs of Heat

Heat, also known as estrus, is the period when the female sheep or goat is sexually receptive to the male and is ready for mating.

Farmers must observe the animals closely to detect this period so that mating can take place. The common signs of heat in sheep and goats include:

1. Willingness to be mounted: The female stands quietly and allows the male to mount her. This is the most reliable sign that the female is highly receptive.
2. Restlessness: The animal moves around constantly, paces along the fence, and appears uneasy.
3. Frequent bleating: The female makes continuous vocal sounds to attract the attention of the male.
4. Frequent tail wagging: The female wags her tail rapidly and repeatedly, especially when a male is nearby.
5. Swollen and moist vulva: The external reproductive organ of the female becomes slightly swollen, red, and may discharge clear mucus.

Conception and Gestation

Conception is the successful fertilization of the female egg by the male sperm, leading to pregnancy.

Gestation is the period of pregnancy from conception to birth.

In sheep and goats, the gestation period is approximately five months (about 145 to 152 days).

Farmers can determine if mating was successful by observing specific signs of conception. The main signs of conception in sheep and goats include:

1. Not returning to service: The female does not show signs of heat three weeks (21 days) after mating. The normal heat cycle repeats every 17 to 21 days if conception does not occur.
2. Refusal to be mounted: The pregnant female will actively run away from or fight off any male attempting to mount her.
3. Distension of the stomach: As the pregnancy advances, the abdomen or belly of the female swells and becomes visibly larger, especially on the right side.
4. Enlargement of the udder: The udder begins to swell and fill with milk as the animal approaches the end of the gestation period.

Parturition

Parturition is the act of giving birth in livestock.

In sheep, the act of giving birth is called lambing, while in goats, it is called kidding.

Farmers must recognize when an animal is about to give birth so they can provide necessary assistance and clean housing. The common signs of parturition in sheep and goats include:

1. Restlessness: The female lies down and stands up repeatedly, paws at the ground to make a nest, and appears highly uncomfortable.
2. Isolation: The animal separates herself from the rest of the herd or flock, seeking a quiet, dark, and safe corner.
3. Swollen and reddish vulva: The vulva becomes significantly enlarged, loose, and reddish, with a thick mucus discharge hanging from it.
4. Sinking around the tail head: The muscles around the rump and tail head relax and sink inward, indicating that the birth canal is opening.

Lactation

Lactation is the period during which the female animal produces milk from her mammary glands to feed her newborn young.

In sheep and goats, the lactation period typically lasts for two to three months. During this time, the young lambs or kids rely heavily on their mother’s milk for nutrition and growth. Farmers must provide high-quality feed and clean water to lactating animals to support milk production.

Look at the diagram below showing the timeline of the reproductive cycle in sheep and goats.

How to Observe Breeding Activities on the Farm

Observing livestock requires patience, careful attention, and regular visits to the animal pens. Farmers must keep accurate records of mating dates to predict birth dates accurately.

The procedure for observing breeding activities involves the following steps:

1. Visit the pens daily: Observe the animals twice a day, preferably early in the morning and late in the evening when they are most active.
2. Check for behavioral changes: Look for signs of restlessness, frequent bleating, or tail wagging among the female animals.
3. Introduce a teaser male: Use a vasectomized male (an animal that cannot fertilize but still has mating instincts) to identify females on heat. Females that stand still to be mounted are ready for breeding.
4. Record mating dates: Write down the exact date a female is mated by a fertile male. This marks the beginning of the five-month gestation period.
5. Monitor the animals after three weeks: Check the mated females around day 17 to 21. If they do not show signs of heat or refuse the male, conception has likely occurred.
6. Prepare a clean kidding or lambing pen: As the five-month gestation period nears its end, isolate the pregnant female in a clean, dry, well-bedded pen to prepare for parturition.