Puberty occurs at 6-8 months of age but is dependent on season and bodyweight. Sheep and goats are seasonally polyestrous, cycling from August to March. Cycle length is 10-21 days with ovulation 12-36 hours after onset of standing heat. Estrus signs are subtle and may be intensified if a ram or buck is present. "Buck effect" or "ram effect" is introduction of an intact male into a herd of females - this induces estrus in most of the females in 5-7 days. Gestation length = 150 days. Pregnancy diagnosis can be done by ultrasound - options include transrectal Doppler days 35-40 after breeding or transabdominal in the right flank cranial to the udder from 2-5 months of gestation.
Pregnancy toxemia
Pregnancy toxemia is common in undernourished sheep and goats with multiple offspring. Pregnant small ruminants require high quality forage and increased concentrates in the last month of gestation. Clinical signs of pregnancy toxemia include anorexia, muscle spasms and polypnea. Treat with glycerol or dextrose plus antibiotics and glucocorticoids. Occasionally the offspring may need to be removed by C-section to save the life of the dam.
Intersex
Intersex offspring are common in goats. Intersex conditions may be genetically linked with polledness; non-horned (polled) goats are more likely to throw intersex offspring and to be intersex themselves.
Pizzle rot
In rams, balanoposthitis is called "pizzle rot". Bacteria grow in alkaline urine formed in animals on high protein diet and cause infection of the penile mucosa.
Brucellosis
Brucella melitensis (goats), Brucella ovis (sheep) - clinical
signs include abortion in late gestation in females and epididymitis in males.