We purchased a Nubian goat a a sale. We do not know if she ever had babies before. About 2 months before her babies were due her utter began getting very big. About a month before the babies were born her utter started to turn dark almost black. After the babies were born she wouldnt let them drink. I milked enough milk out of her for the babies first milk. Then we bottled the babies and let the mother go dry. We had the vet come out, he said she didnt have mestitis. Any ideas what she had and what we should do? She would be a very good mother except for the milking problem. We could only get milk out of one side and she kicked very much like it hurt her very bad. Will this occur again if she has babies agian next year? We are new to the goat buisness. Thanks for any help you can give.

-- Jeanette in Missouri (stbens489@hotmail.com), March 06, 2002

Answers

What color is the doe? Some goats have black udders. not letting them drink- well, some does are poor mothers and don't like their udders to be touched. If she kicks when you milk her, you should restrain her legs somehow and milk her anyway. She will get used to it, she's just throwing a tizzy fit. It could be that she does have mastitis. You should draw some milk into a sterilized jar and take it to the vet to be cultured for mastitis. Whether or not the problem occurs next year will depend on a lot of factors- mainly depending on what the cause of the problem was to begin with.

-- Rebekah (daniel1@itss.net), March 06, 2002.

Jeannette, I am having this problem as we speak.My doe had mastitis last year the vet told me to give her 5cc PenG for 5 days I thought it was going to take care of it .It didnt the kids nursed and every thing Its back this year as soon as she starts bagging and kids she is running a fever and wont let you touch her I hot toweled her and massaged her put mild salve like vicks on her.Bottle the kids and will be drying her up.Pam

-- Pam (pams65@hotmail.com), March 06, 2002.

There are several different kinds of mastitis, you need to know what kind in order to treat it effectively. That's why it's a good idea to culture the milk.

-- Rebekah (daniel1@itss.net), March 06, 2002.

You guys, could it be a hard bag. I raise sheep not goats but last year had one with a big black utter with very little milk. It turned out to be a hard bag which I had to cull her. Just curious if goats can get that too. Debbie

-- debbie (bwolcott@cwis.neet), March 06, 2002.

Two years ago I felt sorry for a very pretty nubian at a sale barn, and just had to "save" her by bringing her home. She was registered, and the price was cheap. I bred her to a friend's buck, and when the kid was born, I found out why she was at the sale barn. NO milk! ! Her bag was hard as a rock. . . . . and no milk. I assumed she had mastitis at one time and the bag was scarred beyond redemption. She was such a sweet goat too! ! I had to bottle raise the baby. ( Now she is a BRAT!!!) Back to the sale barn for Mom. . . .much as I hated to do it.

Judy

-- J McFerrin (JMcFerrin@aol.com), March 06, 2002.

That is why I never advocate buying an animal for breeding from a sale barn! They are there for a reason. And I myself never send one that could have problems at birthing, either no milk( mastitis) or prolapsing at previous birth. Not fair to the animal or an unaware buyer. These "culls" go in our freezer or in a friends freezer, who barters with us for lots of great organic vegetables.

-- Kate henderson (kate@sheepyvalley.com), March 06, 2002.

You have to wonder about some of these truckers. I had one come by last year and I sold him all my cull ewes. Told him to make sure they ended up in a slaughter house because of one not getting pregnant in two years and the other having a hard bag. I was later told by another person that he takes them to an auction house. I was quite upset because they looked like real nice breeding ewes with lots of condition. Now on the otherhand, I am thinking of quiting this business and live in an area where there is little business for breeding ewes, so..if they end up at auction (probably wont sell out, just tired) they would be excellent breeding ewes and someone would be getting great ewes for little money.

-- debbie (bwolcott@cwis.net), March 07, 2002.