Maiden Milker

[weeble]

One of our yearling goats has started to produce milk! She has never been mated, and recently developed an udder (shortly after one of our other goats kidded). It has been getting bigger and I gave it a quick squirt today and milk came out! I know goats can do this, but is it ok to milk her or should I leave her? I am going to put her into kid this Autumn anyway.

[sortanormalish]

Probably just a hormone surge as she reached maturity, but check her udder and belly around for lumps. The milk is fine as long as she is healthy. If you have noticed her getting fatigued or off her feed, there may be something you can't feel. But ususally it is just a hormone surge. Her milk probably won't last a full cycle though. Technically even if it is a tumor induced milk, you could drink it safely, but you seriously compromise her health by milking her.