Gestation periods of farm animals: a complete chart

Every species has an average pregnancy length and a normal range around it. The average is useful for planning, but the range is what matters on the day: a healthy animal can give birth on any day inside it.

Farm animal gestation chart

Animal	Average	Normal range	Young
Rabbit	31 days	29–33 days	Kits
Pig	114 days	111–117 days	Piglets
Sheep	147 days	142–152 days	Lambs
Goat	150 days	145–155 days	Kids
Cow	283 days	274–292 days	Calf
Buffalo	310 days	300–320 days	Calf
Horse	340 days	320–365 days	Foal
Alpaca	345 days	330–365 days	Cria
Llama	350 days	330–370 days	Cria
Donkey	365 days	335–395 days	Foal
Camel	390 days	370–410 days	Calf

What changes the length

Breed. In cattle, Holsteins and Jerseys average about 279 days while Brahman cows average about 292. Swamp buffalo carry longer than river buffalo such as Murrah and Nili-Ravi. Small goat breeds kid a few days earlier than large ones.

Number of young. Sheep and goats carrying triplets tend to deliver a day or so earlier than those carrying a single.

Sex of the young. In cattle and horses, male calves and foals are often carried a day or two longer.

Season and nutrition. Mares bred early in the year often foal later than those bred in summer. Poor nutrition late in pregnancy can also shift timing.

Easy ways to remember

• Pigs: 3 months, 3 weeks and 3 days.
• Sheep and goats: about 5 months.
• Cows: about 9 months and 10 days.
• Horses: about 11 months.
• Donkeys: about a year, and often longer.

When to worry

Going a few days past the average is normal. Call your vet if the animal is past the end of the normal range, if she strains hard with no progress, or if she has heavy bleeding or a foul-smelling discharge at any stage.

Get exact dates

Each animal in the chart has its own calculator. Enter the breeding date and breed to get the due date, the birth window and a month by month care plan.

Disclaimer: This guide is general information, not veterinary advice. Talk to your vet about your own animals.