We love our goats so much, that we often want to know if we can bread them with other animals to make them ever more unique and fun. So the question is, can we breed them with a close equivalent, such as a deer.
Goats can be bred with deer, as they have similar breeding patterns and breeding genetics. However, due to the short gestation period of a goat, birthing a mix of both a goat and a deer, can cause the baby to be born premature.
So the fact of the matter is, that goats and deer can give birth to a new breed. however, what sort of issues can occur, and how can we prevent them from doing so?
Interbreeding a goat and a deer
Who would have thought that breeding a goat with a deer could even be done?
Well, as surprising as it is, we know now that it is possible. In fact, you may have already stumbled upon a member of this breed at some point without realizing what it was.
However, the process of breeding a goat with a deer is a difficult one. With an average success rate of about fifteen percent. Which may change over time according to knowledge of birthing aids and techniques.
Want to know how it all works? Watch the video below for more information!
(Source: How Deer and Goats are Related To Each Other (Overview) – Farm Animal report)
Mating seasons and times
Another interesting thing to consider, is that most of us don’t realize that mating habits are a large portion of what helps animals of different kinds to be able to breed with each other. There are some animals that will only mate within a certain season, or period of time within each year.
In fact, there are varying animals that may be just as picky as we tend to be. So when we look at the mating patterns of dear and goats, we need to be sure that they align at the right times.
Luckily for us, they both tend to have similar breeding patterns. They are both considered to be short-day breeders, and are both seasonally polyestrous (Meaning that they have multiple heat or breeding opportunities throughout the year).
So now, all that is left, is to know when these animals have reached that time. This is mostly apparent in the male deer. You can tell by certain behaviors, that bucks are ready to breed. Bucks have a rut season in which these behaviors will start to occur, signifying that they are ready to mate.
(The video below shows you what you need to know about the rut season, or mating season of a whitetail deer. This behavior is important to know when attempting to mate a goat with a deer.)
(source: How Deer and Goats are Related To Each Other (Overview) – Farm Animal report)
Gestation alignment
One of the possible issues that can occur amongst both deer and goats, is that their gestation periods (The time in which a baby is formed for birthing), is not entirely aligned. A goat’s gestation period is a shorter than a deer’s, which can cause the issue of a premature birth.
Due to this fact, female goats and a wild deer bucks seem to be the most successful mating process for a deer and a goat to breed together. In which case, though the mating process functions better, the genetics of a goat are still within the baby being formed. The goat genetics will still cause the baby to form at a faster pace than usual, causing possible defects according to the gestation period.
For Your Information: The gestation period of a goat is generally 150 days, whereas the gestation period of a deer is generally about 236 days. Making the gestation period the greatest issue of birthing a deer and goat mix.
(Source: How Deer and Goats are Related To Each Other (Overview) – Farm Animal report)
The oh so famous Bogart
Unfortunately, the Bogart is not as similar to the Harry Potter Boggart, as we might hope. Although close in name, they are very different creatures. Unless, of course, a Bogart is your secret fear. In which case, the Boggart, might be very real to you.
However, the Bogart, with only one ‘g’, is the official name of the mixed breed between a pure white goat and a wild deer buck. This is the most successful outcome of breeding a goat and deer together.
When breading these two during the rut season of the wild deer buck, a premature Bogart may be born. Which will most likely be the success of birthing a dear and goat mix into the world.
Possible defects that can occur
The Bogart may have many healthy defects, but it all depends on which genetics are the most prominent. Genetics rarely have a very stable or clear outcome. of which interbreeding various animals are no exception to this rule.
At times, the baby may take on more goat like genetics, and at other times it may take on a more deer like genetic structure. In either case, the issues will vary according to the issues that occur within those specific breeds.
For example; if a Bogart baby is born with a more goat like genetic structure, then it will have a shorter gestation period. However, if it is born with a more deer like genetic structure, then it might require a longer gestation period.
Each of these examples can cause issues within the birth of the Bogart alone. So unless you have professional understanding or help, attempting to birth a Bogart is not recommended.
(Source: How Deer and Goats are Related To Each Other (Overview) – Farm Animal report)
Can I avoid any of these issues?
The truthful answer is that, even with professional knowledge and help, some of the issues that can occur are still possible. Thankfully though, with previously developed knowledge and help, the birthing defect challenge of premature birth has almost completely been overcome.
As we learn more about how to breed these two animals together, a Bogart could become a very real breed.