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Author Topic: Self Suckling Goat!  (Read 11187 times)

Crofter

  • Joined Jan 2009
  • Isle of Lewis
  • We'll get there!
    • Ravenstar
Self Suckling Goat!
« on: October 12, 2009, 10:53:28 pm »
Hi all

Has anyone ever had this problem?  Milk yeild dropped dramatically a few weeks ago and it finally transpired that Gust is turning round and drinking it herself!
If it was not for the tell tale froth on her mouth we may never have guessed.  We have tried deterrents like curry powder on the teats after milking, but she seems now to quite enjoy curried milk.  Her udder does not get over full before milking and sometimes, at the evening milking, she has completely emptied one side.

I do want to cure this as she is taking about 2-3 pints of the 5-6 she usually gives. 

Dave
Comfortable B&B on a working Croft on the Isle of Lewis. www.Ravenstar.co.uk

Roxy

  • Joined May 2009
  • Peak District
    • festivalcarriages.co.uk
Re: Self Suckling Goat!
« Reply #1 on: October 12, 2009, 11:47:11 pm »
oh goodness, that brought back memories!!  I had forgotten all about our goat doing it.  But it was many years ago!!

Penny was a first kidder, and for some reason, she started to suckle milk from herself.  The only reason I could think was the kids were not taking all the milk, and she was uncomfortable.  The good thing was she only did it a few times and then stopped.

Do hope your goat does likewise.  Thats a lot of milk she is drinking!

Crofter

  • Joined Jan 2009
  • Isle of Lewis
  • We'll get there!
    • Ravenstar
Re: Self Suckling Goat!
« Reply #2 on: October 13, 2009, 08:38:40 am »
Hi Roxy

It's been going on for a couple of months, since she kidded. No real pattern to it, sometimes she takes milk and finishes her hay, sometimes eats little hay and no milk, sometimes takes one or the other.  Does not seem to be appetite related as Gust is always hungry (for concentrate).  This is her second kidding and she was fine after the first.  I've seen "neck contraptions" on an american website but does she start again as soon as you take it off?

I'm baffled

Dave
Comfortable B&B on a working Croft on the Isle of Lewis. www.Ravenstar.co.uk

Snoopy

  • Joined Aug 2009
Re: Self Suckling Goat!
« Reply #3 on: October 13, 2009, 10:23:16 am »
WOW that's a new one on me Dave - have you tried looking to any good info sites
on the problem, goat specialists and the like - I never heard of it, but maybe she
has a deficiency and it trying to heal herself, as it seems a strange, but probably
natural thing for an animal to do. ???
Living the Good Life and spreading the word

ballingall

  • Moderator
  • Joined Sep 2008
  • Avonbridge, Falkirk
Re: Self Suckling Goat!
« Reply #4 on: October 14, 2009, 11:29:04 pm »
A self suckling goat is not a good thing! I know people who swear there is only one cure for a self suckling goat. That cure is a rather final one, and generally isn't a good result for either you or the goat. Trying something on the teats is a good idea, but you have to find something she really doesn't like. A friend of mine used vaseline intensive care hand cream because her goat hated the taste of that and it stopped her. You can get contraptions to go on their necks, or Gillrugs made for a friend of ours, an extension to a goat rug which covered the goats udder and therefore stopped her suckling, but I don't know if they have marketed it.

Beth

chickenfeed

  • Guest
Re: Self Suckling Goat!
« Reply #5 on: October 15, 2009, 07:22:20 am »
have you tried the antiseptic violet spray used for wounds & chickens feather plucking. i have only ever seen it once and the goat in question was determined so the local hunts service was called upon.

