Family Cows and Farming. Pregnant goats start showing some signs before kidding. The vet is still unable to help. You should NOT start milking unless you plan to continue doing so daily. Uncomfortable is probably the better term for this. There is no way that the pregnancy would last eight months and still not give birth to babies. Dave. Even if she is not uddering up yet you can still feel she has udder development, much more so than an unbred doe, especially by this time in her pregnancy. I sprayed her with iodine back there to make sure she wont catch an infection, but she quit discharging after a day or two. Do not milk her again. Hope is very healthy, loves to run around and play around here, loves to eat like any goat, so she is normal in every way, except for the apparent false pregnancy for many months now because she is very big around the middle, like ready to have babies. 1. The doe bags up. You have no idea how long the kids had been dead prior to her aborting, so she could have an infection. I have a Nubian that is 10 yrs old. A good ewe will bag up about 5-10 days prior to giving birth. Looks like you have some typos in part of your message, so I dont really understand all of it. So I called out another vet and he thought it was a false pregnancy then treated her for that. It's made my pigs bag up before. Should call a vet? Eventually, the amniotic sac will rupture and the baby (or babies) will be born. I acquired an old but high end ultrasound machine that my ob/gyn could no longer use. Nancy The Home Acre Hop. Shes had several sets of kids since weve owned her, but this last pregnancy has been strange. It's good to plan to dry off the goat 6-8 weeks before her due date to give her enough time to focus on building the babies without putting too much stress on her body. No milk dripping. The development of mammary glands in preparation for lactation is triggered by hormones released during pregnancy. But, a few months after January that udder did completely subside, a sure sign that I suspected that she was pregnant. and is it ok to drink the milk? She started bleeding from the back, so I thought she may be having her babies. Also has the arched back but is not acting any different. But now shes just big and has some udder development but she acts pretty normal. Most precocious milkers have a normal abdomen. You need to make sure the lambs have access to colostrum. We did have an earthquake that was reported felt in our area and Im not sure if maybe thats why shes hiding? Goat gestation takes five months, so you have quite a while after the mating to get everything ready. I thought this was a precocious udder but reading these postings Im not sure. If you leave it alone, it should be fine. and effectively dried herself up. I dont understand your question about breeding making it better. To palpate a Nigerian dwarf goat's belly, you will need to put your hand on her back and slide it down to her abdomen. Anemia and a poor coat are symptoms of worms. In some ways it seemed like she was pregnant, but her belly was flat, her udder was half baked, and she was already at day 152, and 99.5% of my goats have all given birth by day 150. However her udder refilled and is quite large again. Thanks again for the info, i never knew this (still on my first year with goats!). Move around and try getting comfortable again. I would appreciate any thoughts on what I can do for her to make her more comfortable, and if it is possibly something other than false pregnancy? goatsauthority.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Here is an article that covers intestinal worms: The gestation period for goats is approximately 150 days, although a doe may kid as much as three days early or five days late. Here is more info on minerals, and it includes links to additional articles on individual minerals. Having an udder after kidding is normal, but one kid cant consume that much milk, so under normal circumstances, you should definitely milk a doe that is nursing only one kid. Make sure you get this wax plug out before you leave the ewe with her lambs for the first time. If your doe came into heat, she is probably not pregnant. Once the kids are born, they will typically be weaned at around eight weeks of age. Turned out she was pregnant and was carrying a severely deformed fetus and two mummified fetuses. goatsauthority.com may be compensated when users click on links and sign-up with their associated offers located in content or anywhere else on the page. Id suggest milking both sides. Goats should have access to fresh water at all times. they are both girls and are 1 and a 1/2 , and have not been bred yet. You cant just milk her every few days. When shes up, shell pace, turn in circles, paw the ground, and sniff at the bedding. Some goats get a precocious udder, which just means that they get an udder even though theyre not pregnant. Although its also worth noting that goats have been known to conceive twins or even triplets, so the due date may be less certain if more than one kid is expected. Bagging up NOT pregnant. And if you are going to be going on vacation, you need to get someone else to do it for you. After the goat kid is clean and its mouth and nose are clean, then you'll need to swaddle it like a human baby and rock it back and forth. The staph infection is usually by the development of pimples or white heads on the udder of the goats. Typically goats with a false pregnancy are not miserable. They look normal and healthy, but big around the middle, like they will have babies. You can do it once a day though. Most do actually dry up after a few months, so its odd that her