goat producing milk

Doc · #1 02/10/12, 08:03 AM

I was over to my neighbor's yesterday and she has one Nigerian female goat -- raised as a pet by someone else. This goat is young and has never had a kid.

Our cows do not produce milk unless they have had a calf. Are goats different?

I'm missing something -- need a basic understanding of goat physiology.

Alice In TX/MO · #2 02/10/12, 08:55 AM

Normally, that is correct with any species of mammal. Milk production is a result of giving birth.

HOWEVER, there is a condition called precocious udder wherein a maiden doe will produce milk. It's a result of breeding through the years for high production.

Just to confuse you further, there are bucks who produce milk, also.

Doc · #3 02/10/12, 09:06 AM

Thanks for the clarification -- I'm glad to know that my basic knowledge of the biology of mammals (and from the farm) are in tact.

Fascinating, though, about the "precocious udder". So will she just continue to produce milk?

Alice In TX/MO · #4 02/10/12, 09:51 AM

I leave precocious udders alone. Messing with them *can* encourage mastitis.

There are one or two goats I have read about that produced without ever kidding, but that's the exception, not the norm.

Also, precocious udders are likely to be lopsided. Dunno why.