If you're breeding goats, you can't usually determine pregnancy by just looking at their outward appearance. Goats can look pregnant because of the way they digest food. You need to do a test to confirm the goat's pregnancy. You can take samples of goat's milk and blood to send to a lab, or test them yourself at home. You can also use the services of a veterinarian to get an ultrasound or X-ray examination.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Taking Milk Samples for Pregnancy Test
Step 1. Wash your hands first
Wash your hands completely with soap and warm water. Make sure to rub your hands for at least 20 seconds. This will prevent the transfer of bacteria on your hands to the goat, which has open glands around its nipples.
- Plus, wash your hands so you don't contaminate the milk sample with bacteria.
- Milk is easier to obtain than blood, but only applies to goats that have given birth, and are often milked.
Step 2. Take the goats to the milking booth
This milking stand raises the goat so you can reach the udder more easily. Feed the goat to keep it happy and quiet when you milk it. You can even provide a snack.
You can also lure goats to the booth using food. The snacks used can be hay, grass, alfafa, or wheat
Step 3. Clean the goat's udder
To help keep the milk sample free of bacteria, wipe the udder with warm water and a mild soap. Also clean the goat white and rinse the entire udder using warm water.
You can mix warm water with castille soap or a very small amount of bleach. You can also use an udder wipe, which can be purchased at a farm shop
Step 4. Express goat's milk into a clean bowl
Grasp the top of the nipple to push the milk down. Lower the milk by milking the udder. Do it gently and don't tug or tug. Use a clean bowl or bucket to collect the milk.
Discard the first few milks as they contain a lot of bacteria
Step 5. Take samples to ship using clean dippers
Usually, the testing company will provide some kind of scoop to take the milk from your bowl or bucket. Pour the milk into the jar provided, which should have a preservative at the bottom to mix with the milk.
Send samples as soon as possible after collection, or refrigerate milk until it's time to ship
Step 6. Label the samples for shipping
Most labs ask you to tag each sample with a label, and then load the tubes in a specific way so they're easy to spot. Read the user manual that came with the device, and fill out the requested form and label.
Method 2 of 3: Taking Blood Samples for Pregnancy Test
Step 1. Shear the goat to draw blood
Distract the goat with food and lead it to a head gate or other device that keeps the goat's head from moving. Trim the lower side of the goat's neck using a regular clipper. By now, the goat's jugular vein should be visible.
You should shave the goat so that the veins can be seen easily. The location of these blood vessels is the same as in humans
Step 2. Attach a 20 gauge needle to the sterile syringe
Usually, you will need to remove the caps on the syringe and needle except for the tip of the needle. Twist the bottom of the needle toward the syringe. Continue until you hear a 'click' sound. If so, you can remove the needle tip cap.
Step 3. Have someone hold the goat while you draw blood
Your partner needs to put one hand on the goat's shoulder and pull it towards him. The other hand is under your chin and around the top of your head, pulling your head toward it and away from you.
You may also need a partner behind the goat, to hold it still
Step 4. Press the base of the goat's neck to accentuate the veins
Use your hands to press the base of the goat's neck against the side you are on. You will see the jugular vein at the top of the hand.
- You will be able to feel the goat's pulse in the veins.
- If you're having trouble popping the veins, try moving the goat's head away from the side you're working on.
Step 5. Insert the needle into the vein and draw goat's blood
Push the needle at a slight angle. Rotate the syringe in the same direction as the vein, but the syringe is closer to the skin at the base of the neck. In other words, don't push the needle perpendicular to the goatskin.
- Pull the plunger (sucker) to enter the goat's blood into the syringe. The plunger is pulled until you have enough blood for the test, then remove the needle from the goat's neck.
- If you don't see blood, try again until it reaches the vein.
Step 6. Inject blood into a sterile tube
A sterile tube should be included in the syringe. Insert the needle into the rubber cap at the top of the tube. The injection will automatically move the blood into the tube due to the vacuum. Pull out the needle when you're done.
- Label the tube with the name of the goat and the date the blood was drawn, as well as any other information requested by the laboratory.