body is being so persistent. I feel she is so uncomfortable. You can use a dash of castille soap or a tiny bit of bleach in warm water. In most cases, when the udder looks tight and shiny, and the teats tend to point slightly to the sides, kids will appear within about a day. Hello, Im looking for some information regarding the udder on my lamancha. If the cough did not respond to antibiotics and has lasted a month or longer, it could be due to lungworms. For most of the pregnancy, your goat will look like she is carrying her babies up high in her abdomen. If she was left with a buck, then you really have no idea when shes due because it is always possible that she didnt get pregnant and that he bred her again when she was in heat. When these ligaments begin to get soft, and then completely vanish . I think he is at a loss as to what to do next. Sounds like a textbook false pregnancy. A pregnant goat will eat about 2-3% of her body weight in hay or grass each day. Leah, what happened with your goat? Maybe the pressure of the kids against her rumen makes the doe feel full. Our goat vet gave her 2 injections for hormones and something else (I do not know a lot about goats!) Its not a big deal, and you can usually just ignore it unless it gets so huge that youre concerned for her safety. But yes, they could pick it up from grass if the cats pooped out in the pasture. Some other goats in the herd were taken to the vet and given antibiotics for the cough which did not help. Then again, Ive had does not bag up until after they gave birth. Not all infections that cause abortion cause a fever, such as chlamydia or toxoplasmosis. If she has a cloud burst so that you know the pregnancy was false, then yes you can milk her. Since a false pregnancy is caused by hormones, they develop an udder just as if they were pregnant. And at day 152, she still was not acting like she was in labor, but she had mucus discharge. Then squeeze the belly as you lift it up and down. A stinky smell is usually a sign of infection. What are the signs of a healthy pregnancy in a goat? Critters Other Than Cows. Thank you for responding so quickly! If you were on hand when the doe mated with a buck, you can make a pretty close estimate of when she will kid. Water Bag Bursts. Bagging up NOT pregnant Apr 24, 2021 . As for improving her condition, here is my article on senior goats: Oh dear, i guess i need to put chicken wire around the barn now. Pregnant goats may drink up to 12 gallons of water per day, so its important to make sure they always have access to a clean, fresh supply. Most calves can't be felt externally until the last month or 6 weeks. No one can predict the future, but it will likely just continue the way it is until her body finally decides to dry up assuming you leave the udder alone. Im glad you find it helpful! These pimples will grow rapidly with a quick spread of the infection from one goat to the other. Im very glad this happened at 1030 at night, and not 130 in the morning. Also, try to keep it as warm as possible. They will probably rub against, and it will fall apart in a few months and have holes in it. Watch for changes in appetite, drinking habits, or behavior. By 1sheepdoggal, January 24, 2008 in Livestock Management. but my one doe who has never been pregnant and is 1 showed signs of being pregnant. I'm not sure why you thinks he is giving milk, but if she would NOT be producing milk if she were only two months pregnant, and you should NOT be milking her. On the other hand, Ive had does that apparently held off until I got there, whereupon plop out came the kids, one right after the other. Sadly, prolapse is a major cause of ewe deaths when it comes to lambing. I had actually signed up and finished your copper course a couple of months ago..and it taught me alot :). She is almost 3 years old. I have heard of some continuing to milk for years though. This is only our second year of experience with goat kidding.. Her vulva should enlarge and become soft before she kids too. You wouldnt know your goat has a false pregnancy unless you got an ultrasound. If there is a buck within running distance of where your doe is kept, an unplanned pregnancy is always possible. This is especially true of long bodied does or does who have good depth of body as well. It turned out to be a late term abortion with two fully formed but hairless fetuses. This is one of the more infamous problems that can develop in a goat udder, and it is important to take measures to prevent and address it. The cats only get toxoplasmosis once, then they are immune for life, which is why it is mostly young cats that are a problem. 7. You need to think about whether you really want the commitment of daily milking. I agree that watching her is your best course of action right now. She just has not read the textbooks. Weird I know!! Make sure the goat has plenty of room to move around and exercise. However, a lot of people can confirm pregnancy by the size of their goat. Ive never seen a clear explanation as to why this might be. I should also mention that her coat condition is dull and rough and many other goats in the herd have suffered from worms, mineral deficiencies, and they all developed a terrible cough which has not slowed after a month of developing it from an incoming goat (again frustration goat situation out of my control). An ultrasound examination is the only foolproof way of determining pregnancy, but blood tests are still popular because they are less expensive and breeders can learn to draw blood themselves, reducing costs further. thanks for the reply, but all seven appear to be pregnant developing bags and showing signs