[Christian]

Hi Folks,

one of my 6 year old multiparous girls (saanen, tog and postman mix) has developed quite a big, uneven sized udder during late pregnancy (photo attached). Never painful, never warm and always soft. She has now been kidding and is feeding her two kids well. Do I need to get a vet involved?

Happy kidding!

Christian

[Christian]

Hi Scarlet.Dragon;

thanks for quick reply! She's been kidding 2 days ago. Good idea to check the milk - I was trying to find some testing kit on the net, but they all seem to be American (much better with washing up liquid!).

And yes, milking her out might be good - I need to freeze some colostrum away anyway (too early for house milk). She's not a keen milker, though.....

I'll see, how it goes - thanks!

Christian

[Festus]

Hi,

May I piggy back onto this swollen udder thread.  Same subject, different circumstances.  My 8 year old nanny has suddenly developed a very big udder, one side slightly bigger than the other, but soft.  She last kidded 4 years ago.  She seems fine in herself but they do look very large.  Has anyone any experience of this or suggestions about what this could be?

[Anke]

If there is absolutely no chance that she managed to get herself "up the duff", then she may either be cloudbursting (but she probably would look quite big as well) or she has just simply come into milk. No harm in milking some out, to check for mastitis (each quarter separately - use washing up liquid and see if it goes gooo-ey foe ant of a better word). Also check for heat, redness and any lumps - all of which indicate mastitis.

[Festus]

Thanks for your replies.  Although we are in Somerset Scarlet Dragon we haven't had any rain for weeks so new grass is in short supply.  It is actually becoming quite a worry.  Her udder was not hot or hard when I felt it but I didn't think to try and milk her because it never occurred to me she might be in milk.  I will try and she if she is.  What is 'cloud bursting' Anke?  Should I be worried?   

[Anke]

Cloud bursting is a phantom pregnancy, and some goats do it more than others. The goat will think she has kidded, it can go the normal length of pregnancy or longer, and she normally "bursst" and you will find a goat with a very wet back end one morning. You usually see her belly getting bigger and an udder does develop, though not always very much. They often do produce milk, but not as much as after a normal pregnancy. If she is from a heavy milking line you may get appreciable amounts of milk, but I have usually found it is not worth milking them after a few days.


But if her udder is still getting bigger and you are sure she is not in kid, then I would definitely see what's going on and take some milk (or whatever the liquid is inside) off her.


Also if you do not want her to be in milk - no concentrates is the answer.

[Festus]

Thanks Anke.  She is looking larger than normal. I’ll investigate further