Male goat lactation--ya learn something new every day

[goatboy1973]

Wasn't it the movie "Meet The Parents" where Focker said, "You can milk anything that has nipples"? LOL!!! I am a human nurse and there is a condition where men can lactate as well. EWWW!

 

[goatboy1973]

Weird that a goat would be in danger of mastitis from not being milked. Seems to me (basing this on my human experience of course) that the lack of milking would simply lead to drying out. Maybe temporary discomfort but not infection makes sense to me.

Well, the definition of mastitis is simply inflammation of the mammary glands. Sometimes bacteria can enter from a cracked teat or actually through the orifice or sphincter at the end of the teat (can't remember the proper name off the top of my head) and then you have a bacterial mastitis. I have seen teats basically rot from the inside out because of big ole udders bursting with milk/ infection. In a perfect world, the normal mechanism of the lactation process ends with the mammal "drying off" to prevent a full inflammation and infectious state in the udder. This process is both a nervous system response with stretch receptors I think, as well as a hormonal response. Probably more than anyone wanted to know and weren't afraid to ask. LOL!!!

 

[Pearce Pastures]

No it makes sense I guess. In a perfect system (which doesn't exist usually), the fullness of an udder/breast tells the body to stop producing. If the system doesn't stop, there could probably be blocked ducts and what not. I recall being told by a doctor that when drying off to NOT milk out since that could cause mastitis and rather just suffer it out a few days. Worked fine but HURT! Now there is your TMI for the day.

 

[goatboy1973]

No it makes sense I guess. In a perfect system (which doesn't exist usually), the fullness of an udder/breast tells the body to stop producing. If the system doesn't stop, there could probably be blocked ducts and what not. I recall being told by a doctor that when drying off to NOT milk out since that could cause mastitis and rather just suffer it out a few days. Worked fine but HURT! Now there is your TMI for the day.

Absolutely "udderly" hilarious! I haven't laughed this hard since I saw "Dumb and Dumber To". I worked on an ambulance for 8 yrs. and then after nursing school was a nurse at our local county jail so I remember having our mental health inmates (male) hitting their emergency button in their cell for all kinds of "life threatening" illnesses including STD's, male lactation, and male child birth. We had a few female inmates who may have been part Holstein cow or Nubian goat because we had to do antibiotics and hot damp compresses because they had a bad case of mastitis. It must have been as miserable as it looked. There ain't much I haven't seen and a whole bunch I wish I could forget. LOL!

 

[Pearce Pastures]

Yes, I feel for nurses. After having three Cesarean, I adamantly feel that nurses do NOT get paid enough.

 

[bonbean01]

I dunno...never heard of this before and never want to either....LOLOL

 

[Southern by choice]

 

[Mountainfolk]

Just sharing something that I found fascinating from today's reading.

It seems that bucks sometimes lactate! No, not because they are hermaphrodites but rather completely normally karyotyped males can develop udders and milk. They are fertile, healthy, and tend to come from strong milking lines.

We've been dealing with our 4 year old lactating Buck Joshua for about two years now. We are pretty sure he too thinks it's weird. In the beginning before both of my Rotator Cuffs ended up "looking like a bomb went off inside my shoulders" we milked him. WOW! what a rodeo! yet the risk of mastitis was great and we powered thru. We didn't have him on sweet mix like our milking Does, and his milk was pure white, rich & creamy, and just a little bit salty.
Poor Joshua - his udders have pushed his testicles out 90 degrees and has needed to be treated for abrasions to them. At times he chases himself snorting and getting excited. If it wasn't so sad to see him go thru that it could almost be funny. We have tried different things from three different vets, but he will not dry up.
We need help. Thank you for your time and information. Jim & Jodi

 

[chickens really]

The only thing I think would help is castration? I am finding this all very interesting.

 

[Mountainfolk]

The only thing I think would help is castration? I am finding this all very interesting.

The issue is that his udders continue to expand with milk, which force his testicles out almost 90%, injuring them. Our Dairy Goats are our lives, and it is extremely frustrating not being able to find any solutions for Joshua.