• Kids not able to find milk
• Kids not able to find milk quickly
• Not sufficient milk for all kids
• Doe cannot be productive for 7-8 years

RESULT: Kids will die of starvation

POSSIBLE CAUSES:

• No milk produced
• Unable to find the teats because
  • The udder is too low to the ground and the teats cannot be found.
  • The teat is at the bottom of the udder and pointing directly to the ground so it cannot be found.
  • The teat is hidden behind the rear leg and cannot be found
  • The teat is too big and cannot be suckled
  • The teat is too short and cannot be suckled
  • The tip of the teat is fish tail or split to where the kids can't suck from it successfully.

SOLUTION:

• The udder must not result in the teats being below the hock. The lower the udder, the lower the teats and the harder to find.
• The udder must produce sufficient milk for 2-3 kids initially.
• No bottle teats that are too big to suckle.
• It is preferred that the teats not point directly downward but at an angle pointing more toward the front of the doe.
• It is preferred that the teats be at least one inch long.
• Fish teats and split teats must not make it impossible for a newborn to suckle from it. It is best to not have fish teats or any split in the teats to ensure fully functional teats.
• It is preferred that a single teat not be positioned behind the back leg.
• It is preferred there be two functional teats per side pointing forward and widely a part. This means that at least one of the teats will not be hidden behind the back leg.

RESULT: Kids may not get colostrum soon enough for immunity protection

POSSIBLE CAUSES:

• Teats hard to find
• Teats difficult for newborns to nurse from
• Doe not producing milk at kidding time
• Doe not producing enough milk

SOLUTION:

• The udder must not result in the teats being below the hock. The lower the udder, the lower the teats and the harder to find.
• The udder must produce sufficient milk for 2-3 kids initially.
• It is preferred that the teats not point directly downward but at an angle pointing more toward the front of the doe.
• It is preferred to have two functional teats per side and be at different heights. The higher teat is more likely to be found by a newborn and provide colostrum faster.
• It is preferred that the teats be at least one inch long for ease of finding and holding on to while trying to suckle.

RESULT: Kids will not grow as well and may not be as healthy

POSSIBLE CAUSES:

• Udder not large enough
• Mastitis
• Sore teats
• Single teats with  three or more kids

SOLUTION:

• The udder must produce sufficient milk for 2-3 kids initially.
• The udder should not be too large to cause severe rubbing against the legs causing it to become raw and a possible entry point for bacteria. It should not be so large it is near the ground. This is another potential source for injury that may turn into mastitis. The udder size should not result in the teats being below the hock area.
• It is preferred to have two functional teats per side in order to minimize triplets from fighting for a teat and causing the teats to get chewed up, raw and sore. Once the teat becomes raw, it is a potential entry point for bacteria causing mastitis. When a doe gets sore teats, she does not want the kids nursing them and causing more pain. We have seen this several times and it has always been does with single teats and  three or more kids.
• It is preferred to have two functional teats per side with wide separation between the two. This allows easy access to all teats so 3-4 kids can nurse very time together.

RESULT: The productivity of the doe is reduced and a replacement must be found.

POSSIBLE CAUSES:

• The udder gets too large
• Mastitis
• Sore teats
• The teats become too big

SOLUTION:

• The udder should not be too large to cause severe rubbing against the legs causing it to become raw and a possible entry point for bacteria. It should not be so large it is near the ground. This is another potential source for injury that may turn into mastitis. The udder size should not result in the teats being below the hock area.
• Does should have teats that do not get larger at each kidding.
• It is preferred to have two functional teats per side in order to minimize triplets from fighting for a teat and causing the teats to get chewed up, raw and sore. Once the teat becomes raw, it is a potential entry point for bacteria causing mastitis. When a doe gets sore teats, she does not want the kids nursing them and causing more pain. We have seen this several times and it has always been does with single teats and  three or more kids.

Our preferred doe will have the following:

• Two functional teats per side widely separated
• The teats will be at different levels with the front one being higher
• The teats will be at an angle pointing more toward the front of the doe
• The udder will be medium size sufficient to produce enough milk for triplets but not cause the teats to be below the hock
• The teats should be clean with no fish teats or splits
• It is preferred to not have blank teats that are not functional