I have 2 1st time freshners this year that I just about how to finger milk, will they're teats get bigger with the second kidding or is this just going to be their trait? They are excellent mothers but I may cull them if their teats won't get any bigger. We have another doe that's always had a big bag and teats, (just right for dh to milk) but a little to big for me, but I do it anyway sometimes with both hands. Thanks for any input you can give.

-- Carol in Tx (cwaldrop@peoplescom.net), December 01, 2000

Answers

Hi carol,

I too have experienced many first freshners with tiny teats that I have to finger milk. its especially a pain without a milking machine and when the DHIR tester comes.... they have full bags and are a pain and take FOREVER to milk. I have found that these finger teat milkers get better as they get further along in their lactation and produce more. it stretches their teats. I also found that they get better in the next lactation or kidding. sometimes It can be a result of bloodlines and genetics, but usually not. i hope this helps. Good luck and hey.... look at it this way; when you go to shake someones hand what a grip you'll have... LOL:)

-- Bernice (geminigoats@yahoo.com), December 01, 2000.

My doe had the absolutely smallest teats to start with, but after about three weeks they elongated and now she is a pleasure to milk. It would probably improve more quickly if you know that they are CAE- and could let the kids have a go at them for a few weeks. This is only from reading, so perhaps someone else will have another idea.

-- Doreen (animalwaitress@excite.com), December 01, 2000.

Yes, they'll get bigger, but I don't have the patience of Job, to milk them for an entire year until their next freshening. It is one of the reasons I dam raise. If 'Tiny teats' has twin bucks, I sell them and graft an extra doe kid onto her. It is surprising how much easier they are to milk as two year olds. if you really want some of the milk, you can let the kids nurse just enough to take the pressure off and get a better grip, it can be even more difficult if the udder is engorged.

-- Rebekah (daniel1@itss.net), December 01, 2000.

Dam raising does help, however, I would caution you on that if you are planning on showing. The kids can create a situation where there is damage to the udderf rom nursing, such as a lopsided udder and in some cases injuries or bruises from nursing.

-- Bernice (geminigoats@yahoo.com), December 01, 2000.

We do dam raise ours, in fact we were thrilled these two *would* feed their kids. I have to admit I got frustrated with my hands cramping and didn't milk them all summer, we had a problem with the taste so I just put the kids back on them full time, then we solved that problem and I just went to milking my mature doe who gives about a gallon and sometimes a little more a day, of course she's the one with the huge bag and teats and I have to use two hands sometimes to milk her, unless dh was home and her teats are just right for his big hands. So I probably should've milked them longer for better results, but I considered they might improve next freshning so just thought I'd wait and see, but I ask the question cause it's getting winter time and having to feed hay, so I thought I might cull if there wasn't much chance of them improving. One of them is the mature "big teated ones" daughter so I was suprised but she's not as large as her mother either in body size. They gave a fair amt of milk for 1st timers, I guess were just so used to our "big teated girl" LOL

-- Carol in Tx (cwaldrop@peoplescom.net), December 02, 2000.

Hi Carol, if the teats are normal sylindrical in shape then yes they will get longer, but boy does the doe have to have some great udder and conformation for me to keep her around!! But!!! If those teats are more pudgy and human shaped than no they will always be small. We had a bloodline of LaMancha's when we first got into them years ago that had these human nipple looking teats. I also, like your husband prefer the bigger teats, and I cull for not having fullteats, I hate skinny teats also! If you do let the kids nurse, take extra time each day to get that udder empty on each side! No use in having longer teats on a lopsided udder! Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh TX (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), December 02, 2000.

Looks to me like it just depends on the individual doe. The only doe I've ever had to finger milk is a yearling that freshened this year. Her teats were almost triangle shaped, wide at the top and almost to a point at the bottom. Also very short. I was not real happy with her to begin with, but in about 3 weeks they lengthened out considerably and are fairly normal in shape now. Also she is EASY to milk now. She's a great little milker, has well over 1000 lbs. at 150 days lactation, and is now my favorite doe to milk.

-- Lenette (kigervixen@webtv.net), December 03, 2000.