colostrum?

christie · #1 04/27/09, 09:35 PM

Okay I have know clue if my goat is prego or not.. but if she is she should kid this weekend.. we'll see fingers crossed.
So I was looking at her udders to see if they were filling up, and couldn't really tell. Never l really examined them after she was completely dry. But I gave her a lil squeeze and milk streamed out. And I noticed the other day while she was bucking like a nut that milk streamed out too.
Now she had not been milked since October some time. And the other day I had a friend come over that really wanted to try some goat milk. I tokd them that I had none, but then thought , why not see what I can get out of her?
So I mikled her out, and got a cups worth. Put it in the fridge. So before my company drank it, I thought I would taste it first..
Let me say it was EXTREMELY salty!!!
So is that Colostrum?
My company actually liked it and drank it up, but I don't think I could have.
Now my hubby has read all about the healing effects from drinking goat colostrum and has been looking forward to drinking it, but now I am really wondering if he can hack doing that if colostrum is real salty like that.
So does anyone know if this was colostrum?
And what colostrum taste like?
And a week before a goats due is there any way I can know she's going to have a baby soon?

KittenMittens89 · #2 04/27/09, 10:09 PM

I always heard colostrum was sweet. I could be wrong though.

Chaty · #3 04/27/09, 10:20 PM

Usually if the milk tastes salty its a sign of mastitis...colostrum is very sweet and sticky and thinck...it dont look like milk at all...Usaully they start making colostrum within 48 hrs before birth is waht I was told. If by chance she is pregnant milking at this time can leave her open for mastitis as it removes the protective plugs in the teats.

goatsareus · #4 04/28/09, 06:54 AM

colostrum does not taste salty and a doe will not produce colostrum until she kids. Colostrum has its own unique flavor and consistency, but it is not salty.

Shazza · #5 04/28/09, 07:07 AM

If your doe is due on the weekend, depending what lactaction this is for her, her udder should already be filling with milk...to the point on the weekend be tight and shiny just before she kids. Probably the worst thing to do is to totally milk out a pregnant doe due in a few days. By opening the teats you have made it easier now for her to get mastitis before she kids if indeed she is in kid.

christie · #6 04/28/09, 05:27 PM

So why would it be salty? She hasn't been milked since last fall, and she hasn't been sickly or anything.

Now if she doesn't bag up real tight like she said, your guessing she isn't prego? I'll be so bummed!

Shazza · #7 04/29/09, 04:08 AM

What you would have milked out would be left over from the fall....yukky.

kreddish · #8 04/29/09, 09:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by christie

Okay I have know clue if my goat is prego or not.. but if she is she should kid this weekend.. we'll see fingers crossed.

And a week before a goats due is there any way I can know she's going to have a baby soon?

Hi. Take a look at Thread by JediMom called "How may are there', from couple of days ago... and let us know if your goat looks like this?

Good luck!

christie · #9 04/29/09, 09:51 PM

I seriously dought that its the milk from the fall??? As a lactation counselor I know that a woman's milk is reabsorbed and made anew every 4 hours. And I am sure that a goats is similar. I havent breast fed my son in over 10 months and can squeeeze a lil milk out still, but its not the same milk from 10 months ago... just the body constantly making for the just in case..
I may be wrong w/ goats... maybe it sits in there forever??? But I dought it!

goatsareus · #10 04/30/09, 08:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by christie

I seriously dought that its the milk from the fall??? As a lactation counselor I know that a woman's milk is reabsorbed and made anew every 4 hours. And I am sure that a goats is similar. I havent breast fed my son in over 10 months and can squeeeze a lil milk out still, but its not the same milk from 10 months ago... just the body constantly making for the just in case..
I may be wrong w/ goats... maybe it sits in there forever??? But I dought it!

you are correct christie...any milk left in a goats udder will be reabsorbed...

susanne · #11 04/30/09, 08:50 AM

not all does reabsorb the last milk completely. and not only is it not healthy for the udder to open the plug before she is due but to milk her out completely and she will have higher risk of getting milk fever when she is kidding and labor might be sluggish.
salty milk is from leftover in fall and why it is salty. i doubt your doe is due this weekend.

DownHome · #12 04/30/09, 10:55 AM

Milk that has an infection (mastitis) tastes salty. I would treat her asap and hope it doesn't effect her production. Sounds like she probably had the start of it when she was dried off and having it sit there unattended for so long can be bad.
gl
downhome

Shazza · #13 05/02/09, 08:27 PM

Babies?