First of all, thanks to all who answered my questions. I need to know how to keep one dog from chewing the other dogs hair off! My 4 year old Golden Retriever looks absolutely RIDCULOUS! About the goat; she kidded 6 weeks ago, the twins sucked for 2 weeks then we began 'sharing the milk'(seperate the kids in the morning milk her that night and then put the kids back in with her) and I noticed we only got 2-3 CUPS total! 2 weeks later we sold the two bucklings and I still only got 2-3 CUPS a milking (2), then one week later she devolped Mastitis. Before she kidded her bag looked like she had to gallon jugs stuffed in each side and two days before she kidded I milked her PARTIALLY to make sure she didn't have Mastitis she gave 2 quarts of colostrum with PLENTY in reserve so I know she's a good milker, coming also from * milker, so WHAT IS THE PROBLEM!!! Thanks to all you who answer my many questions.

-- Chandler in Minnesota (Providencefarms2001@yahoo.com), February 13, 2002

Answers

What did you treat the mastitis with?? Is this that pigmy cross you were talking about??

-- diane (gardiacaprines@yahoo.com), February 13, 2002.

If she has mastitis that will affect her production. It could also be that she is stressed and upset that her kids are gone. Just to get things straight, you are milking her completely out, twice a day? This is especially important if she has mastitis.

-- Rebekah (daniel1@itss.net), February 13, 2002.

Yes, Diane those were here kids. And Rebekah, we milked her 2 times a day and when she devolped mastitis we've been milking 4 times a day.

-- Chandler (Providencefarms2001@yahoo.com), February 14, 2002.

How old is the goat? If she is a yearling, you can be pretty sure she will never reach her genetic potential for milk production, due to having been bred to a Pygmy buck. The placenta of the kids plays a huge role in determining milk production, and even more so in first timers. If the kids are half Pygmy or Boer, or some other low production buck's kids, that will influence the mother- and it isn't her fault at all! However, I think that the mastitis and stress are probably playing a role in this, too.

-- Rebekah (daniel1@itss.net), February 14, 2002.