Splayed Teats

[tonhou]

Just wondering about splayed teats as per photo - are these a result of something in particular (rear udder support?) or just poor teats?
This is an 8 year old cow.

--Tony

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[carragheendexters]

Hi Tony,
I thought that someone may have picked up your question and answered it, but not so, so will give you my understanding of teat positions.

For best udder conformation teats should hang plumb, and neither point in an inwards or outwards direction. For our classification scheme here in Australia, you are penalised in your udder score if the teats stick out, and the udder score influences what your final score is.

Now my understanding of why the teats stick out, and this is only my understanding as it was explained to me by the classifiers. It's all to do with where the teat is placed on the quarter, it should be under the centre of the quarter out of harms way. If the teat is placed on the outside of the quarter it will stick out as per your photo. In my experience, when the udder is full of milk it really exacerbates it, and the teats almost stick out sideways.

If I ever get myself organised I'll put on some close up photos showing the difference, if I can get clear enough shots. I have cows with good teat placement and some with not so good, which will hopefully show the difference of where on the quarter that the teat is placed.

regards Louise

[cddexter]

Tony, Louise is correct that the classifiers want plumb teats. BUT, and this is huge, classifiers are trained for the dairy industry where mechanical milking is the norm, and the cups are designed to hang straight. However, on a nursing cow, it's actually better to have the teats be slightly (operative word: slightly) inclined to the front, so the calf can latch on without performing gymnastic tricks to get the teat bent forward so it fits in its mouth. Poor rear attachment so the whole udder is canted with the teats facing forward isn't what I'm talking about, by the way.

In my opine, your pic isn't all that bad. You don't say when the cow calved, or if she hasn't been nursed for a while, as both of these engorge the udder and make the teats 'stand proud'. Sticking out to the side teats brush against the leg of the cow as she walks, irritating them. If this isn't happening in your case, don't sweat it, but maybe look for a bull whose dam had a great udder and teat attachment, and work on a replacement heifer for down the road.

cheers, c.

[tonhou]

The cow has a 3.5 month old calf on her. Feed conditions are very good so she is milking strongly. She is a bred-up cow as per her pedigree here. Carol will recognise many animals in her background, originally bred by Edges (Klondyke stud). She is a no fuss, honest cow who gets in calf reliably each year.
Her front teats perhaps are more splayed. Thanks for the perspectives on the teats.
I am thinking that I would like someone to come in and assess all the animals on our very small property to know what I am dealing with and what I should be seeking to improve - that is if I can find such a "someone".
Thanks Louise about the teat placement being the issue - makes sense.

--Tony

[cddexter]

ask nancy. you could send her pics. c.