How Often Do Goats Go In Heat

At our hobby farm we see a multitude of utility in goats. We generally like goats and breeding goats has been a fun experience.

If you hope to breed goats, then you may ask: How Often Do Goats Go In Heat?

Goats generally go in heat seasonally, they are seasonal breeders. Most goats will go into heat every 18 to 22 days from September through February, and the heat will last 12 to 72 hours. That’s right, most goats do not go into heat year round.

That said, some goats do come into heat year round and therefore may breed year round. Here are two lists that distinguish seasonal breeders from year-round breeders.

Seasonal Breeding Goats – The following types of goats (aka breeds) are often seasonal breeders. Most of these seasonal breeders are dairy goats, the alpine or swiss breeds.

Alpine
Angor
Lamancha

Oberhasli
Saanen
Toggenburg

Year-Round Breeding Goats – The following types of goats are often year round breeders. Most of these year-round breeders are meat goats.

Boer
Fainting Goats

Kiko
Kinder
Nigerian Dwarf

Pygmy
Spanish

More about: How Often Do Goats Go In Heat?

Here are some more interesting facts about goats in heat.

What Is A Standing Heat

A “standing heat” is the stage of the doe’s heat cycle when she is ready to let a buck mount her. This is usually during the middle of the 12 to 72 hour heat cycle.

The heat may last only 12 hours to 72 hours, but that doesn’t mean the doe will stand and allow a buck to mount her that entire time. She will let a buck mount her if she is in a “standing heat”. If your doe is showing signs of being in heat, but does not let your buck mount her, then she is not yet ready, is not yet in a “standing heat”.

What If Doe Does Not Show Signs Of Heat

Not all goats show the classic signs of being in heat. So, if your doe is showing a strange behavior, then make note of this in your log book or in your calendar. If the same doe is showing the same strange behavior in 18 to 22 days, then that is a behavior that she exhibits when in heat. Behavior change is one of the tell tale signs of being in heat.

Goats In Same Pen Not Interested In Mating

If does and bucks live together in the same area, then they can become bored with each other and generally uninterested in mating. I know, this is hard to believe. In reality, you’ll probably find that some mating will occur, but you may also find that some females do not get bred.

Once again, best practice is to separate males and females until the female is in heat. Allowing the male and female to come together when the female is in heat makes for the most vigorous and naturally productive mating.

To read about the classic signs of a goat in heat, click here: How Often Do Goats Go In Heat?

How Often Do Pygmy Goats Go Into Heat

Pygmy goats go into heat every 18 to 22 days; they are meat goats, so they often breed year-round.

When Do Nigerian Dwarf Goats Go Into Heat

Nigerian Dwarf goats go into heat every 18 to 22 days; they are meat goats, so they often breed year-round.

How Young Do Goats Go Into Heat?

Some young female goats can go into heat as early as age 8 to 10 weeks. Likewise some little boy bucks are ready to start breeding at age 8 to 10 weeks.

If you, like us here at Hobby Farm Heaven, want does and bucks to mature a bit before they start breeding, then you need to separate young does and bucks before they are 8 weeks old.

Here’s a video showing an 8 week old female in a heavy heat.

How Old Does A Goat Need To Be To Breed?

Some young goats go into heat at the young age of just 8 to 10 weeks old. Similarly, some young bucks are fired up and capable of breeding when they are just 8 to 10 weeks old.

We don’t recommend breeding at such a young age. We wait until our goats are at least 10 mos old. Most often we wait a full year.

At What Age Can A Goat Get Pregnant?

Some young doe goats can get pregnant just 8 weeks after being born!

Final Thoughts on How Often Do Goats Go In Heat

Here are some bulleted take-aways for you:

Females go into a 12 to 72 hour heat every 18 to 22 days.

The meat goat breeds tend to breed year round.
The dairy breeds are seasonal breeders, usually September through February.
Some females can begin to go into heat at the early age of 8 weeks old.

Similarly, some bucks are potent and ready to mount and breed at 8 weeks old.
Separate young males and females at seven weeks of age, before they are 8 weeks old.

Here’s a great video for How To Tell Your Goat Is In Heat!