The assessment of estrus in the doe is a key factor in the successful outcome of any form of insemination. Times of “standing heat” are targeted in the case of natural service. When utilizing fresh cooled semen, the earliest sign of estrus triggers the producer’s response to immediately order its overnight shipment. However, when frozen semen is used for AI, your window of time offering the greatest degree of success is far more limited.

As most of us know, does come into estrus on average every 18-21 days. To be a successful AI technician, careful attention must be paid to the AI candidate and her telltale signs of estrus. Traversing the cervix is the most difficult step in the AI procedure. Timing, coupled with the overall relaxed state of the doe and technician, can play a major role in the ability to slide past one or more of the cervical rings to allow proper deposition of the semen.

Most does exhibit easily recognized signs of estrus such as tail flagging, restlessness and head butting, mounting or allowing pen mates to mount, frequent urination in the presence of a buck, increased vocalization, and vaginal swelling and mucus discharge. These signs, most commonly associated with goats in heat, lack precision for determining the doe’s exact stage of estrus. Proper determination of the stage of estrus for AI purposes is done by examining the mucus located in the anterior portion of the vaginal canal. A speculum and light source are the best tools for this purpose. When upon careful examination, the doe’s internal mucus appears opaque showing evidence of good elasticity with a viscous consistency and form, the producer should begin preparations to perform the procedure. Mucus found to be clear, thin, and very liquid in its consistency is indicative of a doe far too early in estrus for a properly timed insemination. Mucus found to be white or pale yellow in color and thick, lacking elasticity, would indicate a doe past her proper time.

Many factors come into play to be successful at AI. Correct timing is key for semen deposition to allow the deposited spermatozoa to undergo “capacitation” and the oocyte to mature. These events must be timed properly for fertilization to occur.

During natural service by a buck, fresh semen is deposited in the fornix portion of the doe’s vagina, an area more commonly referred to as the “over-shoot.” The semen then travels to the opening of the cervical canal, known as the “os,” where it begins its journey to the uterus and oviducts. With the use of assisted animal reproduction, other methods to deposit of semen are used.

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