[ScotsGirl]

Is it normal for goat milk to look a bit watery when left in the fridge? My milker (that's not really producing milk!) has one side large but not really hard. A couple of times I have Taken off 2-300ml with difficulty but once chilled it looks watery and there Are little bits in it like milk that's gone off. Looks fine when it come out, no lumps.


What are the options for a 3-4 year old goat? Previous owner said her cull value was £180 but how does that work? I wouldn't get that for a dead lamb in a box

[tizaala]

I think I would strip her out totally and keep a careful eye on her, If you intend drying her off then cut out all hard feed and just give her hay.

[jinglejoys]

Sounds like mastitus

[Anke]

Cull value for a goat? Is she a Boer? I would doubt that the cull value (as in live sale through a mart) would be anywhere near that. Also if she is older her meat wold be better used in curries or similar, it can be quite dry and tough I think.
 
Re your watery milk, yes it does sound like mastitis, if she is otherwise well and you don't intend on breeding her again (and won't need the udder anymore) I would give her a shot of antibiotic (ask vet for which one to use, I have used Noroclav for the last case I had) and keep milking out that side, and also dry her off if possible - reducing her concentrate ration to 0, only hay and water, preferably not much grass either.

[ScotsGirl]

She won't drop the milk, making my hand sore trying to get it out. Vet coming Friday to do blood tests so will speak to him. She's only a milker not Boer. Looks like I got stitched up. I've been trying to contact old owner to find out age and history but strangely she isn't answering my messages. 


She's such a lovely mum and very friendly, I don't know what to do with her.

[Anke]

She won't drop the milk, making my hand sore trying to get it out. Vet coming Friday to do blood tests so will speak to him. She's only a milker not Boer. Looks like I got stitched up. I've been trying to contact old owner to find out age and history but strangely she isn't answering my messages. 


She's such a lovely mum and very friendly, I don't know what to do with her.

OK, if she has a full mouth ( as in 4 pairs of large teeth on the lower jaw) then she is 4 years or older. Do you know if she is registered (has a BGS number - different from her ear tag number) or has a herdname?
How many kids is she feeding? You will have to persevere with the milking, maybe try and do it when she is also letting the kid(s) suckle on the other side? I am afraid my usual solution to this would be to take the kid(s) off her completely and bottle them, and milk the dam out twice a day. With mastitis it is quite important to keep milking out as much as possible - if she only lets a little down, go and do it more often - some treats in a bowl for a bit of distraction maybe...
Subclinical mastitis doesn't mean the end of milking, one of mine had it several times in her last lactation and again once already in this one (she produces really great kids, so will be kept going), but I give anti-biotic as soon as I feel the udder is hot and lumpy (more than usual - one possible consequence of mastitis is a lumpy udder, but again doesn't have to be). Mine still gives just over 4ltrs of milk per day, enough to feed her two kids (in bottles), even though she is past going to shows with the lumpy udder...

[ScotsGirl]

Mine isn't registered as far as I know. Udder isn't hot or lumpy and other side is empty. Her kids are stonking great things so obviously doing them well. They are now nearly 3 months old so will start trying to wean them off. Will persevere with milking and see how it goes. Thanks for advice.

[wytsend]

sometimes the eartag number can find out if a goat is registered.

[Anke]

Mine isn't registered as far as I know. Udder isn't hot or lumpy and other side is empty. Her kids are stonking great things so obviously doing them well. They are now nearly 3 months old so will start trying to wean them off. Will persevere with milking and see how it goes. Thanks for advice.

If the kids are coming up for 3 months I would separate them at night time, milk quite a bit off her in the morning (both quarters) and give the kids a good breakfast of whatever mix they get (lamb creep, or goat mix or whatever you feed your adults) then let them run together during the day. After separating them at night time I would also strip the udder out, especially if you want to continue milking her after weaning the kids.