West African Dwarf goats of different parities were bled through jugular puncture and the plasma assayed for progesterone and oestradiol-17ß by radioimmunassay. Samples were obtained during oestrus and pregnancy, at parturition and postpartum. Progesterone levels were minimal (0.18 ± 0.04 ng/ml) on the day of oestrus, followed by a steady rise, although the mean value 4 d later was less than 1 ng/ml: during pregnancy the mean level was 3.45 ± 0.12 ng/ml: at parturition it was 0.74 ng/ml: postpartum levels were generally lower than 1 ng/ml. Oestradiol levels did not follow a definite pattern. Progesterone levels are more suitable than oestradiol for the assessment of ovarian function and for pregnancy diagnosis in the West African Dwarf goat