[countrywoman]

My two-year-old goat had her first kid six weeks ago.  All went well, a single female, started feeding well and was thriving.
 
At about four weeks I noticed the kid had a graze on one of her disbud sites, thought she'd managed to knock it somewhere as they do.  A couple of days later she was bleeding in the same place and shaking her head.  Looked everywhere to see how she had banged it but there was no obvious cause.  Then she tried to feed and her mother skipped away and kicked her as she went.
 
I tied mum up and examined her udder, it was fine as I have been checking her every morning and milking a little from whichever side seemed fullest.  I couldn't find any problem or tender area but she would not stand to let the kid feed and did her best to get away.  Rather than have a battle I decided to let them go and observe.  Being clever her daughter realised she could scoot between her forelegs and snatch a feed while mum was having a wee, but she still got barged out of the way well before she had fed much.
 
I have offered the kid a bottle on several occasions but, having been on mum for a month, she won't try it.  Morning and evening I am now holding mum backed into a corner and giving her hard feed out of a small pot so it takes her longer to get through it, and she will, with a bit of jiggling, let the kid feed.  I don't think she is in pain, she does not have mastitis, there is no injury to be seen or felt, she is not getting hot or tight because I am easing the udder before that occurs.  She just doesn't like feeding her kid, pays her no attention, and generally acts as though there is no connection.  What is strange is that she was reared on her dam who is a perfect, caring mum.
 
Usually I let female kids feed off mum until they wean themselves but that won't work with this one.  How soon can I give up forcing her to feed the kid, and is there any milk-replacing measure that would help develop bones etc if she is weaned early?  The kid is bright, energetic and growing well, so I don't think she is starving, just not getting enough on demand.  Luckily, she already eats any greenery/hay/feed/fruit that the adults get so I could add a supplement to that.  Any suggestions?

[jinglejoys]

I think you'll find that if the kid was really hungry she'd take some of a bottle.The kid might be one of those constant naggers and mum is trying to teach her to come to be fed when asked not whenever she wants

[Lesley Silvester]

Did it start immediately after the kid was disbudded? If so, it could me that she smelled different when she came back. If not, then I'd agree with jinglejoys. If the kid seems well enough, has plenty of energy and isn't losing weight, then she's not starving.

[tattycat]

I've got a girl that's not a great mom. See the 'bullying granny post. If the kids ok just keep an eye on both. Could give her some Lamblac or similar in het meal or a bit of alfalfa. My girl had a lovely mom too, in fact she was stealing milk almost until she kidded!!