Beginning farmers and breeders are often faced with a situation where a young goat or one recently brought from another owner does not allow milking, and they do not know what to do to correct the situation. The main thing for the owner is to remain calm and rationally approach the issue. There are various methods and tactics that allow you to calm and tame a goat so that it calmly gives milk.
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Why won't the goat let me milk it?
Finding an approach to an obstinate animal can be difficult. Disobedience is often explained by the character of the goat, but, in most cases, such behavior has objective reasons.
A goat resists milking in the following cases:
- The animal is not accustomed to touch.Untamed cattle will resist milking, especially if this is the first time the udder is touched.
- Incorrect milking. Often a goat kicks during milking because it is in pain. Incorrect, careless movements cause negative associations in the animal, and on the next approach the animal resists even before touching.
- Udder diseases. The presence of pathology can be recognized by characteristic symptoms. A general and local increase in temperature, distension and deformation of the udder, rash, and swelling are reasons to contact a veterinarian. The nipples may have cracks that cause pain when touched or squeezed.
- Inadequate maintenance and care. Clean animals do not accept an uncleaned barn or drafts.
- Psychological rejection of the owner. A situation often arises when a goat was milked well by the previous owner, but stubbornly breaks away from the new owner.
To prevent the development of complications, the animal should be examined to rule out the presence of diseases. In most cases, the situation can be corrected on your own.
What to do if such a problem occurs
To get a goat accustomed to milking, you need to form positive associations. Patiently tame the animal, talk calmly, give treats, stroke the fur first, gradually move on to the udder.
Sometimes the goat does not want to give milk after lambing, leaving it to the kids. In this case, they try to remove the kids from their mother. Before milking begins, the goat is petted and given food.
If the cattle continues to resist milking, kicks, or lies on its stomach, it is necessary to forcibly fix the position of the body.The goat is tied on a short leash so that it cannot lie down. The hind legs are tangled or one leg is held with a hand while the other is milked. After some time, the animal gets used to milking and no longer needs to be tied.
Young goats must be taught in advance, before the first lambing, to touch the udder and teats. The udder is first lightly stroked, then gently massaged, and later the nipples are further stimulated by light squeezing. It is recommended to do such procedures 2-3 times a day at the same time. You can start stroking and massage after covering, and you need to finish it 3-4 weeks before giving birth.
