One of my Alpines had a kid at almost 2 years of age. Has been dry for about a year. Last fall/winter she never came into heat. This fall after being exposed to the buck, she suddenly began to produce milk, small amount at first but slowly increasing. Although exposed to the buck, I am not even sure she has cycled and been bred yet. Does anybody have any explanation? I know of precocious young milkers that have never bred nor been exposed to a buck developing udders, I always have one or two each year from high producing lines. But this adult Alpine puzzles me. Thanks for any input. Karin in SCtrlTX

-- Karin Macaulay (catawba@bargainisp.net), November 15, 2001

Answers

My good freind had a precocious milker that was not young and she produced milk for years without a buck even in sight! The vet says it happens sometimes.

-- Annie Miller in SE OH (annie@1st.net), November 15, 2001.

Yes, Annie, but this one did not produce continuously, that's the thing. She was dry for a year. Anyone else have an idea?

-- Karin Macaulay (catawba@bargainisp.net), November 15, 2001.

Have her checked by a vet (preg. tested), as someone elses buck might have gotten to her (shortly before she "never" came into heat) & could have already been bred before you put your buck with her. Did you notice any loose goats (or did your buck escape) around the time she was supposed to come in heat? If the vet sayes she isn't pregnant, then it would be a false pregnancy. I have a cocker spanial that does this a lot. She gives milk & does everything else she should do except have pups.

good luck

animalfarms

-- animalfarms (jawjlewis@netzero.net), November 15, 2001.

My sister in law has a pygmy doe who is about 3 years old,and has never been anywhere near a buck,(lives in town and has been in a pen with a wire "roof" for all her life. suddenly about 3 months ago developed an udder and milk. She was horrified..I would have been thrilled. I had never heard of this at all before. Amazing!!!

-- Jenny (auntjenny6@aol.com), November 15, 2001.

How long was she exposed to the buck? Chances are she has been bred- she is an Alpine doe, she was exposed to a buck, and in the fall. Some does have silent heats, others have very short heats, so it is quite possible that she came into heat in the evning, got bred, and was no longer in heat by morning. The only way to tell would have been the smug little smiles on their faces (especially if the buck was a Nubian or a Pygmy!)

-- Rebekah (daniel1@itss.net), November 15, 2001.

Karin, I meant that the mature doe was never exposed to a buck ever in her life, and was dry and barren for years, then suddenly began producing milk. I didn't explain it clearly.

-- Annie Miller in SE OH (annie@1st.net), November 15, 2001.

And a sample of milk will also rule out mastitis. Something actually common, once a barron doe comes into heat, seems like it stimulates the udder, which then aggrevates an old case of mastitis. Could also be simply hormones and normal milk. Either way, milk some out, get it checked, and dry cow her. If she is bred she will be fine by the time she freshens if you treat it now. An ultrasound will also confirm at around 30 days if she is bred. But then I hate surprises and guessing infuriates me, but then you all probably figured that out already! :) Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), November 15, 2001.

I milked a Lamancha maiden doe for about a year before I ever bred her. She just didn't want to be left out. ;) (all the other girls got to get up on the stand!)

-- Susan (baamaid@goatweb.com), November 17, 2001.