Shady Acres Pygmy Goats

27/07/2026

Awful, terrible devastating update.

We had a vet come and scan the goats today. Their verdict was the absolute worst case scenario. One I would imagine, then quickly dismiss as unlikely.
He couldn't see any embryos/fetus' in any of the goats. All seem to have failed. He is returning in a couple of weeks to be on the safe side.. but I don't see any point in holding out hope.

To say we are devastated is putting it lightly.. and straight after losing our beautiful dog in the weekend.

This page will be going dark for a while. The only small ray of hope on the horizon, is that I have some more coming next year, and these ones will be better quality.
However we have lost a whole year on our breeding program and that just sucks.

08/07/2026

29/06/2026

So, we're about halfway through the 5 month gestation period...Eyeballing these goats. Do any look pregnant to you?

18/06/2026

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WlaggNMK1Q0 Hoping this is me in a few months

🐐 You might've already heard we have two of the CUTEST little pygmy...

11/06/2026

Thanks for the stud name Erika Steel. :-)

04/06/2026

Thinking of changing the Stud name.
I still can as there is no babies registered yet. Bute was because of my Grandfather's ties to that area and because the embryos came from Scotland. However, I have just registered as an exporter as I plan to start exporting my parrots overseas. That will be known as Pacific Parrot Exports. I'd like to link the two animal business together.. so thinking of Pacific Pygmy Goats. I like the alliteration and they would be the first UK Pygmy goats born in the Pacific. Might name my best buck Bute for my ancestors. Shall sit with it for a few days and see how I feel.

(Still can't tell if any of my does are pregnant... 4months to go)

28/04/2026

BIG day today. Our embryos went into our recipient does. One doe did not ovulate, so we have 13 embryos spread between 6 goats. Nothing to do now but cross our fingers and hope...

02/04/2026

CIDRs went into our does today.

CIDRs are basically a hormone tool used to control and sync the reproductive cycle of the recipient females.
CIDR stands for Controlled Internal Drug Release device.

A CIDR is a small, T-shaped device inserted into the va**na of a goat (or cow, sheep, etc.). It slowly releases progesterone, which mimics pregnancy hormones.

Timing is everything. The recipient doe needs to be at exactly the right stage of her cycle to accept the embryo.

CIDRs help:
Synchronize multiple does so they’re all ready at once
Control ovulation timing
Match the recipient’s uterus to the embryo’s development stage

Insert CIDR → holds progesterone steady (prevents ovulation)
Leave it in ~5–7 days
Remove it → hormone drop triggers heat
Add other hormones (like PMSG/eCG sometimes)
Doe comes into heat ~24–72 hours later
Embryo gets transferred at the precise timing after ovulation

30/03/2026

The Embryos are here! Cleared customs and now on the way to RSG where they will eventually be implanted into our recipient goats.