The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Goats => Topic started by: detnol on August 23, 2014, 07:24:29 pm
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Two of the 8 kids I kept this year have started to develop an udder - actually half an udder (both) and it really has milk in it. Has anyone ever seen this? They were born in March this year, different mothers bur same father.
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Yep, I have got a BT kid that gives 0.8ltrs twice a week (born 11th March) - and I wouldn't milk her out if didn't have to, but the udder is definitely full and tight. Mine has now gone lop-sided and I only ease her one side out until soft. Other side has gone completely dry/back to what would be expected. She would have more milk if I stripped her out, but I as hoping she would go dry by now...
It is not that common, but does happen.
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But why? Genetics? Food? Are they more promising milkers?
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Milky background, good feeding, hopefully good genetics... a promising milker - I hope so!
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It would normally indicate a milky line- I would expect them to be heavy milkers once adults! You will have to watch next year, as it may be worse than this year (unless you are kidding them for next spring).
Beth
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It would normally indicate a milky line- I would expect them to be heavy milkers once adults! You will have to watch next year, as it may be worse than this year (unless you are kidding them for next spring).
Beth
would you not kid them next year? I always do. any reasons not to?
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We wait and put our goats into kid when they are 18 months old, so they kid around the time they are 2. Kidding at only 1 year is quite early and can mean they are smaller animals and it may also mean they produce less milk (in that first year anyway, maybe not in years after that).
Our kids are born in March normally, put in kid the following year in October and kid in March 2 years after they are born.
It can be quite normal for a goatling (aged 1-2 years) to start producing milk in the summer, so if they start to develop an udder an only 5 months old, they are even more likely to do it at 15-16 months when the grass is at its peak and daylight longest.
Beth
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Quite often bred from milky parents, I have had several maiden milkers and a male with milk as well. Only milk if absolutely necessary and you may find that she stays lop sided unfortunately. It may pay you to stimulate he other side to try and even her up. As far as kidding kids go, as long as they have sufficient food they grow to their full potential, its a case of being confident enough to do it !! :thumbsup: