Teat question

PKBoo, this is a site you want to bookmark too.

http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.jsp

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Cows may not be smarter than People, but some cows are smarter than some people.

Yep that's where it came from... So next time I'm in MO, I'd love a glass! There's a farm close by that has goats, but I've never seen a sign out for milk - I may have to stop sometime

You'd be welcome!
A lot of dairy goat owners don't do goat milk right either......so be prepared.

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Emily Dixon
Ozark Jewels
Nubians & Lamanchas
www.ozarkjewels.net

"Remember, no man is a failure, who has friends" -Clarence

WOW - thanks gam! That's a great resource! (and now in my Delicious list). I'm going to have a vet come out and palpate her (once she's closer to a year old), but if it is herpes, I need to know that too! I would think herpes would have come from the original farm, so my Jersey source may not be that great of a source if that's the case.

So I REALLY need to come to MO! Apparently one of the country's greatest arboretums is located there

You know I have thought several times that this arm chair adice may not be the best. We as people giving that advice cannot see the animal, we just go by what we have been presented with and make that arm chair advice. I am starting to not liking giving that advice, I know it`s only 200.00, but thats alot to some of us. But then again I guess as far as advice goes you get what you pay for. >Thanks Marc

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Our Diversified Stock Portfolio: cows and calves, alpacas, horses, pigs, chickens, goats, sheep, cats ... and a couple of dogs...
http://springvalleyfarm.4mg.com

Marc, I know what you mean. However, I still think that in the long-run it is better to share your experience then not to.
I happen to think this forum does more good then it does harm, overall.
Plus, when I have given poor or partial advice, generally someone will come behind me and add their perspective. We ALL learn.

Free advice on the internet is no substitute for being there in real life, but it is something.
Dont feel bad, and dont stop posting! You have a lot of experience to back you, even if you make mistakes sometimes.
Shrug it off.

~Wendy

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Cows may not be smarter than People, but some cows are smarter than some people.

Just wanted to second or third the fact that you've just not had goat milk that was correctly handled. No one has ever been able to tell ours isn't cow's milk.

I'm sorry this has happened with this heifer Very sad!

Marc, while I understand where your coming from, I also agree with Wendy. In the case of this post, the only thing I have seen like this has been Black Pox. I am not making a diagnosis, I am making a suggestion and also recommending that it be followed up with veterinary advice on the premise that the vet is the only one out of all of us who is actually going to physically see the animal and (hopefully) with have enough nonce to be able to identify what the problem is.

PKBoo, in answer to your question, as in any animal ailment the sooner the vet can look at her, the better. I will also "save" things for my vet so that I'm not paying astronomical travelling fees, callout time etc. but only if they are of a non-urgent nature such as dehorning adult cows, bloods for deficiency etc. In the case of your little heifer I would have my favourite vet out tomorrow.

Cheers,
Ronnie

I could tell.....I've milked goats for years. Cooled it quickly and to me it is just plain nasty. My kiddos and Dh had no prob. with it, can't tell the diff. between gm and cm, but I am very sensitive to smells and it always tastes like a goat to me. And I have raised diff. breeds thinking that was the prob. and tried diff feeds. Same thing.

Marc - please continue giving advice! I have learned so much from everyone here (have been lurking for a long time), and the collective experience here helps me to make an informed decision, but ultimately, it IS my decision.

The proportion of people doing what we do is very small - in days past, we could call a neighbor or other community member for advice. Now, HT is our community, and you play just as valuable a role as communities past!

I am truly glad that we got Gurty - she is a sweetheart, and has been a wonderful addition to our homestead, no matter what the outcome. If we can only milk 2 quarters, we'll learn from those, and go on to bigger and better things! And if other people learn from this, all the better!

We have a two-teater in our commercial dairy herd who milks very well(otherwise we wouldn't still have her). She also only had two working teats when she first freshened(from serious fly damage the dairy had that year, some heifers had teats literally nibbled away by flies, others just enough to get infected and then scarred).
So by no means is she a lost cause or a waste of money if she just milks in two quarters. As a mature cow, she still may easily give you several gallons a day. And at least they are the back quarters which generally milk a bit heavier than the front quarters.

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Emily Dixon
Ozark Jewels
Nubians & Lamanchas
www.ozarkjewels.net

"Remember, no man is a failure, who has friends" -Clarence