Stud Service
I am planning to start offering East Friesian sheep and Oberhasli goat stud service starting Fall 2024. This is designed to provide small flock and herd owners with the opportunity to breed their females to quality male studs without the hassle or expense of maintaining a stud year-round, or finding a new stud (and getting rid of the old stud) every year. I do not let my studs leave my homestead, but you may bring your females here.
How does it work? Each stud has a pen and a shelter where he can be housed with up to 12 females at a time. Every Saturday, one group of females leave and another group arrives later in the day. The stud spends the entire week, day and night, with the females. They are provided hay, shelter, and water. They do not have access to pasture during this time. If you animals have special feed needs, you may provide the feed but there is no boarding discount.
How much does it cost? There are two fees: boarding and the stud fee. The boarding covers one week of hay, water, and shelter. The second fee is one price per female for breeding. Please see the males listed below for prices. Boarding prices are based on up to 12 females per group. If you want to have exclusive use of the stud during that week, the fee for that is listed. If you have a small flock and do not mind it mixing with another small flock, then it is the base boarding fee.
What costs are excluded/extra? Any special feed, treatments, or care is not included and will cost extra. Special feed must be supplied by you. Any veterinary costs or health care your animals may need is entirely your expense. Any pregnancy or disease testing is entirely your expense.
Do you guarantee pregnancy? No, I do not guarantee pregnancy. If you keep your females near an intact male, such as one of another breed, you will likely need to synchronize estrus before you bring them so you know they are ready to breed. If you do not keep a male nearby, that should not be necessary. Both sheep and goats tend to experience a "buck" or "ram" effect. This is when a fertile female is exposed to the presence of a male after not being around them, it triggers ovulation and they are susceptible to breeding. This should occur within that week they are spending with the stud. If they have been around another male, even if he is on the other side of the fence or on a neighbor's property where they can smell him, this effect may not work.
Any recommendations to improve breeding success? I recommend synchronizing estrus if you keep your girls around a male. If you don't, then no need for that. I do recommend for all breeding females to flush them first. Flushing is feeding them improved rations for about two weeks prior to breeding. This signals to their body that things are plentiful, they may put on a little weight even, and they are more likely to release more eggs when they ovulate, which means they are more likely to twin or even triplet than just have a single. Of course flushing is not guaranteed to work on every female, but I find it does help. When flushing, you want to ease into the increased rations by feeding small portions of grain the first time and then increasing with each feeding. If you want the grain portion to continue while they are here breeding, just provide the grain that you have been feeding them and we will give it to them up to twice daily at no extra charge.
How do I schedule a breeding? Right now, you will need to email or text me to schedule a breeding. Review the schedule and select the dates you would like. I require a deposit when booking and a signed agreement, which I provide. When you drop the girls off, you will pay the breeding fee. When you pick them up, you pay the balance of the boarding fee. If you are late picking them up, there is a penalty, as well.
Do you require testing of the females? At this point, there are two options. Option one is to provide me with the female's vaccination history that I will review and let you know if it adequate. I will also view the females when you bring them. If I have concerns about the way they look, I will let you know prior to them contacting my male or any other females present. Option two is for you to provide a list of testing within the last 4-6 months showing that your females do not have certain diseases. The details will be outlined in the agreement. I do not allow breeding to unvaccinated untested females. My male is tested prior to breeding season, after breeding season, and again before the following breeding season. He is not tested between each group as it would just not be effective. If you maintain a "closed" herd or flock, this would not be considered a "closed" breeding option.
How does it work? Each stud has a pen and a shelter where he can be housed with up to 12 females at a time. Every Saturday, one group of females leave and another group arrives later in the day. The stud spends the entire week, day and night, with the females. They are provided hay, shelter, and water. They do not have access to pasture during this time. If you animals have special feed needs, you may provide the feed but there is no boarding discount.
How much does it cost? There are two fees: boarding and the stud fee. The boarding covers one week of hay, water, and shelter. The second fee is one price per female for breeding. Please see the males listed below for prices. Boarding prices are based on up to 12 females per group. If you want to have exclusive use of the stud during that week, the fee for that is listed. If you have a small flock and do not mind it mixing with another small flock, then it is the base boarding fee.
What costs are excluded/extra? Any special feed, treatments, or care is not included and will cost extra. Special feed must be supplied by you. Any veterinary costs or health care your animals may need is entirely your expense. Any pregnancy or disease testing is entirely your expense.
Do you guarantee pregnancy? No, I do not guarantee pregnancy. If you keep your females near an intact male, such as one of another breed, you will likely need to synchronize estrus before you bring them so you know they are ready to breed. If you do not keep a male nearby, that should not be necessary. Both sheep and goats tend to experience a "buck" or "ram" effect. This is when a fertile female is exposed to the presence of a male after not being around them, it triggers ovulation and they are susceptible to breeding. This should occur within that week they are spending with the stud. If they have been around another male, even if he is on the other side of the fence or on a neighbor's property where they can smell him, this effect may not work.
Any recommendations to improve breeding success? I recommend synchronizing estrus if you keep your girls around a male. If you don't, then no need for that. I do recommend for all breeding females to flush them first. Flushing is feeding them improved rations for about two weeks prior to breeding. This signals to their body that things are plentiful, they may put on a little weight even, and they are more likely to release more eggs when they ovulate, which means they are more likely to twin or even triplet than just have a single. Of course flushing is not guaranteed to work on every female, but I find it does help. When flushing, you want to ease into the increased rations by feeding small portions of grain the first time and then increasing with each feeding. If you want the grain portion to continue while they are here breeding, just provide the grain that you have been feeding them and we will give it to them up to twice daily at no extra charge.
How do I schedule a breeding? Right now, you will need to email or text me to schedule a breeding. Review the schedule and select the dates you would like. I require a deposit when booking and a signed agreement, which I provide. When you drop the girls off, you will pay the breeding fee. When you pick them up, you pay the balance of the boarding fee. If you are late picking them up, there is a penalty, as well.
Do you require testing of the females? At this point, there are two options. Option one is to provide me with the female's vaccination history that I will review and let you know if it adequate. I will also view the females when you bring them. If I have concerns about the way they look, I will let you know prior to them contacting my male or any other females present. Option two is for you to provide a list of testing within the last 4-6 months showing that your females do not have certain diseases. The details will be outlined in the agreement. I do not allow breeding to unvaccinated untested females. My male is tested prior to breeding season, after breeding season, and again before the following breeding season. He is not tested between each group as it would just not be effective. If you maintain a "closed" herd or flock, this would not be considered a "closed" breeding option.
