My cousin has a Nubian dairy that kidded on Dec.28. She didn't think she could milk due to traveling circumstances and sold the kid "wet" at birth. The doe hasn't been milked since kidding but of course still has udder. She wants to know if she can begin to milk her and will it 'draw' her back into milk. She also said she milked her today and the milk was bloody. Would this be normal since she has just been reabsorbing since kidding or is this a sign of trouble? Thanks!

-- Connie Rabun (trying2bselfsufficient@yahoo.com), January 07, 2002

Answers

Hi Connie ;) Just start milking her. She could have injured her udder during the move or simply burst some cappilaries in her udder, for the milk to be bloody. If left alone the doe would usually just absorb the colostrum and not come into milk, we do this with our old girls. Slowly increase her grain mix and milk her perhaps 3 times a day if she has the time. She should be fine. There is another forum on here for just us goat folks! Vicki

http://hv.greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a.tcl?topic=Dairygoats

-- Vicki McGaugh TX (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), January 07, 2002.