Goat breeding is aimed at obtaining valuable goat milk. Adult goats sometimes experience a condition called false pregnancy. False pregnancy in a goat is difficult to diagnose without a veterinarian. This condition is not considered a disease, but can be corrected by prescribing hormonal drugs if necessary.
Causes of the problem
A false pregnancy is called water pregnancy. This designation is explained by the fact that the animal's uterine cavity is filled with water, not embryos. The condition occurs in females who begin to spontaneously produce progesterone. The peculiarity of pseudopregnancy is that the animal begins to develop signs that are inherent in real pregnancy.
The production of hormones is not related to external circumstances or conditions of detention. According to research, pseudoconception cannot be predicted or prevented. This is a feature of the species of the bovid family, which includes domestic goats of various breeds.
Symptoms of the condition
The signs of pregnancy and pseudo-state are similar, but if there is no goat in the herd, we can say with one hundred percent certainty that conception has not occurred. If the owner is not sure that there was no mating between the female and the walking male, then diagnosing pregnancy becomes more difficult.
A goat that suffers from an imaginary pregnancy behaves as if pregnant:
- In the second half of the expected pregnancy, the abdomen enlarges, it grows downward, and becomes asymmetrical. The abdomen increases due to the appearance of water, which pours out naturally after 150-160 days.
- The animal becomes calm and tries to lie down and sleep more.
- The female does not allow her relatives close to her stomach.
Diagnostic rules
You can determine imaginary conception in different ways:
- The presence of a goat. If the female does not show interest when the male is launched into the pen, then this means that she is bearing offspring. This technique is called reflexology.
- Blood test for hormones. Laboratory analysis will show the absence of pregnancy 3 months after the apparent conception. Blood can be drawn by a veterinarian in the field.
- Feeling the abdomen.An enlarged abdomen can be examined and felt in the third week after the intended mating. The fetus or its heartbeat can be felt in slender goats by palpating and listening with a phonendoscope. This method is not informative for well-fed or long-haired goats.
- Various folk methods. Experienced livestock breeders are able to determine the imaginary conception by the state of milk and other signs.
One of the options for independently determining conception is the method of using urine and soda. The collected urine is diluted with soda. If the soda falls to the bottom in the form of sediment, this means that conception has occurred.
In addition to this technique, there is a method that involves testing milk. Add a few drops of milk to a glass of water. If the milk begins to settle to the bottom, then pregnancy has occurred. If the water has acquired an even white consistency without sediment, then we can talk about an imaginary state.
Attention! Traditional methods do not help determine conception 100 percent.
What to do if a goat has a false pregnancy
Imaginary pregnancy is a condition that goes away on its own. The waters that fill the enlarged abdomen pour out, simulating the process of childbirth. The danger of this condition is the risk of developing mastitis. During the discharge of water, the udder becomes inflamed, becomes enlarged and causes discomfort to the goat. Falsely pregnant goats develop mastitis, which prevents milk production.
Despite the fact that false pregnancy is not diagnosed as a disease, it is necessary to determine it. Those goats that are truly expecting offspring need to be provided with special housing conditions.Females need rest, as well as additional vitamin and mineral complexes to help bear healthy offspring.
Owners need to call a veterinarian to accurately determine pregnancy or a false condition. In addition to imaginary conception, a goat may have a difficult pregnancy followed by miscarriage.
Is this condition dangerous?
Owners should be aware that imaginary pregnancy occurs in animals that are not resistant to stress. The condition causes abnormal sensations in the female, which leads to hormonal imbalances. Females experience appetite disturbances, loss of coordination and related problems. Sometimes supposedly pregnant females show aggression, become unbalanced and angry. They can harm their relatives or harm themselves.
The consequences of this situation may be repeated false conditions, inability to bear kids. After examining and analyzing the behavior of the goat, the veterinarian may prescribe hormonal drugs to induce artificial heat.
Information! Goats that become falsely pregnant again after hormone therapy are culled.
How to milk a goat after a false pregnancy
After the false state, it is necessary to milk the goat in the same way as is done after lambing. This procedure is the key to obtaining high milk yields. Usually, after giving birth, goats are given milk to the emerging kids, but in a false state this is not possible.
After the water has drained, the udder is inspected and then washed with warm water. After the udder has dried, the nipples are lubricated with ointment to protect them from cracking. Lightly stroking the udder and washing it prepares the goat for milk production. The arrival of milk is noticeable by the enlargement of the udder.They try to milk as quickly as possible to free the udder.
Information! Experienced breeders advise giving the animal bread or a treat after milking.
Milking can be complicated by the animal's illness. This happens if the animal is exhausted by a false state and experiences stress after the release of water.
