Flushing Does for the Breeding Season:

Is this right for you?

By Jackie Nix

As breeding season quickly approaches, goat owners should think about whether or not to

flush their breeding does. What is flushing? Flushing in simple terms refers to putting the

animals on a higher plain of nutrition 30 days prior to breeding and 30 days after

breeding to cause the does to gain weight and body condition. After 30 days the does are

returned to a maintenance diet. The purpose of flushing is to facilitate better ovulation

rates and increased implantation rates resulting in better conception rates and increased

twinning rates. Flushing normally involves using a supplement high in energy and/or

protein. Under the correct circumstances the practice of flushing can reap many benefits;

however, it is not ideal for every situation.

How to Determine if Flushing is Necessary?

Since the goal of flushing is to gain weight and body condition in the does, thin does in

poor body condition tend to respond the best. Does in good body condition will tend to

respond favorably too. However, does that are in excessive body condition will likely

have no response or may actually respond negatively to flushing. The question now is

how can you tell where your goats fall in terms of body condition?

Body Condition Scoring

The terms thin, good and fat are very subjective and mean different things to different

people. For this reason a standardized system has been developed to quantify the body

condition of animals and discuss them on an apples-to-apples basis. There are several

established body condition scoring systems. For our purposes, the 5-point graduated scale

of scoring (See Table 1) will work well.

Body condition scoring is a fairly simple concept. It refers to the fleshiness of the goat

independent of the goat's size or age. The system is based on a combination of sight and

touch indicators. Just looking at a goat often doesn't give an accurate measure of body

condition. Winter hair coats, mud, etc. can fool even experienced goat producers. For

these reasons it is always best to physically handle the goats, paying special attention to

several key indicator areas. These key areas are the backbone, the ribs and the loin. Do

not be fooled by a large belly, which only indicates a full rumen.

How to Determine Body Condition Score (BCS)

For first-timers it is usually best to first start with an animal at either end of the scale to

get a firm feel for the extremes. As with most things, this technique takes time and

practice to master. Animals should be standing in a relaxed position, either free or in a

chute. The goat shouldn't be tense, held by a squeeze gate or crushed by other animals.

The following are tips on how to evaluate the key areas.

Backbone

Run the balls of your fingers down the goat's spine from the shoulders to the tail head.

Feel the spinous processes (the individual vertebra) as you go. If you feel sharp, distinct

points you'd rate that a BCS 1. If you feel lumps of smooth flesh, the BCS would be 3. If

you feel no individual lumps the score would be a BCS 5.

Ribs

Locate the last rib and using the balls of your fingers and thumb and try to feel the ends

of the short ribs. Feel down over the sides of the ribs and feel between individual ribs.

Slightly rap on the ribs with your knuckle. If the edges of the ribs are sharp and easy to

press around the BCS would be 1. If the ribs are well rounded but visible and rapping

provides a dull thud, the BCS is a 3. If you cannot feel the ribs at all and rapping on the

ribs sounds like hitting flesh, the BCS would be 5.

Loin eye

The loin eye is the area you feel if you place your thumbs on the goat's spine while

standing behind the goat. Curl your fingers down as if you were going to pick the goat

up. In doing so you now have your hands around the loin eye muscle. Remember that the

amount of loin eye muscling (thickness of the muscle from your fingers to your thumb in

the position described above) is determined largely by genetics; however the amount of

fat covering the loin eye is determined by diet.

Table 1. Body Condition Scoring Chart for Goats

BCS 1 Extremely

thin

Backbone easy to see and feel. Individual spinous processes appear sharp. Ribs

are easy to see and feel. Ends of ribs are sharp and easy to press around. No fat

covering over the loin area and muscle wasting apparent--appears hollowed

out. "Walking skeleton" is often used to describe.

BCS 2 Thin Backbone easy to see and feel but individual processes appear smooth. Ribs are

easy to see but feel smooth and slight rounded. Need to use slight pressure to

feel. Slight, smooth, even fat cover over loin with the surface tending to feel

flat. Animal appears "angular".

BCS 3 Good Backbone appears smooth and rounded and can be felt with pressure. Ribs are

smooth and well covered. Need to use firm pressure to feel under and between

short ribs. Loin area is full and rounded with smooth even fat cover. Muscle

definition is evident.

BCS 4 Fat Need to use firm pressure to feel backbone. No points on individual spinous

processes can be felt. Individual ribs cannot be felt but can still feel indent

between ribs. Loin area is full with fat and appears flattened rather than

rounded. Muscle definition is absent or hard to discern.

BCS 5 Obese Backbone is smooth and no individual vertebra can be felt. Individual ribs

cannot be felt. No separation of ribs can be felt. Fat cover is thick and may be

lumpy or "jiggly". Loin muscle cannot be felt due to fat. Animal appears flat

and boxy when viewed from above - no muscle definition at all.

