Question - do you dry off your does prior to kidding? The reason I ask is because I have a 2-year-old that freshened early last March as a yearling. She was bred in the fall and is due in about five weeks, but she's still producing about 25 oz per day on once-a-day milkings. This seems like a very persistent lactation for a first freshener! I'm debating on drying her off so she can have a break, but her condition is very good and she really seems to love being a milk goat. Just curious to get another perspective on the situation.
Yes you dry them off 2 months before kidding so they can grow a big healthy kid and also so you don't milk out their colostrum by accident. I've never really had much problem knowing when to stop because most does don't give you an option. Their production tanks to less than 10 ounces per milking. Definitely noticeable and not worth the effort. You have a Goat with great milker potential. I'd only dry off if I was positive she was bred(@45 days prior to kidding you can feel the kid kicking on her right rear lower belly or just in front of the udder) once you feel kicking definitely don't milk her anymore!
@@ahappygoatcreamery6159 good to know. Yes she has a lot of potential. I milked a half gallon out of her in once-a-day milking while she was kid-sharing, so she's what we call a milk monster around here. Her mother was half-Alpine, a big producer, and a complete nutcase. Fortunately, this one is more cooperative, and her milk is sweet and delicious. Thanks for the info!
Those bucket feeders are brilliant. It amazes me to see how the little goats catch on and thrive with such devices.
And it's such a great time saver
Question - do you dry off your does prior to kidding? The reason I ask is because I have a 2-year-old that freshened early last March as a yearling. She was bred in the fall and is due in about five weeks, but she's still producing about 25 oz per day on once-a-day milkings. This seems like a very persistent lactation for a first freshener! I'm debating on drying her off so she can have a break, but her condition is very good and she really seems to love being a milk goat. Just curious to get another perspective on the situation.
Yes you dry them off 2 months before kidding so they can grow a big healthy kid and also so you don't milk out their colostrum by accident. I've never really had much problem knowing when to stop because most does don't give you an option. Their production tanks to less than 10 ounces per milking. Definitely noticeable and not worth the effort. You have a Goat with great milker potential. I'd only dry off if I was positive she was bred(@45 days prior to kidding you can feel the kid kicking on her right rear lower belly or just in front of the udder) once you feel kicking definitely don't milk her anymore!
@@ahappygoatcreamery6159 good to know. Yes she has a lot of potential. I milked a half gallon out of her in once-a-day milking while she was kid-sharing, so she's what we call a milk monster around here. Her mother was half-Alpine, a big producer, and a complete nutcase. Fortunately, this one is more cooperative, and her milk is sweet and delicious.
Thanks for the info!