of pending birth. But no kids ever came and within a few days she looked back to normal except that she still has this huge udder. Thanks for your time! A precocious udder is not usually a big deal. is she pregnant? Male goats can appear to be pregnant thanks to the development of the rumen, while female goats who are indeed pregnant can hide the pregnancy so well that their owners have no clue there are babies coming until they arrive. One of the best ways to identify an impending kidding is to feel the two tail ligaments located on each side of the tail. They on heat every 21 days until they become pregnant Their gestation period is around 150 days . Her udder now and after kidding is almost flat to her underside with large lamancha teats with a small area above the teats that holds some milk. To perform this procedure, place your hand on any of the sides of the abdomen of the pregnant goat. I also scoured my meadow for any sign of a stillborn baby with no success. The issue is she never developed an udder. Copyright 2023 The Thrifty Homesteader |, Raising Goats Naturally: The Complete Guide to Milk, Meat, and More, https://thriftyhomesteader.com/is-my-goat-pregnan/, https://thriftyhomesteader.com/goat-minerals/, https://thriftyhomesteader.com/barn-cats/, https://thriftyhomesteader.com/caring-for-senior-goats/, https://thriftyhomesteader.com/goat-worms/. A few days after weaning your foal, you notice his dam's udder is hot and tender. So before you lose your mind with all the nuances, let us help you. So you could be dealing with a double whammy of low supply and inexperience milking. There are several signs to look for like the udder freshening and looking hard or glossy, pelvic ligaments loosening at the tail head, a mucous discharge, swollen vulva, doe is very vocal . Its unlikely that she would be in distress, although some goats do scream when passing a bubble of fluid in labor, so maybe she was feeling some pressure? As the goats due date approaches, her udder will become larger and more rounded, with the teats lengthening and pointing downwards. Thank you!!! i am going to milk her tonight, she has been like this for a week now. This is often followed with curdled or bloody milk, and if left untreated can lead to a discolored, gangrenous udder. Gestation in goats averages 150 days (five months) but can range from 147 to 155 days. I have a cow who did not bag up or show any signs of pregnancy until a few days to a week before she delivered. If you place the palm of your hand above the does tail, fingers pointed toward the rear, and press down with your thumb and forefinger while moving your hand toward the base of the tail, you will encounter what feels like a thin, stiff rope on each side of the tail. The process of bagging up and producing milk is called . Sounds like she is just a precocious milker, which is not that unusual. Day 42 - 49. We are almost 8 months treating her blowout and it is still leaking milk plus the other udder is still flowing strong. As long as shes eating, drinking, walking around and acting like a goat, I wouldnt worry about her. The goat may also become more lethargic as the pregnancy progresses. This is an easy giveaway! I wasnt very clear in presenting my concern. Well, the teats on beef cows and dairy cows are really the same. A false pregnancy can play out like a real pregnancy, or it can end quietly. Is it ok to milk her? A cloudburst can be a lot of fluid like a couple of liters or more. I have two questions: 1) is there a treatment other than watch, wait and dont milk? thanks Shell repeatedly stretch, yawn, and maybe grind her teeth. "Bagging up" is the way goat keepers describe the development of a doe's udder, or bag, so she can provide milk for her kids. . I discussed this with a vet only a month ago when I had a goat that was not supposed to be bred either. Thought it would just dry up but when it didnt and I was actually able to milk about a 1/2 gal. It also ensures that there will be enough food for the does who are nursing their young. Size - Not every doe will swell up during pregnancy. She really should have had twins. If these are white-tailed deer . Would she have shown any other signs if she had listeriosis from moulds? Today I saw a small spot of goop on the ground and a string of slightly pinkish but clear goop from her vulva. Im wondering how much discharge there is with the cloudburst and could we just be seeing what is the end of a pseudopregnancy? Some goats do get a precocious udder, which means they are making milk even though they have not been bred. Since she is 9, I would not expect her to milk for very long. Does usually experience heat every 18-22 days during their season. Her udder will start to fill with milk - it's not ready yet but is just getting a head start toward being ready to feed the kids. There are many myths about goats. It doesnt sound like the vets in your area have experience with milk goats. I love my goat very much and it hurts me to imagine that I am not sure how to get her to better health. Some goats just want to be alone with they kid like one first freshener I had that insisted on kidding under a pine tree in a pasture covered with snow. It has been my experience raising goats since 1990 that the first visible sign of pregnancy is a rounded belly -- not her sides but the bottom of her body upon which she sits. I have a goat that has a false pregnancy and we milked her and couple days we tried to milk her again and nothing came out and she still looks like she has milk but nothing is coming out what do we need to do? Any suggestions would be welcome thanks. It was an obvious little udder not hard ,but I would say firm. https://thriftyhomesteader.com/barn-cats/. Bottom line is that if she is eating, drinking, and acting like a goat, I wouldnt worry. I figured the babies were just not due yet and that she will have them when time comes, yet we are all still waiting. The goat may also be more restless than usual, and she may pace or tail-switch. I dont know what to think. A seasoned goat's udder should have receded after she is finished nursing her previous kids and will return to full size with the subsequent pregnancy. How do we rid her of this? If your doe's expecting, you want to make sure you don't miss any signs that her kid is due. If its been filling for a couple of months, then it could be a precocious udder, which some goats will get, even if they are not pregnant, although it is fairly uncommon. Notify me via e-mail if anyone answers my comment. We had been milking still but intended to start drying her up. If you used antibiotics within the last couple of months, you could use a different one this time just in case there might be some resistance to the one you used before. One of the first signs that a doe is in heat is that she will begin to urinate more frequently. Wipe off the teats, as well, and rinse the whole udder with a bit of warm water. She might seem a lot more antisocial than usual, for example. Some very rude bucks will try to mate a doe thats not in heat, and once in awhile they get lucky, but if she was not in heat, then she would not get pregnant. Id check her temperature, and if its more than 102, Id definitely get on antibiotics ASAP. Therefore, there is no set age at which goats lose their ability to produce milk. She has, for the last few years, had a saggy and bulbous abdomen. Thank you. you just shard this elpfu information with us. Some will gradually decrease in production and you can just stop milking at some point. My does that are due in the next couple of weeks are both softly bagged now. He has given her several luteolytic shots and even milked her last time. Happy after reading this write-up, its really broad my knowledge of experience in rearing of goat and sheep. Were you absolutely sure that goat was pregnant, but she never kidded, and now she doesnt look as big as she did last week? As your doe starts pushing and begins the opening, the water bag might bulge out from the vaginal opening. Keep her in a completely separate area where other goat's won't disturb her or in such an area where you intend to have her kidding. I moved her out of my neighbors goat herd under my own control and she now has better access to food and minerals. She has always ( not as a young kid) had what appeared to be a small udder forming. There was a 9 line of milk from where she laid down. The only cure is for them to get pregnant and go through the normal lactation cycle. The only chance and it is a small chance that the ruptured side will heal is to reduce the amount of leaking, and the only way to do that is to milk her. The same will be true of a doe that is pregnant but not ready to kid. This video is to help those who are wanting or needing to dry up your does. Most people just ignore a precocious udder. 1 Signs of Goat pregnancy, symptoms - A step by step guide: 1.1 How to Identify Goat pregnancy signs: 1.1.1 The doe doesn't come back into heat. It is not unusual for humans (including myself) to have the wrong due date written down. Other signs of a healthy pregnancy include nesting behavior and a cloudy discharge from the vulva. A goat that is not urinating or is urinating painfully. All that is happening here is the babies have dropped to the lower region of the abdomen. Alpine and LaMancha dairy goats. This post may also be helpful to you: My vet is very far away..and when i called he said that he isnt sure what is happening, and to wait and watch. Again, if you look at her every day, you'll know what a normal udder looks like and thus, you'll be able to tell when it's not normal. Without pregnancy, there's no stimulus for the goat's body to produce milk-producing cells in the mammary glands. The process of bagging up and producing milk is called freshening. If the doe is a first freshener, her udder will mature gradually, starting around six weeks after she was bred and continuing to fill out as birthing time approaches. STAPH INFECTION. And some goats will only bag up days, if not hours, before giving birth. The last month or two before your doe is due, you should raise the sugar content of her feed a little to avoid pregnancy toxemia and to help her kids to grow to their full potential (see 'Pregnancy Toxemia' in the chapter of this book called "Health Needs . Thanks for getting back to me. Or a tiny bit of bleach in warm water turn in circles, paw the ground and... They look normal and healthy, but i would not expect her to milk her like. Milk plus the other ground and a poor coat are symptoms of worms she was in labor but... His dam & # x27 ; t be felt externally until the last month or 6 weeks listeriosis! I am not sure 130 in the next couple of liters or more start her... Not ready to kid 1sheepdoggal, January 24, 2008 in Livestock Management rumen makes the doe full! Antibiotics ASAP this is often followed with curdled or bloody milk, and rinse whole... Udder not hard, but all seven appear to be bred either and given antibiotics for the cough not. 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Hay or grass each day best course of action right now or tail-switch in appetite, drinking and... Know your goat has a false pregnancy is always possible the doe feel.! A cloudy discharge from the back, so i thought she may pace or tail-switch, the!