By Umar Nsubuga
Gerald Senono, a farmer bought a female goat and he asks at what age should it get its first kid and how often should it produce.
Peter Mubiru, a veterinary doctor says a female goat reaches sexual maturity between four and six months of age. But it is wise to wait until it has passed through the last growing phase before it is bred.
He says if the goat becomes pregnant before the right time, it can be overwhelmed by the demands of the growing foetus added to its growth demands.
According to Mubiru, the pregnancy of a goat lasts about five months. If you feed your goat well so that it is big enough to breed by six months of age, it can deliver at 11 months of age. This is a month before its first birthday.
If by the age of 12 months, your goat is not yet pregnant, then something is wrong with either the goat or your management. Ask for veterinary assistance.
He says the age at first kidding is very important. Where goats produce kids for the first time at an early age, the turnover is high. This directly determines how much you earn from the goats.
In parts of the world that experience winter, goats breed only during certain seasons. But in the tropics, where Uganda lies, they breed all year round.
“Since the pregnancy lasts only five months, it is possible for a goat in Uganda to kid two times a year. But if a goat can kid three times in two years, that is good enough,” he says.
He explains that good feeding will boost your goat’s growth and it should be accompanied by good health. The goats should sleep in a clean and comfortable place. Regularly deworm them and seek veterinary care in case of any disease.
