Udder Abnormalities

[poco]

My first thread here :-):
I just looked at a cow for sale and she had normal front teats,yet the back ones were like buttons. Much like the "extra pair" you see in those udders with six teats. How often does that occur? What other abnormalities can happen? How would that translate to her bull calves (scrotum/sheath)?
She is a pretty little thing, but I passed on her.

[cddexter]

Poco, if you plannet to eat the offspring, go for it. If you want something of quality to register, then I think you made the right choice. Having said that, those tiny teats would get passed on, so I wouldn't want to keep a bull from her. If you pick the right sire with great teat size and palcement behind him, you could check the heifer calves for good teat size and placement, she might be worth considering if you were prepared to only keep the ones who inherited the better teat size from the sire, and ate the other heifers. Let us know how you get on. cheers, carol davidson.

[zephyrhillsusan]

poco, there are plenty of udder abnormalities around, both in Dexters and in other breeds. Dairy breeders have paid more attention to udders than beef/dual purpose breeders, but there are some pretty bad dairy udders out there, too. In Dexters, I've more often seen less than ideal attachment or teat spacing than actual button teats, but there are some atrocious balloon teats out there, too. It sounds like you've already learned how to make good choices on breeding stock.

[Deleted]

What poko is?