Shearling with blocked teat.

[Devil's advocate]

I don't think this Shearling has reared a lamb before, she may have lambed & lost. Very poor Mother, have to hold her to let the lamb feed.

One teat works great the other appears to have skin over the teat opening, no way in. I've used Oxytocin on ewes in the past with just a drop of milk & then it pours out. But never had one like this totally sealed over.

Any ideas?

 

[ritchiekirkland]

Sounds like a shearer cut the end off the tit to me !

 

[David.]

Someone once slid a shearing injury theave in with a bunch I bought, all scar tissue and half a bag. Scallywags.

 

[Northeastfarmer]

Any ideas?

Yes….cull her

 

[ritchiekirkland]

Maybe not this year but plenty of years ewe hoggs get bought out the fat ring . First thing I would be checking !

 

[Devil's advocate]

Sounds like a shearer cut the end off the tit to me !

Not sure, I can see where the teat opening should be, just covered.

 

[Devil's advocate]

Someone once slid a shearing injury theave in with a bunch I bought, all scar tissue and half a bag. Scallywags.

She is home bred, but shearer was a bit quick & some blood, but I did not see any udder issues. near the teal, back of udder yes.

 

[Devil's advocate]

Yes….cull her

I will but she has a lamb to rear on the good side & has been jabbed with Zactran. So later.

My part time helper used to work on dairy farms & said he has seen similar & they were opened up with a special AB tube.

 

[hendrebc]

Not sure, I can see where the teat opening should be, just covered.

I've opened one up with a needle off a syringe before if you can see where it's supposed to come out and just skinned over for whatever reason.
You'll know straight away if it's worked but if the end of the teat has been cut off it won't work.

 

[Jasper]

There’s only one way that’s the GECKO way

 

[Devil's advocate]

There’s only one way that’s the GECKO way

Sorry can you explain?

 

[Macsky]

Someone once slid a shearing injury theave in with a bunch I bought, all scar tissue and half a bag. Scallywags.

Could easy have been mastitis

 

[David.]

No.

 

[David1968]

Not sure, I can see where the teat opening should be, just covered.

If you squeeze the teat, and the end swells up into a pimple, the milk's right there. Worth pricking it with a needle.

If it doesn't, the problem's all the way up the canal. Probably best just to leave it, if she only has the one lamb.

 

[Devil's advocate]

If you squeeze the teat, and the end swells up into a pimple, the milk's right there. Worth pricking it with a needle.

If it doesn't, the problem's all the way up the canal. Probably best just to leave it, if she only has the one lamb.

Oh yes good milk was there.

I covered her with antibiotics & she is drying up now in that side, She will make good money as a cull one day, still a shame. Home bred really well shaped, if she was a mule would be really fed up.

 

[JockCroft]

If you can see the teat opening, have you massaged the 5mm or so teat point as sometimes the waxy seal can become hard and block the milk duct. If a couple of minutes rolling the tip gets it to move, gently work it clear.
I have had two cases in recent years, one last year with plenty milk took some time and a bit of milk pressure to clear.
Other IIRC few years ago moved plug enough to pinch with fingers and help it out. Seem to remember it being about thickness of pencil lead.

 

[Estate fencing.]

Oh yes good milk was there.

I covered her with antibiotics & she is drying up now in that side, She will make good money as a cull one day, still a shame. Home bred really well shaped, if she was a mule would be really fed up.

If I got fed up with bad bag in mules I would be a very depressed being.

 

[Devil's advocate]

If you can see the teat opening, have you massaged the 5mm or so teat point as sometimes the waxy seal can become hard and block the milk duct. If a couple of minutes rolling the tip gets it to move, gently work it clear.
I have had two cases in recent years, one last year with plenty milk took some time and a bit of milk pressure to clear.
Other IIRC few years ago moved plug enough to pinch with fingers and help it out. Seem to remember it being about thickness of pencil lead.

She now likes the lamb & it is on the case, will see if has opened her up later.

 

[Devil's advocate]

If I got fed up with bad bag in mules I would be a very depressed being.

Hardly ever had any, I thought that was the great thing about Mules?

I never know what to blame, mine are almost in surgical conditions, but we still get mastitis.

 

[JockCroft]

She now likes the lamb & it is on the case, will see if has opened her up later.

I suggest don't wait. Even a pair will quickly learn to leave a side they aren't getting fed from.
We tend to check every ewe either day of lambing or day after. Thinking back to last year, had a few where it took a little hand milking pressure to clear teat, and of course the one that took at least 5 minutes to clear.

There are of course some cases where it is scar tissue blocking the milk duct.
I do remember many years ago our vet opening a cows milk duct with a hollow needle like tool. It worked. Looked a bit brutal.