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More
on
Teats
by
Lorrie
Blackburn,
DVM
Our
Breed
Standard
calls
for
“Teats
–
cylindrical,
of
uniform
length
and
size
–
sufficient
for
milking
with
two
fingers
and
thumb;
symmetrically
placed;
free
of
obstruction,
deformities
or
multiples
orifices.”
Remember
that
the
breed
standard
is
describing
the
“ideal”
Pygmy
goat.
We
may
all
be
trying
to
breed
the
ideal
pygmy,
but
chances
are
that
none
of
us
will
quite
succeed.
The
faulting
sheet
states
that
if
the
teats
are
too
small,
too
close
together,
or
uneven
in
size
or
placement,
the
doe
is
considered
to
have
a
moderate
fault.
These
are
all
variations
from
the
ideal,
and
each
individual
judging
of
the
animal
(either
you,
as
the
owner,
or
a
judge
in
the
show
ring)
must
decide
just
how
small
is
too
small,
etc.
If
a
doe
has
multiple
orifices
in
a
teat,
she
is
considered
to
have
a
serious
fault.
Normally
a
teat
has
one
opening
in
the
center
of
the
tip.
Occasionally
an
animal
will
have
either
one,
or
rarely
both,
teats
with
two
openings
at
the
tip.
Multiple
orifices
usually
cause
a
slight
flattening
of
the
tip
of
the
teat.
They
are
of
no
consequence
to
the
doe
or
to
her
nursing
kids.
However,
it
is
quite
a
messy
job
to
milk
a
teat
with
multiple
orifices
since
the
milk
is
ejected
in
more
than
one
direction.
Multiple
teats
(also
called
extra
teats
and
supernumerary
teats)
[are]
a
serious
[.
.
.]
fault
in
a
doe
and
are
a
disqualifying
fault
in
bucks.
A
multiple
teat
refers
to
any
teat
in
excess
of
the
normal
two
teats
and
distinct
from
the
normal
two
teats.
Sometimes
a
small
wart,
mole,
or
improperly
healed
cut
will
cause
a
“round,
raised
lesion”
on
an
udder.
This
may
look
like
a
multiple
teat
on
first
glance
and
care
should
be
taken
to
try
to
determine
if
it
truly
is
an
extra
teat.
Multiple
teats
are
sometimes
functional
–
milk
will
flow
from
all
three
or
four
teats
on
one
doe.
[.
.
.]
Bifurcal
teats
(also
called
double
teats)
refer
to
teats
which
are
fused
along
their
length.
These
teats
are
usually
split
for
a
short
distance
near
their
tips
and
the
shaft
of
the
teat
is
wider
than
normal.
There
should
be
no
confusion
between
multiple
orifices
and
bifurcal
teats.
Bifurcal
teats
are
a
disqualifying
fault.
They
are
more
serious
that
multiple
teats
since
more
udder
health
problems
may
occur
with
double
teats.
When
the
teats
fuse,
there
is
sometimes
a
flap
left
in
the
teat
canal
which
makes
hand
milking
or
nursing
difficult
or
impossible.
Other
times
the
teats
fuse
so
that
each
teat
drains
milk
from
separate
sections
of
the
udder.
More
mastitis
would
be
seen
as
a
result
of
improper
drainage
of
milk
from
all
the
udder.
Blind
teats
are
a
disqualifying
fault.
There
may
be
no
opening
in
the
tip
of
the
teat,
or
there
may
be
no
canal
inside
the
teat.
This
second
possibility
can
be
diagnosed
only
in
a
lactating
animal.
If
both
teats
are
blind,
then
the
does
has
a
blind
udder,
and
while
she
does
produce
milk,
there
is
no
way
for
her
kids
to
obtain
it.
(A
blind
udder
may
also
occur
because
of
structural
problems
within
the
udder
and
the
teats
may
be
normal.)
Excerpts
from:
Hale,
Lydia,
and
Ellen
Kritzman,
eds.
Pygmy
Goats:
Best
of
Memo
(1976-1981)
National
Pygmy
Goat
Association:
pp
52-53
This
document
is
for
informational
purposes
only
and
is
in
no
way
intended
to
be
a
substitute
for
medical
consultation
with
a
qualified
veterinary
professional.
The
information
provided
through
this
document
is
not
meant
to
be
used
in
the
diagnosis
or
treatment
of
a
health
problem
or
disease,
nor
should
it
be
construed
as
such.
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