Should I breed my extra doelings now?

Hey Diane, I would breed them to increase desirability. But do wait to hear what others have to say. Hopefully you'll get some answers that are more familiar with your particular market.

 

A bred doe to kid off season and be in milk when others are waning from freshening early spring or late winter....a very good thing...especially if you are thinking about selling down in numbers. You could also hit the dairies with a mass email selling the does in milk, nursing kids so it's lessens the load and just glean off the number of doelings you want to keep.

Raising replacements is a very smart thing to do out here, especially when they will milk through winter, eaisly, being Lamancha. Vicki

 

I think you answered your own question. Think of it this way, your really getting more bang for your buck (in terms of speaking.. by breading them. First of all, If you don't sell them while they're pregnant, you'll be able to glean kids from them to either keep or sell, as well as selling a doe in milk, which around here, sells for a premium.

 

Would you consider butchering some for your family meat supply? That would cut down on your feed bill immediately.

Sara

 

What Vicki said. Our market is done here for any does not bred... No one wants to keep an open animal until next fall... Well almost everyone I would jump at the chance to buy some nice animals and keep them dry. (But a little too far for me to get a doe from. Plus yours have the wrong ears for my bucks. )

 

breed them or eat them

 

feed scraps to your dogs

 

You could always breed them now and then sell them while they are bred. You might be able to sell a few and that would cut your herd size and help with the feed bill. Although I know it is a little hard to sell right now but might be worth a try.
Theresa

 

I know if that was me I would sell everything except about 5 does and a buck and get the herd to where it was a little more manageable and easier on the pocket book. I would breed those five and have enough milk for family and soap, etc. It is so easy to get attached to these goats and get yourself overwhelmed with too many.

 

Christine, you are right about that! But I almost downsized myself completely out of goats this year and now I don't think I'll have enough milk for all my grandkids!

 

Good post Chris. It is easy to end up with too many.

Sara

 

Diane, maybe check to see if your could sell the hogs easier than the goats and then butcher out some goats.

Trisha

 

We actually took some weathers to the sale barn and actually got a fair price for them as we have enough meat, sure helps with management and feed bill cost also.