Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
If a goat fails to dry off naturally after ten months, and you want to give her a rest and breed
her again, help her dry off by decreasing milking to once a day for a week, then every other
day for a week, then stopping at the third week. Some swelling of the udder probably will
continue. This pressure actually helps stop the milk flow. If the doe does not seem to be dry-
ing off or is uncomfortable, milk her out a week after the last milking.
Abruptly stopping the milking cycle of a doe may damage the udder. Be patient and help her
dry off gradually. In addition to decreasing frequency of milking, decreasing her grain ration
will encourage drying off. Many goat owners also decrease water, but there is a risk of stress-
ing the kidneys any time you deny an animal free access to plentiful fresh water. Time, pa-
tience, and giving lower rations of protein-rich feed, such as grain, will allow the doe to dry
off naturally.
Udder care
Healthy udders are essential to the success of your dairy. A healthy goat has a healthy udder,
and a healthy udder functions optimally to produce high-quality milk. The udder of a goat has
two sides, divided by a cleft in the middle. There should be one teat on either side. The udder
ideally is set high and is wide rather than being low and pendulous. It is supported by a series
of internal ligaments attached to the abdominal wall. In older goats or goats that are heavy
milkers, these ligaments can become stretched, allowing the udder to hang low. A low, pendu-
lous udder is more prone to being kicked or stepped on by the goat, or injured by underbrush
or other objects on the ground. In severe cases, an udder support can be put on the goat to
make her more comfortable, protect the udder from injury, and prevent ligaments from further
stretching.
Monitor the condition and appearance of your goats' udders each day. Check frequently for
scratches, cuts, and other wounds, and watch them closely for signs of infection. A sizeable
cut on the udder often will bleed profusely. Apply pressure to the cut with a clean towel until
blood clots, bleeding stops, and you can better see the wound to examine it. Apply iodine im-
mediately to discourage bacterial contamination of the wound. You also may want to apply a
triple antibiotic ointment. A deep wound may require suturing, which should be done by a
veterinarian or a veterinary technician to avoid infection.
Mastitis
