Baby goat has been drinking milk for a year???

[goatcrazygirl]

My doeling and her mother are very close. I haven't weaned them because they are the only two and I didn't want them to get lonely. However, Lizzy just had her first birthday and she still occasionally suckles. Not like a newborn baby suckles, more like just a comfort thing when she is anxious. The mom still has milk. I was wondering if there could be health issues associated with this. I read that most babies naturally wean at 3-4 months. Is there anything wrong with letting her suckle??

 

[SkyWarrior]

Loss of milk.

I suspect it might be harder on mom than her. Someone might be able to answer definitively. My guess it might strain the udders and maybe damage them? No idea otherwise.

 

[Tmaxson]

I have a similar issue/question. I wanted to do things all natural as far as weaning goes. The mom and her doeling are extremely close and loving. The doeling is almost 6 months old and still nurses occasionally, escpecially when she is nervous or scared. Mom will let her have a little then steps away. It doesn't seem to be putting any strain on the mom, she seems very healthy and happy for that matter so I was just going to let nature run it's course however I do want to breed the mom this fall and wondered about the doeling still nursing on her then. I don't think the mom will be away from the doeling while breeding long enough for her to forget. Here is a picture of the two back in April, the doeling is now bigger than her mom and still manages to get under her to nurse.

 

[ksalvagno]

There are moms (doesn't have to be goats in particular) that would let their kids nurse forever. If these are just pets that will never be bred, not a problem - just check mom once in a while to make sure there is no mastitis going on. But if you intend to breed, mom needs to be dried off so that the colostrum can properly come in for the new kids and you also want to make sure that the new kids are getting the milk from mom and not the older one.

 

[TGreenhut]

There are moms (doesn't have to be goats in particular) that would let their kids nurse forever. If these are just pets that will never be bred, not a problem - just check mom once in a while to make sure there is no mastitis going on. But if you intend to breed, mom needs to be dried off so that the colostrum can properly come in for the new kids and you also want to make sure that the new kids are getting the milk from mom and not the older one.

x2 I have two 6 month-olds that still nurse their mom occasionally because I don't plan on breeding the mom this year.

 

[ThornyRidgeII]

Mom will eventually get tired of the large kid and in some cases larger than she is kid and kick her off.. you may want to try some homeopathic methods and pull the grain to aid in mom drying up.. I had a kid that nursed for the better part of a year.. well she was weaned and was eating hay/pasture and drinking water but was snacking off mom.. mom eventually said enufff! and ended it herself..

 

[SarahFair]

I had one that nursed for a year or so. I bred his mother and as she got along in her pregnancy she go over it, quick.
When the next ones were born he began nursing again, but only every now and again.
She didnt let him nurse as long as the younger kids (usually only seconds).

I sold him off shorty after the kids were born though.
But he was a hardly little thing!

 

[goatcrazygirl]

Thanks guys! She isn't currently on grain, as they are just pets. Can someone explain symptoms of Mastitis and how can you prevent it?

Momma and baby are very close, and she has never kicked baby a day in her life. Her bag is definitely shrinking as baby drinks less and less. I think it is just a comfort thing now. Lizzy (the baby) had a scare with a dog (she is fine, thanks to my dog guarding her. Thanks Brownie!) and for a few days she was glued to her mom's side or mine and she suckled alot. Since then, I have only seen her suckle once and it was because another dog walked on the property minding her own business.

thanks for the advice!

 

[BlondeSquirrel04]

Mastitis is an infection of the mammary system. Check for hot, red, swollen teats and udders. The milk may be clumpy, bloody, smell funny, or just look "off". You can get test kits for it. Watch when the kid nurses. If he's favoring one side when he didn't before, of if mom freaks when he nurses a side, might be a good time to check her.

And I was a bit confused when you said no grain because they are just pets. Grain is used for any goat whether it's a breeder, show goat, or pet. If you have enough pasture and hay and choose to not grain, that is fine. Just wanted you to know that grain isn't just for breeder or show goats.