AI and Nigerian Dwarfs?

[WannaBeFarmR]

I was wondering if anyone artificially inseminates their ND goats. Do you know of a company that sells smaller equipment for the job? Or do people just rig something up that gets it done? Or do people not do this when it comes to the mini breeds?

 

[Pearce Pastures]

I don't know anyone who do AI for their goats. It is so expensive to start up and just seems easier to have a buck. But if you are looking for very specific genetics from an amazing buck, I suppose that would be the way to do it. Not something for the small farm though, more for those who are way into showing I would think.

 

[WannaBeFarmR]

I know I'm not sure if I'd even bother with it for that reason, but I know someone who AI's cows so they have the tank already and the vet said they can do it pretty cheap but they thought the speculum they had for full size goats would be to big, I don't know but I would think so to. But I haven't found any online that are listed for ND or Pygmy sized does. There are sites that offer ND sire straws. So do people just use the smaller doeling sized equipment because even that seems like it would be to big. I'm not going to let someone do something that causes my does pain for no good reason.

 

[michickenwrangler]

I was wondering if anyone artificially inseminates their ND goats. Do you know of a company that sells smaller equipment for the job? Or do people just rig something up that gets it done? Or do people not do this when it comes to the mini breeds?

Our 4-H leader does it. He's up in Lupton. He does it mostly for his Boers, but I know he has some Saanen straws too. Some of the teenage members are doing their 4H project this year on AI and he's doing a demo for them. Not sure when that will be, but he did tell all of them at the Feb meeting to be ready to go when he calls, since timing once the doe goes into heat is critical.

There always seem to be a lot of ND's on the Michigan ads, but I don't pay attention to how many are registered and what quality they are. My neighbor had a ND blue-eyed buck she ended up giving away because the market was so saturated with them. You should be able to find one. Heck, I should pick you up and we could go to the Clare auctions, see what we come home with.

 

[OneFineAcre]

You asked if anyone AI'd their N.D goats.

We do not.

I don't think many people do at this point.

What are you trying to accomplish?

 

[littlelambx3]

I don't believe in it, and I obviously don't do it on my farm. If we breed any of our animals, it's the natural way. I could never get my girl pregnant from that, I'd feel too uncomfortable with that.

Not judging, just my opinion.

 

[Renegade]

I have been doing AI for a few years but around here it's mostly Boer goats. If someone wanted me to do a ND I wouldn't hesitate to do it. We have 2 different sized speculums. The smaller of them would easily fit in a ND.

Donna

 

[elevan]

I have been doing AI for a few years but around here it's mostly Boer goats. If someone wanted me to do a ND I wouldn't hesitate to do it. We have 2 different sized speculums. The smaller of them would easily fit in a ND.

Donna

Thanks for the input of experience in the situation.

 

[babsbag]

I don't know anyone who do AI for their goats. It is so expensive to start up and just seems easier to have a buck. But if you are looking for very specific genetics from an amazing buck, I suppose that would be the way to do it. Not something for the small farm though, more for those who are way into showing I would think.

It is farily common where I live in CA. I have 3 friends that have tanks and they have offered me storage anytime I want to use it so that is a huge savings. I also have a great vet that raises goats so she is willing to do all the pre-treatment that the does need to make them cycle at a certain time. Our dairy goat club has members that host buck collection days, sounds funny, but a company comes out to your farm and collects the sperm for you to store, hope that doesn't offend anyone. We also do training days for people that want to learn to do AI

I have thought about it just so I don't have to keep a buck and also so I don't have to have a buck for every breed I own. I have 4 breeds so if I want to breed them all to their "own kind" then that would be 4 bucks. Way to many for my housing set up. I have 2 right now and that is enough.

But it is expensive if you need to buy your own equipment for storing the straws.

 

[Queen Mum]

In Washington, where I came from, People AI all the time. No big deal. And they use the same equipment for the ND's as the full size goats. NOT sure why. BUT you can buy smaller equipment. The vet can do the AI for you and many large animal vets will loan you a tank.

Frankly, AI is a good way to assure that your genetics stay sound and varied. You can get straws from a herd in another part of the country and be sure that it is CAE/CL free, that it is Jonas tested, G6S tested (for Nubians) that the animal is sound, that the animal has excellent genetics, AND will produce kids that you can breed with your other goats. AND in the long run, it can be way cheaper than borrowing or buying a buck.

I have two goats that are the result of driving hours for a driveway breeding to a top of the line buck. It was worth the drive, the money for the breeding, the time and the effort. BUT if I could have used AI, I would have preferred it because it would have cost me far less in the long run. AND the bloodlines would have been much more satisfactory. BECAUSE, the buck I went to breed with, was pushed out of the way by another buck who jumped his pen and got one of my does. I was OK with the results but AI would have prevented that...