- If you're using a home test, just pour a few drops of blood onto the test stick.
Method 3 of 3: Sending Samples and Confirming with the Veterinarian
Step 1. Send blood or milk to a laboratory for testing
With this test, you will need to purchase the device online to have it shipped to you. The device is filled with a blood or milk sample, then sent back to the company. The sample is then tested to test for pregnancy related goats.
- For those who live in the United States, check out companies like BioTracking, Genex, Dairy One, and Rocky Mountain Instrumental Labs. Testing costs can reach IDR 150,000-350,000.
- Typically, this test measures levels of progesterone or estrone sulfate. Estrogen sulfate tends to be more accurate for a positive test, but only if it is done 50 days after conception. If performed before that time, this test has an 83% accuracy rate for both positive and negative results.
- You can have a progesterone test as early as 18-22 days after conception. However, this test is more accurate against negatives than positives. This test has a positive accuracy rate of 75-86%.
Step 2. Use a simpler home blood or milk test
If you choose this type of test, first order the test kit over the internet to have it delivered to your location. Then, take a blood or milk sample, and use a test kit to check the goat's pregnancy. The test should be performed between the 18th and 22nd day after the estimated conception. If you miss this range, do so on the 23rd and 24th days for more accuracy.
- Usually, the device works similar to a home human pregnancy test. Pour a few drops of the milk or blood sample onto the test stick, then wait for the results to appear. Usually this test lasts for 5 minutes.
- These home kits usually cost IDR 100,000-200,000 per piece, and usually cannot be purchased at retail.
Step 3. Use the services of a veterinarian to do a goat blood test
A common way to check a goat's pregnancy is through a blood test. Your vet can do this test for you. Take the goat to the vet's clinic, or ask him to come to your farm, if possible.
These tests are usually inexpensive, costing around IDR 350,000-700,000
Step 4. Ask your veterinarian to do an ultrasound test as early as possible to make it more accurate
Although the accuracy of the blood and milk tests is adequate, the ultrasound test gives the most accurate results. The vet can perform an abdominal or rectal ultrasound to determine the goat's pregnancy.
- Some vets have portable ultrasound machines that you can take to your farm.
- Rectal ultrasound is more difficult to perform, but this test allows the vet to determine pregnancy as early as 20 days after conception. Abdominal/abdominal ultrasound results are also accurate, but the vet will not be able to hear a heartbeat until 25 days after conception.
Step 5. Have an X-ray done in the next pregnancy to be accurate
In about 70 days, the vet can perform an X-ray test on the goat. At this time, he can 100% confirm the pregnancy status of the goat. However, you should take the goat to the vet's clinic.
At 75 days, veterinarians can determine the number of calves by counting the number of skulls
Tips
- Notice the enlargement on the right side of the goat's abdomen. Goats have a rumen on the left side, where they digest food. Sometimes, the rumen can enlarge if the goat eats a different diet or has stomach upset. However, the right side is where the goat is carrying the baby, so pay close attention.
- Like humans, goat legs can swell during pregnancy. Goats also become grumbling. You will see goats complaining more often, even occasionally groaning.
- Feel the kick on the right side of the goat's body in the final months. Place your hand on the right side of the goat's stomach to feel for movement.
- Pay attention to the growth of the udder at the end of the gestation period. The udder may also look slightly shiny, and feel firm and solid to the touch. In some goats, this occurs a week before delivery, but for others it can occur hours before.
- As the goat nears the end of its gestation period, it may completely stop eating and become disinterested in food. Otherwise, he may appear to be undernourished. Both of these changes could mean the goat is in the final stages of its pregnancy.
- The gestation period for goats is usually 5 months.
Warning
- Watch for signs of heat to make sure the goat is not pregnant. If the goat re-enters the gestation period. These symptoms can include a goat that makes a lot of noise, wiggles the tip of its tail, and the vaginal area is dirty due to discharge. He will also urinate more often and be less hungry.
- If you have any doubts about a goat's pregnancy, consult a veterinarian.
