We have a doe that is almost seven years old and kidded 4 weeks ago. One of her udders produced a little milk and is now not producing milk. There is no swelling or salty milk. Is this common in an older doe?
Thanks, Tammy
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She kidded with one kid. However, we did still milk the smaller side, but it never seemed to help.
She could have had a kid (usually this happens with a single) that only nursed on one side last lactation, which would have made her produce unevenly. Then if she freshened this time, that side may not have been producing as abundantly, which could have led this year's kids to favor the other side, just perpetuating the cycle. I'm not sure there's much you can do at this point. During the first week, I'd have suggested milking the smaller side a couple times a day (even if it didn't feel like there was much in there) to increase demand on that side. How many kids does she have on her?
Both sides were checked after kidding and were frequently checked for mastitis. The one side has never been large, even after I purchased her 1 1/2 years ago it was smaller compared to the other side. However, after kidding this time it was even smaller. Is there anything else that I can do at this point?
I like your idea better, because it would mean there's hope for that side of the udder. :)
Your comments are very valid though, Rachel. That is a possibility if we don't know the doe's history.
I like Deborah's theory too. :) Plus, she has more real life experience than me. :)
Definitely not normal in a doe of any age. If that side of the udder is not hot or hard, my guess would be that the kid(s) is only nursing on one side, so the other side has dried up. It is really important to check a goat's udder on a daily basis the first week after kidding to make sure the two sides feel fairly even, as well as checking for signs of mastitis, such as hardness.
A few Q for you:
Do you know this goat's kidding history?
Has she kidded in the past?
Is this a First Freshener?
If she's kidded in the past, and you don't know her history, I would think that she's had mastitis badly enough at some other time in her life that she does not produce milk on one side of her udder. I have a friend with a doe that damaged her udder one year with mastitis, and does not produce on one side of her udder anymore. She still manages to produce PLENTY of milk, and is an excellent milker for my friend, even with one side out of commission.
I'm not sure if mastitis presents without swelling or hardness, but the little milk at first and then no milk is consistent with my friend's doe and her 1/2 udder.