Sexual Cycle in Goats

Sexual Cycle in Goats

• Goats reach; puberty at approximately 6-9 months of age and breeding age at 9-15 months of age.

• In goats, which are among the seasonally polyestric animals, the onset of sexual activity is related to daylight length.

• The reduction of light exposure with the day length decrease results in increasing the melatonin release from the pineal gland.

• Increase of blood melatonin level stimulates GnRH release from the hypothelamus and the increased GnRH release stimulates FSH release by affecting the frontal lobe of hypophysis.

• FSH travels to the ovaries through blood and initiates follicular developments.

Sexual cycle phases in goats:

• Proestrus (2-3 days)

• Estrus (36-48 hours)

• Metaestrus (2 days)

• Diestrus (14-16 days)

• Anestrus (seasonal)

Sexual Cycle in Goats

Proestrus

• Lasts approximately 2-3 days.

• is more active when compared to sheep, the buck starts to show interest to the sheep.

Sexual Cycle in Goats

Estrus

• Lasts approximately 36-48 hours.

• Signs observed; vocalization, restlessness, vulvar swelling, redness, mucous discharge, tail wagging, decrease in apetite, reduction in lactation yield, frequent urination and defecation and smelling genital areas of other goats and bucks.

• Behaviour of goat in estrus is evident when there is a buck and the distinct sign is smelling buck’s testicles.

• Usage of teaser buck is needed for correct detection of estrus.

• Ovulation occurs closer to the end of estrus.

Sexual Cycle in Goats

Metaestrus

• is considered to be the phase in which corpus luteum is formed and lasts approximately 2 days.

Diestrus

• Lasts approximately 14-16 days.

• In this phase progesterone is released from the corpus luteum and uterus is prepared for gestation.

Anestrus

• is the sexual rest period for goats and lasts from mid- winter to mid-summer in the nothern hemisphere.

Sexual Cycle in Goats