Udderly unequal udders

[savingdogs]

Well the smaller doe had one large buckling. When he was with her, I did note at that time that she mostly gave milk on the right side. Now that he is gone, the right side is her "bad" side. So it seems he was mostly nursing from her left side and I have been milking her right side all along (I am getting about the same amount I used to when I was milking and sharing with the kid).

We really really enjoyed watching the kid and doe love and that experience for the kids, I don't think we would choose to bottle feed. The doeling we kept has such a close bond with her mother, it helps us free range our herd to have the strong bond, I just lead the mom Ginger to where I want them all to eat, and her sister my other doe and the doeling all stay with Ginger. We don't have pasture and I take the goats out with me on hikes on our property. Next year I hope to get a doeling to keep from the other doe.

If I am not causing a health issue I'm not so concerned.

I'm wondering if I tried milking them on the weak side at mid-day if that would help their production?

 

[helmstead]

I'm wondering if I tried milking them on the weak side at mid-day if that would help their production?

It might...refer back to my older post on your thread here.

 

[Emmetts Dairy]

Hands on and personal expirence with differant methods come into play too sometimes. I dont have to read more on how milking glands work. I understand the science behind it. But as we all learn..not all goats go by the book.

Sorry "savingdogs" I hope this dos'nt confuse the situation more for you. But I have actually waited on the other teat overnite...and it worked well and production was not down. I dont show my goats either, mine are used for dairy production and pets.

Although "Kate" is also correct in discussing the science of the gland. If untouched it can definately slow production. But I have had some dairy goats that I had a heck of a time drying up so it does come down to the goats indivdual make up as well.

Good luck...I hope it works out for you. And understand my suggestions are coming from my personal expirence and trial and errors Ive made myself.

 

[helmstead]

I dont show my goats either, mine are used for dairy production and pets.

And understand my suggestions are coming from my personal expirence and trial and errors Ive made myself.

Your first quote here irritates me...show goats and home dairy goats should be kept and milked by the same standard, and our show goats are also all our pets - so that comment just doesn't make a difference.

Edited to Add:
Your quote irritates me IN GENERAL, not just because you said it. Sooo many people think there's some huge difference between 'show' herds and 'pet' herds. There's not, there should never be. If a show producer doesn't look at each individual in the herd as a pet and care for it as such - they've gotten too big or are into livestock for the wrong reasons.

I would also add that I hope everyone here who posts suggestions would be doing so based off personal experience. I certainly didn't fall off the milking truck last night...I didn't just read this stuff online and spit it back out here on the forum.

To the OP...I don't think you're doing anything wrong, so all of this banter is moot and I apologize, and will step off the soapbox.

 

[Emmetts Dairy]

This is why people leave this forum. Im embarrassed that I fell into this discussion and it turned into using words like "irrated" and the such.

My posting was not a personal attack at anyone..and I dont know how one can take these post as personal attacks. I think people need to toughen up a bit. I dont even know you to personally attack you Kate. To assume someone intention or emotions in these statements are a little rash to judgement. IMO. We were discussing differant methods to help..and it was not personal at all. We all use differant farming methods and differances of opinions can be helpful to people trying to make decisions for their own herd. So differances of opinions are a good thing. I did'nt take your opinion as a personal attack when you informed me that I should read more. Im comfortable enough with my own expirence and know what I was saying worked for my situation.

It was not my intention when responding to your question to have this banter of wits.

I send my deepest apologise to you "savingdogs" I never wanted this to turn into this and was just sharing with you what I did with success when it has happened to me. Right, wrong or indifferant it is just an opinion.

I do hope it works out for you and you are able to find a way to even out her teats. I am really sorry.

This uneccessary behavoir just keeps people from posting anything in fear of judgment etc...I have been looking into other goat forums for this very reason. Its too bad cuz we all have something to give and when egos get involved it stops the good flow of discussions.

 

[mossyStone]

.This uneccessary behavoir just keeps people from posting anything in fear of judgment etc...I have been looking into other goat forums for this very reason. Its too bad cuz we all have something to give and when egos get involved it stops the good flow of discussions



I hate to see this happen as well....

No two goats or goat raisers do the same..it all works out in the end...

 

[savingdogs]

I knew before I posted a topic that I would get differing opinions here. Isn't that the nature of raising goats?

No one need apologize to me, you have both shared your experience with a less experienced person and I appreciate this and will take into account all opinions when I make my decisions about the goats.

I do feel bad that a thread turns into an argument so quickly. It seems like more prefacing with "in my experience" and a little agreeing to disagree would be what is needed here and realizing we all have different perspectives and that doesn't mean the other person is necessarily wrong. I appreciate that you strongly disagreed, that is okay.

I do appreciate that show and regular goats have the same anatomy and needs but did bring up my use for these does to help you all appreciate what their purpose in life is, which is simply as milkers whom we love that clear our brush, and I don't need to worry if things look a little off kilter as I won't be selling anything except wethers for many years to come and won't exactly be photographing my does hairy udders.

 

[Emmetts Dairy]

I knew before I posted a topic that I would get differing opinions here. Isn't that the nature of raising goats?

No one need apologize to me, you have both shared your experience with a less experienced person and I appreciate this and will take into account all opinions when I make my decisions about the goats.

I do feel bad that a thread turns into an argument so quickly. It seems like more prefacing with "in my experience" and a little agreeing to disagree would be what is needed here and realizing we all have different perspectives and that doesn't mean the other person is necessarily wrong. I appreciate that you strongly disagreed, that is okay.

I do appreciate that show and regular goats have the same anatomy and needs but did bring up my use for these does to help you all appreciate what their purpose in life is, which is simply as milkers whom we love that clear our brush, and I don't need to worry if things look a little off kilter as I won't be selling anything except wethers for many years to come and won't exactly be photographing my does hairy udders.

Thanks for your understanding! Appreciate your prospective on the forum. And btw they make a tool for those hairy udders!!!

 

[savingdogs]

We are building our supplies slowly......I've just managed without shavers so far!

One further thing to throw into this question, I feel like the actual anatomy of each goats udder on each side is different. They are shaped different and I have to milk different and they have differences in how long the stream is.

On Molly, the current "bad" side I used to call her good side because the stream I get from that side is really really really long. It takes very little time at all to milk out that side, I love it! But the teat on her other side is just smaller and the whole udder needs more bumping and massaging to get it to empty.

The same is true on the other doe, but the differences are more slight and the side with the better stream is the current heavy side. That doe has extra teats but I don't think they make any difference for milking in her case, they are small and high and don't get in my way.

 

[helmstead]

We are building our supplies slowly......I've just managed without shavers so far!

You know what works really well? Those $10 rechargeable beard trimmers for men at Wal Mart...great for shaving heads before disbudding, too. AND you can hand them to your significant other with the nose hair remover tip on them when the need arises