Hey I am new to owning dairy goats. We had Nigerian Dwarf Goats and we decided to switch to full size dairy goats. I just bought this papered, in milk Nannie and her teats look unusual to my other goats and I am wondering if there is an issue or something I should make sure not to reproduce.
Udder Confusion
- Thread starter Shuvonn
- Start date
Mini Horses
Herd Master
First, how old is she? She hasn't been milked in how long -- is this an 8 or 12 hour fill? Has she been machine milked, primarily? Has she simply been used to raise young, milking as they wean?
This is NOT a show udder.
It isn't perfect but, workable for a home milker. When you breed to bring back into milk, choose a buck that will provide genetics to tighten up the udders on offspring, hopefully. The teats should be far more defined, and that gets back to the bag needing better structure, top and bottom. And, yes, many do have those unshapely teats.
Once you see what offspring develop into...you can keep or move her on. If you bought her to produce show quality registered animals, she will probably not fulfill your dreams. But she may be a perfect milk producer and wonderful mom. They all need a home
This is NOT a show udder.
It isn't perfect but, workable for a home milker. When you breed to bring back into milk, choose a buck that will provide genetics to tighten up the udders on offspring, hopefully. The teats should be far more defined, and that gets back to the bag needing better structure, top and bottom. And, yes, many do have those unshapely teats.Once you see what offspring develop into...you can keep or move her on. If you bought her to produce show quality registered animals, she will probably not fulfill your dreams. But she may be a perfect milk producer and wonderful mom. They all need a home
- Thread starter
- #3
She is 5 years old. She has never been machine milked. I am not sure how long of a fill this is. Previous owner says she’s producing 3/4 gallon in one milking. This is the picture I received and I pick her up tomorrow, but I started having reservations because of her teats. I am not trying to raise show quality just produce enough milk for our family and some others. Since I am new I just want to make sure I’m not wasting my money.
Mini Horses
Herd Master
I suggest you have seller let you milk her before paying, to see if you are comfortable with milking her. She does appear to be a heavy milker. And 3/4 gal is a good amount....you'll see as it adds up in frig! 
. Is that amount for once a day milking or 2X? Absolutely milk her there because you both need to know it will work out.
Have you milked before? Every goat is alike and yet different. They have preferences and every one has a slightly different feel. One side gives more than the other and the orifices are not always alike. They often have a routine before they let down their milk. So that seller needs to fill you in on "this" girls routine and how she's being handled. Milk goats love repeated routine. Same place, time, feed, right side, left side etc.
I am milking 3 a day currently and
-- would WANT a buyer to milk first. These are so different. Yes, I raise, milk, sell so BTDT. Could milk more of mine as they are still in milk with doeling's on side ( who need to be weaned 
). Lotta milk!! 
She needs to give you a rundown on her routine to help you help her settle at a new home. There will be a need to bond with her and there will be some milking issues for the doe and you for a few days. A new home disrupts them, new people, new routine.
So be patient but, please milk there first.
. Call seller and advise her, she should have no reservation. If so, ask why! 
Let us know how it goes...good luck. We're here for you. I'm not the only goat milker on here. Some others will chime in before long.
. Is that amount for once a day milking or 2X? Absolutely milk her there because you both need to know it will work out.Have you milked before? Every goat is alike and yet different. They have preferences and every one has a slightly different feel. One side gives more than the other and the orifices are not always alike. They often have a routine before they let down their milk. So that seller needs to fill you in on "this" girls routine and how she's being handled. Milk goats love repeated routine. Same place, time, feed, right side, left side etc.
I am milking 3 a day currently and
-- would WANT a buyer to milk first. These are so different. Yes, I raise, milk, sell so BTDT. Could milk more of mine as they are still in milk with doeling's on side ( who need to be weaned ). Lotta milk!! She needs to give you a rundown on her routine to help you help her settle at a new home. There will be a need to bond with her and there will be some milking issues for the doe and you for a few days. A new home disrupts them, new people, new routine.
So be patient but, please milk there first.
. Call seller and advise her, she should have no reservation. If so, ask why! Let us know how it goes...good luck. We're here for you.
I'm not the only goat milker on here. Some others will chime in before long.
Last edited:
Alaskan
Herd Master
X2 everything said above.
If she is a home milker.... as long as her udder is functional, it doesn't have to be pretty.
Those teats might be huge because a milking was delayed, so she is super engorged. Still not ideal, but if the teats are nice and squishy, easy to deal with and milk. Some teats and udders are more meaty... so not as squishy. If those teats don't squish, then they might be too fat at top to comfortably milk.
Personally I am all about teat size! I like a teat that perfectly fits in my hand!
If she is a home milker.... as long as her udder is functional, it doesn't have to be pretty.
Those teats might be huge because a milking was delayed, so she is super engorged. Still not ideal, but if the teats are nice and squishy, easy to deal with and milk. Some teats and udders are more meaty... so not as squishy. If those teats don't squish, then they might be too fat at top to comfortably milk.
Personally I am all about teat size! I like a teat that perfectly fits in my hand!
