Can you milk pygmy goats?

[11langenkamp_w]

I was wondering if you can milk pygmy goats and if you can how do you get them to start producing milk and keep them producing milk?

 

[elevan]

Yes you can

You start them producing milk by getting them bred and when they kid they will be in milk. They won't produce as much or as long as a dairy breed but they certainly can produce their fair share. You should milk 2x per day to get the maximum lactation time.

 

[SDGsoap&dairy]

You *can*, but I don't know why anyone would want to! I have a herd of nigerians and one pygmy/nigerian cross. Milking her teeny weeny pygmy teats is the worst! She's a super little goat and a fantastic pet (and SUCH an easy keeper!), but if you're looking specifically for a goat to milk you'd be much better off with a dairy breed.

 

[elevan]

You *can*, but I don't know why anyone would want to! I have a herd of nigerians and one pygmy/nigerian cross. Milking her teeny weeny pygmy teats is the worst! She's a super little goat and a fantastic pet (and SUCH an easy keeper!), but if you're looking specifically for a goat to milk you'd be much better off with a dairy breed.

I agree if you're looking specifically for milk...get a dairy breed.

The primary purpose of today's pygmies is companions (pets). They are considered a tri-purpose breed and can be milked and used for meat as well (traditionally they were raised for meat). Some does can be quite easy to milk while most will be kind of difficult for traditional milking because of teat size. I would recommend a Hand-pump style milker for milking of pygmies. I have 2 does who can quite easily be milked by hand though.

 

[11langenkamp_w]

ok so how long will she lactate after having the baby?

 

[elevan]

ok so how long will she lactate after having the baby?

6-8 months being typical. Individual does of course can vary more or less.

 

[Roll farms]

Since they haven't been bred specifically for long-term lactation, like dairy goats have been, they typically dry off a lot sooner.

Their bodies "know" they need to make milk for babies for roughly 3 mos. After the body "thinks" the kids should be weaned, even if you still milk them, their production will go down, from what I've read it's typically around 4-6 mos.

 

[elevan]

From the University of Maryland's National Goat Handbook:

The domestic use of Pygmies is not limited to children's zoos, or
4-H and FFA projects, for they are good family milkers. A doe in milk
may be expected to give 500 ml (about 1 pint) of milk at both morning
and evening milkings. Because of its high butterfat content (4 to 10;
about 6.5average) the milk of Pygmy goats is exceptionally delicious
and tasty. In this respect it is similar to the milk of the Nubian
goat. For a small family of two, one or 2 milking Pygmies would provide
sufficient milk for the table including drinking, cream, topping for
cereals and cooking.

Their well-muscled carcass provides excellent meat for the freezer.
Since each carcass is small, similar to that of a spring lamb, it
serves well for the family which does not require large units of
protein stored in the freezer.

I am a champion for the multi-talented pygmy

 

[AlaskanShepherdess]

From the University of Maryland's National Goat Handbook:

The domestic use of Pygmies is not limited to children's zoos, or
4-H and FFA projects, for they are good family milkers. A doe in milk
may be expected to give 500 ml (about 1 pint) of milk at both morning
and evening milkings. Because of its high butterfat content (4 to 10;
about 6.5average) the milk of Pygmy goats is exceptionally delicious
and tasty. In this respect it is similar to the milk of the Nubian
goat. For a small family of two, one or 2 milking Pygmies would provide
sufficient milk for the table including drinking, cream, topping for
cereals and cooking.

Their well-muscled carcass provides excellent meat for the freezer.
Since each carcass is small, similar to that of a spring lamb, it
serves well for the family which does not require large units of
protein stored in the freezer.

I am a champion for the multi-talented pygmy

Wow, that is about how much an average Nigerian will give! Well bred Nigerians give up to two quarts a day.

 

[elevan]

From the University of Maryland's National Goat Handbook:

The domestic use of Pygmies is not limited to children's zoos, or
4-H and FFA projects, for they are good family milkers. A doe in milk
may be expected to give 500 ml (about 1 pint) of milk at both morning
and evening milkings. Because of its high butterfat content (4 to 10;
about 6.5average) the milk of Pygmy goats is exceptionally delicious
and tasty. In this respect it is similar to the milk of the Nubian
goat. For a small family of two, one or 2 milking Pygmies would provide
sufficient milk for the table including drinking, cream, topping for
cereals and cooking.

Their well-muscled carcass provides excellent meat for the freezer.
Since each carcass is small, similar to that of a spring lamb, it
serves well for the family which does not require large units of
protein stored in the freezer.

I am a champion for the multi-talented pygmy

Wow, that is about how much an average Nigerian will give! Well bred Nigerians give up to two quarts a day.

At around 4 months into lactation their production will fall off. You'll be done with milking at 6 months generally...but some can go to 8 months.

If you allow the milk to sit in the udder for 18 hours at any point you've pretty much "screwed" yourself At that point production will fall drastically and dry off will come much sooner than intended. Milking every 12 hours is essential with a pygmy.

2 pints = 1 quart (for those that don't know already)