Using BCS to Determine if Flushing would be Beneficial

Now that you have an idea of where your goats fall in the body condition scoring

spectrum, this will allow you to make smart management decisions regarding nutrition.

Ideally does should be in a BCS of 3 throughout pregnancy. Does with body condition

scores of 1 and 2 should benefit greatly from a flushing program while does with BCS 3

may benefit slightly. Flushing does with body condition scores of 4 or 5 will not likely be

of economical benefit and may actually harm the health of the does. Does with BCS of 4

or 5 should be monitored closely for possible pregnancy toxemia (ketosis) as the

pregnancy progresses. Don't forget your bucks. Bucks should carry a BCS of 3 or 4 into

the breeding season, aiming for a BCS of 2 or 3 immediately after the breeding season. It

is important to increase their plain of nutrition at least 60 days (preferably 90 days) prior

to breeding in order to affect semen quality.

A profit-oriented manager should use BCS information as a guide when planning new

nutritional programs and when evaluating a current program. While it is unrealistic to

feed each goat within the herd individually, you can use body condition scoring to

determine the average BCS for the herd and then make plans to supplement accordingly.

BCS information will allow you to supplement according to need, thus allowing you to

maintain productivity while avoiding unnecessary costs associated with overfeeding.

What to Feed if my Goats Require Flushing?

A flushing program may be as simple as placing does on a lush nutritious pasture 3 to 4

weeks prior to breeding. However, many do not find themselves in this situation. In this

case supplements are in order. Supplements high in energy and protein are best for

increasing body condition and thus reproductive performance in thin and good does.

Nutritional supplements come in all shapes and sizes and range from commercially

produced pellets or textured feeds, tubs, and blocks to natural feedstuffs known to be

relatively high in protein or energy such as soybean meal or corn. Choosing which type is

best for your operation will vary according to individual circumstances. In many cases a

variety of supplement products will best meet your goats' needs.

Sweetlix Protein Supplements available

Sweetlix offers a variety of protein supplement products to allow the greatest amount of

flexibility for goat producers. Here are a few of the Sweetlix supplements available

through your local Sweetlix dealer.

Sweetlix Meat Maker. Roughage Balancer Tub (983)

• Optimal energy, protein and mineral content make this an ideal supplement for
  flushing programs

• High molasses content is ideal for does susceptible to pregnancy toxemia in the last
  trimester

• 55 to 60% TDN - energy content comparable to high quality grass hay

• 16% protein from all-natural sources

• 100% of daily-recommended amounts of trace minerals, including copper and selenium

• Convenient, durable 50-lb non-returnable, plastic yellow tub can be placed directly in
  the pasture with goats

• Handy lids make stacking for storage easier

• Superb weatherability - will not crumble, melt or blow away - with minimum waste

• No additional salt or minerals needed or recommended

Sweetlix 20% All Natural Protein Goat Block (988)

• All natural protein supplements ideal for young, growing kids and lactating does

• 20% protein level to supplement low quality hay

• All natural protein sources - no urea added

• Delivers 100% of daily recommended amounts of trace minerals, including copper and
  selenium

• Convenient 33.3-lb pressed block can be placed out in the pasture with goats

• Ideal size for small goatherds

• No additional salt or minerals needed or recommended
  
  Summary
  
  In summary, the practice of flushing can be of great economic benefit for thin does
  
  resulting in larger kid crops and increased reproductive efficiency. However,
  
  determination of thinness can be subjective. A standardized Body Condition Scoring
  
  system allows accurate determination of fleshiness. Does with a body condition score of
  
  1 through 3 should benefit from a flushing program while extra supplementation of does
  
  with body condition scores of 4 or 5 is not recommended. Many supplement options are
  
  available for a flushing program including the new Sweetlix Meat Maker. Roughage
  
  Balancer Tub. Also, remember to watch the goats' body condition as the winter
  
  progresses. Low quality hay and increased nutritional demands of pregnancy can result in
  
  a loss of body condition. In these situations, nutritional supplements are necessary to
  
  maintain reproductive and growth performance. Feed supplements pay for themselves in
  
  added production when used properly. For more information about the Sweetlix line of
  
  supplement products for goats and information to help you create a customized
  
  nutritional system for your goats visit your local Sweetlix dealer, visit us on the web at
  
  www.sweetlix.com, or call 1-87SWEETLIX.
   

Jackie Nix is a nutritionist with Sweetlix (www.sweetlix.com). You can contact her at

jnix@sweetlix.com or 1-800-325-1486 for questions or to learn more about the Sweetlix line of

mineral and protein supplements for goats, cattle, horses, sheep and wildlife.

October 2004