Snoopy

  • Joined Aug 2009
Re: Self Suckling Goat!
« Reply #6 on: October 15, 2009, 10:39:04 pm »
One of those plastic cone type things that vets put on dogs to stop them chewing on wounds would do the trick maybe see the vet about one of those
Living the Good Life and spreading the word

doganjo

  • Joined Aug 2012
  • Clackmannanshire
  • Qui? Moi?
    • ABERDON GUNDOGS for work and show
    • Facebook
Re: Self Suckling Goat!
« Reply #7 on: October 16, 2009, 12:37:56 am »
An Elizabethan collar
Always have been, always will be, a WYSIWYG - black is black, white is white - no grey in my life! But I'm mellowing in my old age

Snoopy

  • Joined Aug 2009
Re: Self Suckling Goat!
« Reply #8 on: October 16, 2009, 10:17:14 am »
Hello Annie - glad to have you back - missed your posts

You could start a new topic in the coffee lounge and tell us about
your trip - I would love to hear what ye were up to in Wales  ;D ;D
Julie
Living the Good Life and spreading the word

Blinkers

  • Joined Jan 2008
  • Carmarthenshire
  • Carmarthenshire/Pembrokeshire border
    • Glyn Elwyn - Faithmead Herd
    • Facebook
Re: Self Suckling Goat!
« Reply #9 on: November 07, 2009, 03:30:43 pm »
Mustard ???
Did you ever stop to think, and forget to start again !!
www.glynelwyn.co.uk

Crofter

  • Joined Jan 2009
  • Isle of Lewis
  • We'll get there!
    • Ravenstar
Re: Self Suckling Goat!
« Reply #10 on: November 07, 2009, 09:41:12 pm »
So.....
We've tried curry, mustard, various lotions and a very broad collar to no avail. Now she has an elizibethan collar on overnight which we take off after the morning milking and put back on around 2 or 3pm.
Seems to be working as she simply cannot reach now.  She also seems not to mind it much and can eat and drink OK and reach into her hayrack.  Milk yeild has gone from 3 pints back to almost 6 pints a day.....
Right, I'm off to make more cheese!

Dave
Comfortable B&B on a working Croft on the Isle of Lewis. www.Ravenstar.co.uk

Blinkers

  • Joined Jan 2008
  • Carmarthenshire
  • Carmarthenshire/Pembrokeshire border
    • Glyn Elwyn - Faithmead Herd
    • Facebook
Re: Self Suckling Goat!
« Reply #11 on: November 08, 2009, 10:11:05 pm »
Brill.  ;)
Did you ever stop to think, and forget to start again !!
www.glynelwyn.co.uk

woollyval

  • Joined Feb 2008
  • Near Bodmin, Cornwall
    • Val Grainger
    • Facebook
Re: Self Suckling Goat!
« Reply #12 on: November 08, 2009, 10:13:45 pm »
I used to show a lot and knew someone with a top show goat( lady called Debbie Hearn in Cornwall) who did the same thing! Trouble was it could have caused havoc in the milking competition! So an udder bag was used!

This is a fabric bag made of cotton or a stretchy material that fitted over the udder and was criss crossed over her back and then attached to a collar. It is difficult to explain without a diagram .....
It was very very successful....try it!
www.valgrainger.co.uk

Overall winner of the Devon Environmental Business Awards 2009

Crofter

  • Joined Jan 2009
  • Isle of Lewis
  • We'll get there!
    • Ravenstar
Re: Self Suckling Goat!
« Reply #13 on: November 08, 2009, 10:24:48 pm »
Hi Val

Thanks, we may try that if she gets too fed up with the collar.  By the way, how is the felt coming along? (For the Isle of Lewis)

Dave
Comfortable B&B on a working Croft on the Isle of Lewis. www.Ravenstar.co.uk

woollyval

  • Joined Feb 2008
  • Near Bodmin, Cornwall
    • Val Grainger
    • Facebook
Re: Self Suckling Goat!
« Reply #14 on: November 09, 2009, 09:23:54 pm »
Hi Dave

Felt will be back end of next week.....looking good so far!!! Good luck with the goat!
www.valgrainger.co.uk

Overall winner of the Devon Environmental Business Awards 2009

 

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