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Infant feeding

This might be a strange question, but does lactation work the same way in all mammals?

11 replies

mawbroon · 12/01/2007 10:22

It's just that I was at the local farm/heritage centre place the other week and saw a goat being milked. The woman was talking about it as she went along and she said that goats normally have twins, but this particular goat only had one kid but because goats normally have twins, she was producing enough for two. I wanted to shout "SHE'S PRODUCING ENOUGH FOR TWO BECAUSE SHE'S FEEDING HER KID AND YOU ARE ALSO MILKING HER SEVERAL TIMES A DAY. IT'S ABOUT SUPPLY AND DEMAND, HAVEN'T YOU EVER READ MUMSNET?"
But of course I didn't.....
But it's been bugging me since then to know if I am right or not!

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LieselVentouse · 12/01/2007 10:47

Go backand tell her that

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NotQuiteCockney · 12/01/2007 10:53

I expect there's a bit of variation in normal supply. I mean, pigs etc normally have god knows how many, so obviously can feed that many. I'm sure a human could manage to feed six I guess, but it would be harder work for her. I think.

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NotQuiteCockney · 12/01/2007 10:58

Oh, and monotremes latate without nipples. Hope this helps.

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mawbroon · 12/01/2007 11:00

Monotremes? What are they? I feel this is going to be a learn something new every day thread!!

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NotQuiteCockney · 12/01/2007 11:03

Egg-laying mammals. E.g. platypus. Here is a page about current theories on the evolution of lactation, which has a bit on how current monotremes lactate.

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mawbroon · 12/01/2007 11:07

Oooh, that looks interesting. Will read later as have to get mindees from nursery.
Sorry that first line sounds like I am taking this piss, but I know that I will find the article interesting. Thanks!

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NotQuiteCockney · 12/01/2007 11:08

Um, you started a thread about lactating goats. I'm going to assume you're sincere in your interest ...

Yeah, the article is good, and reasonably accessible.

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mawbroon · 12/01/2007 15:11

That is a really interesting article NQC. Evolution of lactation was not something I had ever given a thought to until today!!
Maybe just as well that humans lost the hair and gained nipples though. Imagine all the threads on MN! "My breast hair is really long, will I still be able to breastfeed"

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strawberri · 12/01/2007 16:11

Wondered if anyone saw the Q & A in gaurdian few weeks ago about how easy it would be for men to lactate and,therefore, breastfeed...?

Quite simple procedure apparently, as long as man in question does'nt mind being pumped full of oestrogen

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beckybrastraps · 12/01/2007 16:22

This reminded me of one of ds's finer moments at pre school. Playleader was talking about where food comes from, and said "and what animal makes milk?", expecting the answer cow, possibly goat, sheep at a push. Ds pipes up "mouse". Then "hamster" Then "dog", continued listing mammals until "and mummy - 'cos she's a mammal too".

I really ought to have told him that we drink cows' milk. Would have saved a lot of time. And I do wonder where exactly he thinks the milk on his weetabix comes from.