Udder after milking

mboman21 · #1 03/21/15, 09:54 PM

I milk a 3rd freshener at 7am and get a quart plus 1pint. She has two large buck kids on her born feb 9th. They are locked up at 7 pm and I milk again at 7am and we repeat. After milking her teats are loser/ longer/ easier to grasp but her udder is still the same size, firm but relaxed. I use a machine and have tried to hand milk but me nor the goat have the resolve for that. Should I see a change?

Clovers_Clan · #2 03/22/15, 10:31 AM

Is this a Nigerian? A quart and a pint is not much at all for a standard especially a 3F. Good production for a mini goat though. What was she producing in years past before you got her? Some udders are meatier than others, that's a possibility. Or you could try massaging the udder as the machine is going. She may not be letting down completely and if the machine is not powerful enough may be missing the thicker hind milk.

Since you are dam raising that last little bit may not matter, unless you are needing the milk. The babies will clean up when you let them back in with her. Personally I leave the hind milk for the babies. That way they're not pestering her until she starts to refill, also makes for fat, healthy babies.

mboman21 · #3 03/22/15, 03:29 PM

Oh sorry Nubian!

mboman21 · #4 03/22/15, 03:33 PM

I do massage the udder and was a little firmer with my massage this morning. What should my pressure gage read? My pump is 6 CFM I use the simple pulse milker. We ordered hobbles to see if that will help me hand milk easier.

Clovers_Clan · #5 03/22/15, 06:27 PM

I don't use a milker, so I can't help you with that.

But as a test, after you've milked, hold her and the let the babies finish up. Then feel if its softer. That should tell you wether its the pump or another issue.

Does her udder feel hot, hard or lumpy? If so and IF her production is different from past years, some possibilities are mastitis or CAE. A hard unproductive udder can be a sign of CAE. And heat, lumps could indicate mastitis even if there is no blood or stringiness in the milk.

mboman21 · #6 03/23/15, 06:52 AM

She has been tested in the last 6 months for CAE and is neg. there are no lumps and no heat. is there some way to test for mastitis?