Description: any form of abnormal teats. Sometimes this is an oddly shaped teat, but it still only has one orifice and one main teat. Sometimes this is a “split teat” that has two orifices and same size teats connected to the same base. Sometimes we find an extra teat that is not connected to either teat, just randomly off to one side. I have seen a goat with a teat like that after she freshened and it did not develop into a functional teat. It was just a skin tag. I removed a spur teat from an Alpine doe (Cazelle) when she freshened (so it would fit in the milking claw) and the appraiser said he could not tell her teats had ever been abnormal.
In our experience, extra teats are always present at birth, but they can be so small, they can be very difficult to see. We check all kids at birth and we check again before they go to their new homes.
In cow dairies, extra teats are just removed. In the goat world, especially the show world, extra-teated does are usually not used for breeding or sold unregistered. Bucks are almost always wethered. Technically, in the show ring, an extra teat is only a severe defect and not a disqualification, but most judges will disqualify them or place them last.
When looking at all the other defects, this one actually affects quality of life the least. Extra teated kids make great wethers or pet does and live long, healthy lives. It also may not interfere with breeding or milking, and it may not be passed onto offspring.
In our experience, extra teats are always present at birth, but they can be so small, they can be very difficult to see. We check all kids at birth and we check again before they go to their new homes.
In cow dairies, extra teats are just removed. In the goat world, especially the show world, extra-teated does are usually not used for breeding or sold unregistered. Bucks are almost always wethered. Technically, in the show ring, an extra teat is only a severe defect and not a disqualification, but most judges will disqualify them or place them last.
When looking at all the other defects, this one actually affects quality of life the least. Extra teated kids make great wethers or pet does and live long, healthy lives. It also may not interfere with breeding or milking, and it may not be passed onto offspring.
Inheritance: Complex inheritance that is not easy to predict. All of our extra-teated kids have come from normal parents. And I have heard back after selling some of the extra-teated doelings that they kidded with normal kids. GL Sarriette has a tiny bump on her teat. It does not interefere with the milking claw and she had 2 normal teated doelings sired by D'Ambert.
It is also random. We can repeat the same breeding and not always see extra teats. Sometimes we see it again, but often we don’t. This research paper found the genes involved in extra teats occur in 17 regions on 10 different chromosomes. So it is not really possible to predict or cull for.
Parents involved:
It is also random. We can repeat the same breeding and not always see extra teats. Sometimes we see it again, but often we don’t. This research paper found the genes involved in extra teats occur in 17 regions on 10 different chromosomes. So it is not really possible to predict or cull for.
Parents involved:
Affected does: GL Sarriette, N Liberty, Magic Cazelle (Alpine), GN Loletta