ABSTRACT
In goats, the udder consists of two glands, with each half culminating in a teat with a single and very narrow streak canal. Milk production in the mammary gland is by the physiological process of apocrine secretion, unlike the cow in which the process is merocrine secretion. The most common disorder of the udder is mastitis, which, if acute, can result in systemic signs of toxaemia such as pyrexia. Ultrasonography can be useful in examining the udder, particularly for deep seated chronic ¬pathology such as abscesses or fibrous scar ¬tissue. The inquisitive nature of goats makes them vulnerable to traumatic injury, and the udder and teats can be damaged by horns, barbed wire or crush injuries. Mastectomy is indicated to address udder changes caused by gangrenous mastitis, non-healing wounds, inappropriate lactation syndrome in pet goats or neoplasia. Supernumerary teats occasionally have associated glandular tissue, potentially leading to mastitis once the goat starts lactating.