- Thread starter
- #6
I took your advice and spoke to her about that and she said “yes, absolutely, I would want to do the same thing.” The 3/4 she said was in one milking. Due to time constraints she said she’s only milking once a day. We have Nigerian dwarf Nannie’s that I currently milk via hand milking as well as by machine. They are the only ones I have milked though. Thank you so much for all your help and advise. I feel much better moving forward and hopefully after milking today will be bringing home a new girl.I suggest you have seller let you milk her before paying, to see if you are comfortable with milking her. She does appear to be a heavy milker. And 3/4 gal is a good amount....you'll see as it adds up in frig!
Have you milked before? Every goat is alike and yet different. They have preferences and every one has a slightly different feel. One side gives more than the other and the orifices are not always alike. They often have a routine before they let down their milk. So that seller needs to fill you in on "this" girls routine and how she's being handled. Milk goats love repeated routine. Same place, time, feed, right side, left side etc.
I am milking 3 a day currently and
She needs to give you a rundown on her routine to help you help her settle at a new home. There will be a need to bond with her and there will be some milking issues for the doe and you for a few days. A new home disrupts them, new people, new routine.
So be patient but, please milk there first.
Let us know how it goes...good luck. We're here for you.
Mini Horses
Herd Master
hoping you will bring her home. She'll probably do well for you. And, there are times and ones that I have worked into 1x day milking. Doesn't mean the must stay that way....some are easy to work into that. The following year, you can use her more. I have a couple who, I swear, would milk forever not needing to re- breed. Of course, they slack quantity after a while but, it's an option to "milk thru".I'm making cheese again today....did so yesterday. Yogurt and butter next week. So much you can do beyond drink the milk, if you find the time.
So post a pic of her front end.
. Tell us how it goes and ask if you need help, hints, etc. . Plus, if she has a friend the seller will sell, get two!!! No regrets.- Thread starter
- #8
Well she is coming home. She was super easy to milk, quiet and patient. Also, did get 3/4 gallon of milk from her. I am wanting to make lotions, soaps and cheese. I had read making butter from goats is more difficult because they’re naturally homogenized, but I was hoping to try butter too.
I'm making cheese again today....did so yesterday. Yogurt and butter next week. So much you can do beyond drink the milk, if you find the time.
So post a pic of her front end.
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Ridgetop
Herd Master
Those very large teats may be difficult to milk. If you have large hands fine, if your hands are small you may find it harder. If she is producing 3/4 gallon (3 quarts) being milked just once a day she will begin to produce more if you put her on a 2X daily schedule milking.
Another question is when did she kid? How many kids did she produce?Dairy does produce more closer to kidding and according to how many kids are born, then begin to level off according to your milking schedule and her genetic milk tendencies. Some dairy does produce very heavily for 3-6 months then dry themselves up. If her current owner has milk records of her daily production for the past several years, that would be a better indicator of how she will produce for you.
To have a good idea of production get a hanging scale with a hook and weigh the pail and milk each miking. Subtract the weight of the pail and that will give you the weight of milk Milk weighs 8 lbs. per gallon. Butterfat weighs less than skim milk. You can use this method for figuring out the yield from your Nigerians too to judge whether they are giving as much milk per feed ratio as the new doe. Remember the ratio of grain fed to milk produced is 1:1. Once she is producing a regular amount at each milking you can try "challenge" milking by reducing the amount of grain a tiny bit until her production starts to drop. Then return to the amount you were giving just before the drop. As her production dwindles naturally remember to reduce the amount of grain.
You should be able to milk a dairy doe for 10 months before drying her off to give her 2 months rest before she kids again. Her production will start to decrease in the 9th month allowing you to reduce miking and dry her off. Any dairy goat that does not produce for 10 months before drying off will not be very productive in a yearly schedule.
Another question is when did she kid? How many kids did she produce?Dairy does produce more closer to kidding and according to how many kids are born, then begin to level off according to your milking schedule and her genetic milk tendencies. Some dairy does produce very heavily for 3-6 months then dry themselves up. If her current owner has milk records of her daily production for the past several years, that would be a better indicator of how she will produce for you.
To have a good idea of production get a hanging scale with a hook and weigh the pail and milk each miking. Subtract the weight of the pail and that will give you the weight of milk Milk weighs 8 lbs. per gallon. Butterfat weighs less than skim milk. You can use this method for figuring out the yield from your Nigerians too to judge whether they are giving as much milk per feed ratio as the new doe. Remember the ratio of grain fed to milk produced is 1:1. Once she is producing a regular amount at each milking you can try "challenge" milking by reducing the amount of grain a tiny bit until her production starts to drop. Then return to the amount you were giving just before the drop. As her production dwindles naturally remember to reduce the amount of grain.
You should be able to milk a dairy doe for 10 months before drying her off to give her 2 months rest before she kids again. Her production will start to decrease in the 9th month allowing you to reduce miking and dry her off. Any dairy goat that does not produce for 10 months before drying off will not be very productive in a yearly schedule.
Ridgetop
Herd Master
To make butter, you might need a mechanical cream separator. However, some Nubians have a super high butterfat content and if you are willing to wait several days you might be able to skin some cream off the top of milk after 24-36 hours.
Enjoy your dairy goat experience! Your standard dairy Nubian will give you more milk with less effort!
Enjoy your dairy goat experience! Your standard dairy Nubian will give you more milk with less effort!
