Decrease and than increase milk production

[Spring Flower]

Hello guys.
I was looking into getting milking goats and I was wondering say you wanted to go on a vacation for 5 days maybe a week is it possible decrease production enough for that and then be able to pick it back up when you get back?

It doesn't sound likely but here's to hoping!

Thanks

 

[Mini Horses]

Actually, not really. Milking requires " BE THERE". Anyone who can come and milk for you?

These animals do not have a faucet to turn off and on. It's an obligation you take on or not. So you plan vacay during time they are dry, or find someone to come & milk. there is no "decrease" that allows you to skip milking for several days. Plus, you put your doe into a poor situation. Now I have decreased some in production to 1X day milking. Totally different from away for 5-7 days.

Sorry.

 

[Spring Flower]

Actually, not really. Milking requires " BE THERE". Anyone who can come and milk for you?

These animals do not have a faucet to turn off and on. It's an obligation you take on or not. So you plan vacay during time they are dry, or find someone to come & milk. there is no "decrease" that allows you to skip milking for several days. Plus, you put your doe into a poor situation. Now I have decreased some in production to 1X day milking. Totally different from away for 5-7 days.

Sorry.

No need to apologise if it's the truth than it's the truth.

Currently there isn't anyone that can come by and milk. We don't really go anywhere that much so it's not really that much of an issue. And besides I have will be getting a job soon (the only reason I can have goats) so then I will be aloud to stay home so I can do all the chores. And plus I'm hoping that I can meet someone that can do it for me.

Should I start another thread for these questions?What is the breeding cyle? Like...... How long are they pregnant? When to stop milking? When can I start milking again? And all that Jazz

 

[Spring Flower]

So from what I have read They are pregnant for five months and you can start milking about four weeks after they kid while separating kids at night/day.

Is that correct

 

[Mini Horses]

Yes, 5 months gestation. Some goats are seasonal breeders, some not, depends on breed. Most of the large milk breeds are seasonal. Nubians can be a more extended breeder. But mostly Aug -Mar for majority of large milk breeds. Each animal may have some variance from norm.

You can milk from day one after kidding BUT you get colostrum and it isn't pleasant for us to drink, plus kids must have it. There are those who pull kids at birth and only bottle feed, generally from dams milk. Others share by separating kids at about 2-4 weeks, at night, milk in AM -- leaving some for kids to nurse & giving kids access all day. These situations are more flexible, as you can see. A lot depends on your doe, her production, etc. If you co-milk with kids, you can juggle some of your milk needs with theirs and must watch to keep doe at capacity, while the kids take more, then less milk -- as they begin to eat grass more.

Eventually you will need to separate kids if you want to milk doe for several months as the kids will nurse for months, if allowed. Most does will milk 10 months or longer. We mostly dry them off about 60-90 days before kidding. If milking well you can keep some going more than a year without re-breeding. I have had some go almost 2 years, less capacity in later months.

Your own doe, the feed and her breed will determine a lot of what you get, how much and how long. You can see why more than one doe with staggered breeding dates is often the choice for families wanting year round milk. Of course -- drying all off gives you a break from milking. Each farm just chooses what works for them. The does are co-operative, within reason. First year fresheners will have less capacity than in her 2nd, 3rd year, as they mature & their systems develop.

Hope that helps. It's what I find at my farm. Others will goats will chime in with their experiences and ways to do. Not everyone milks for family use year round but, are more opportunistic and milk part of year when does are producing, letting them dry as kids wean off. It's a choice for each farm.
Personally, I drink the milk, separate for cream, make butter, yogurt, this year kefir, make various cheeses. I use my milk and appreciate it!

 

[Spring Flower]

Thanks alot! I am planning on buying doelings so we will have time to figure it out. One thing I know for sure is I'm not snatching babies away so I can have the colostrum.

 

[Grandma Betty]

Where are you at? If you’re in western Missouri or eastern Kansas, we might be able to help you out.

 

[Georgia Girl]

Actually, not really. Milking requires " BE THERE". Anyone who can come and milk for you?

These animals do not have a faucet to turn off and on. It's an obligation you take on or not. So you plan vacay during time they are dry, or find someone to come & milk. there is no "decrease" that allows you to skip milking for several days. Plus, you put your doe into a poor situation. Now I have decreased some in production to 1X day milking. Totally different from away for 5-7 days.

Sorry.

What if the little ones are still nursing, is it possible to take the 7 day vacation.

 

[Mini Horses]

You can. A goat produces for the babies. I have 3 right now that nurse their kids and I do not milk.. May or may not milk them. I do milk the ones I WANT to keep in milk so that the production stays up. I never milked my meat goats for my own milk, only some to freeze for kids "in case". They nursed and dried up when kids weaned. Their production will increase then decrease as the kids take more/less from birth to weaning. Same with all mammals. Dairy animals, we humans keep them producing -- their offspring rarely nurse that long.

 

[Ridgetop]

When we started out we only went away for a week in August (school vacation). Because we took the babies away at birth to heat treat the colostrum and to pasteurize the milk (CAE prevention program) and bottle feed, we milked every 12 hours. We never went away any other time except the Fair when we had the goats with us. When we went on vaction for a week, we would take the goats to their breeder from whom we bought them. She would board them, and breed them. We only had 2 Nubian does, and had no other goats on the property. That was 30 years ago. After about 3 years when we had more goats and our own bucks, we hired 4-H kids to milk and feed. Later still, when we had 12 to 15 milkers and were on test, our tester would come and milk for us. We paid everyone well. You have to know and trust your milkers - the chance of them not being careful with washing udders and teat dipping can cause mastitis.

Depending on when you can take your vacation, you might prefer to take it when the does have been dried off before they kid.