mastitis question

[KrisD]

Okay Wise ones I need some help,
i am getting a nubian doe from my friend. The doe was supposed to be sold to someone else but when she got a touch of mastitis the woman freaked and backed out. she is a sweet doe and gives delicious milk and she is a good producer.

My friend's goats have had mastitis before and although i know my friend is super careful about germs and cleanliness for some reason this is still happening. She usually treats with Today i believe.

Is there a good way to prevent her from getting in in the future? Do those of you who have does prone to getting it strip out and does it offer any benefits? Have any of you tried the herbs and salves from Fiasco Farms and does it seem to work to prevent or treat it. I would prefer not to have to treat her with Today or any other drug if there is a good way to prevent it. Milking more often maybe like 3 times a day instead of two?

[Alice In TX/MO]

1. Why do you want a doe with a history of mastitis, from a farm with mastitis issues?

2. What kind of mastitis? (Has she had the milk tested?)

3. Does she vaccinate for staph aureus and coliform?

Stripping is not advised for goats, from what I understand. What prevents mastitis is good milking technique and good luck. SOME does will get it no matter what you do. It could be an orifice issue, the doe's tendency to lie down in nasty places, poor barn cleanliness, etc. etc.

[Cannon_Farms]

is she using fight back after she milks? Chronic mastitis can be as something as hard as CAE or just that the ancient antibiotics that most bacteria are immune to are just not enough, also it can be a different bacteria. Have the milk tested before any major money takes hands.

[freedomfrom4]

Sometimes I don't get the teat squeezed off good when milking and can feel the milk squish back up. I always worry that I am setting them up for mastitis.

[KrisD]

I don't know if this doe has had mastitis before now. I know that her other doe has had it at least twice that I know of. I do not know the name of the udder wash or the teat dip taht she uses but I know that the later comes in a spray can. The herd is clean and closed, tested yearly for CAE, wormed regularly etc. I do not know the names of the vaccines she uses but would you recommend that I use those?

They are departing with this doe because no one in the family likes her. I have milked her 3 times and she was a sweetie. She comes when I call her name, hops up on the stand with out being asked and stands pretty patiently while she is milked.

I thought maybe her herd is getting resistant to antibiotics? She has 4 does that I have milked. My friend has several friends that come and milk in exchange for taking some milk home so maybe it is milking technique?

my friend checks their temps twice a week to catch anything early, she says that she learned that goats don't show anything until they are super sick and ready to die so this gives her a heads up.

I trading a milking machine for her (it is super heavy and takes up space in my garage) and I get a buck service in the fall. She gave me the option of a 1 year old doeling (this doe's last years kid), a cute whether or this Doe. I like this doe, she gives at least 5 cups each milking and it is so creamy! I have does in milk before and I never dealt with Mastitis in them (purely by luck) so I want to do what is right by this doe.

[Alice In TX/MO]

I'd have her tested for mastitis before she set foot on my place. Do *not* purchase a problem. Just my two cents, based on struggles I've been through.

Yes, I now vaccinate with Lysigin (staph) and for coliform (will have to look that one up for brand name.

[Cannon_Farms]

"She has 4 does that I have milked. My friend has several friends that come and milk in exchange for taking some milk home so maybe it is milking technique?"


that in itself can open a can of worms. It does not matter how clean the udder or teats are if the hands themselves are not clean or go from goat to goat without washing. I wipe down with the wipes first on the teats and then my own hands between goats.

Milk machines are expensive, if you really like this goat and feel its a good value then go for it, but for me to give up a machine the doe better have some major show wins behind her. Why not sell the machine and buy two nice does?

[LoneStrChic23]

I personally wouldn't do it....Especially if they just treat with Today instead of having milk samples sent off to somewhere like LSU to know exactly what they are dealing with & to have a sensitivity test done prior to any treatment.

I've been told Tomorrow is a better option than Today & that Pirsue is the best, but having not used these, this is just hearsay

For me, buying a dairy doe who has had repeated masitis is the same as buying a car with a broken transmission.

IF you decide to do this, you'll need to send in milk samples to LSU when she freshens, have a sensitivity test done to find out what antibiotics will work, and what won't, and if the sample comes back with issues, treat accordingly, then retest after treatment to ensure you've got it all (shipping each time is $40+).

I personally would list the milk machine for sale & buy a doe or two who hasn't already had repeated problems.

JMHO

Good luck!

[freedomfrom4]

Your milking machine should be worth more then this doe. giving you the short end of the stick. And does with mastitis can briing germs to your place and the production can be affected.

[MDKatie]

Fight Bac (and other sprays) don't get the good coverage that other teat dips do. If you do get her, I'd use a teat dip and not a spray.

And milkers cost a lot of money...so make sure the doe you're getting is REALLY worth that much to you. SOunds like you'd be getting the short end of the stick. Sounds irresponsible that her owner wouldn't send a sample off to be culture and just blindly treats.

[CaliannG]

How much do you want for your milking machine? Where are you?

You do realize that 40 ounces per milking (5 cups) isn't super production, don't you? My MINIATURE does gave that much before our horrid summer hit down here, and they are still, even in this heat, giving me 32 ounces a milking (4 cups) without even trying hard, and they are unregistered grades that I originally bought for $50 each.

For the value of a decent milking machine (which the dang things are EXPENSIVE), I would think that you could get a milking doe of great lines, with terrific production, from a disease free and super tested herd, that gives 1/2 to 3/4 of a GALLON per milking.

If you are trading a milking machine for a doe with mastitis problems, you are getting ripped off.

Oh, and my little miniatures? They come when I call them, hope right up on the milk stand, and I don't even secure them on the milkstand to milk them. No stocks or ties to keep them there...and they sweetly stand there while I milk, even if they run out of food, nuzzle my hair, and after they get their teats cleaned, jump down without a fuss. That is simple training and can be done with most does.

[KrisD]

Sorry i should clarify a few things that I made muddy. I don't know if she sent the milk out or not I didn't ask yet. she does use the CMT for a baseline but i have no clue other wise. I am supposed to see her either today or tomorrow. I asked for the trade not her. I listed the milker several times and didn't get any real bites just a few tire kickers.

She milks 5 cups a milking WITH 2 kids on her 24/7 so I would assume it would be much more when the kids are gone. She has always thrown twins or triplets. I asked and she has no problem letting me try her out for a bit before I decide so I can bring her here and send off a milk sample and go from there depending on what it says. Can you all point me in the right direction of where to find the forms for LSU?

I will ask about the Lysigin and the Coliform when I talk to her. I will also ask what else she is doing since it could very well be more then I asked about. She is a friend of mine so I know she will help me if I need it. But i will ask more first.

Thanks for not beating me up

[CaliannG]

~laughs~ Our bark is worse than our bite. If you look in the stickies at the top of the forum labeled "Mastitis", Alice has posted all the information needed to get your goats tested for mastitis, how to send in the testing stuff, etc., etc.

[KrisD]

Wow thanks Caliann. I am sure I looked there before but considering that I only have kids at the moment it went out of my brain. I will look again.

Kris

[CaliannG]

~smiles~ Never a problem and you are welcome.

[Alice In TX/MO]

You don't need a form for submitting milk to LSU. Read the sticky at the top of the page for details.

BE WARNED that the extreme heat is making it hard to get cold milk to LSU from any great distance right now. Extra frozen gel paks may be required.