Farm life

September

ON THE SMALLHOLDING

AS THE SEASON CHANGES, GOATS AND SHEEP ARE PREPARING TO BREED

The shorter days trigger hormones that lead to ovulation approximately every 21 days over the autumn and winter months. As ewes and goat-does gestate for approximately five months, an autumn mating will result in early spring births. While commercial breeders may favour early matings to give a long growth period for a faster return, most smallholders prefer to wait until October to introduce a male. This allows offspring to be born in March, when temperatures are improving and natural forage is starting to grow, providing rich nutrients for lactating mothers. In spring, newborns are less vulnerable to cold and dams need less supplementary feeding. For ruminants, fresh fodder is a healthier food source than cereal. Another advantage of late mating is that many males will have already serviced their own flock in September. This gives smallholders a chance to borrow or hire breeding males from another holding. In this way, they can introduce a different, unrelated male every year to avoid inbreeding. Rams (béliers) and goat-bucks (boucs) offered for this service (la saillie) are sometimes advertised on social media sites and leboncoin.fr. When planning for offspring, consider the qualities needed by the flock to thrive in the local environment – not only should the sire be unrelated, but a local old breed is more adaptable to changing outdoor conditions. The first oestrus, normally in September, is often “silent”, meaning difficult for humans to observe. This especially applies to sheep. Goats are a lot more vocal and demonstrative because, in their natural environment, they would have to attract bucks from afar. Goats show that they are coming into oestrus by bleating, wagging their tails and showing other behavioural changes. Sometimes they go off feed and often they are more affectionate. They may fight or pester other females more often or allow other females to mount them. Although ewes are more subtle in behaviour, a ram can easily find those on heat through their scent. With both species, introduction of a male should trigger the cycle within a few days. Males are often kept apart from the female flock during summer, so that they fan the

flames of fertility when they return in autumn. September is a time to prepare prospective parents for mating and pregnancy. Ewes and does should be well-fed and in good health, but not too fat. Overweight females can have fertility problems. Underweight ones may not be able to support pregnancy without putting stress on their own health. Provide a fresh pasture in September for a nutritional boost. This summer’s meadow hay can supplement if pasture is scarce. Cereal supplements should only be Goats are a lot more vocal and necessary for those who are too thin. Cereals and “granulés” should bedemonstrative because, in introduced gradually and be kept to small their natural environment, portions to avoid serious metabolic issues. they would have to attract Prospective parents need checking for bucks from afar worms and other parasites. As routine worming is no longer recommended due to the rise in parasite resistance, it is worth taking a faecal sample to the vet for an egg count (coproscopie). This allows you to reduce treatment to the susceptible portion of the flock. Poultry may see a last chance to raise a clutch in autumn. Make sure that a broody hen’s nest will stay warm and dry if the weather changes. She will need a dry, protected area with thick bedding to rear her chicks until they are fully feathered at six weeks old.

By Tamsin Cooper

Tamsin Cooper is a smallholder and writer with a keen interest in animal behaviour and welfare

www.goatwriter.com