How much milk from ff nubian?

[Pearce Pastures]

That is very little for a larger breed dairy. I get way more than that from our Nigerians. I have to go back and look here but is she being nursed?

Just looked and she she is. Are you locking the kid away from her overnight before milking? If he has access to her before milking, that is the reason you aren't getting much, I'd bet on it.

In a previous post, you mention that there are other kids nursing on her too. They will drain her of almost all she has, leaving none for you. Separate her from them overnight, milk her tomorrow morning, and you will see a difference both in her willingness to be milked and the quantity.

 

[Moody]

Her kid is gaining well and she is exactly 2 weeks old today so I can try to separate at night tonight

But (I know I'm new and assuming a lot) I figured even a ff so-so producer would give 2 cups morning and night even while nursing 24/7. That baby is still young and nibbling hay. So I figured she would be taking about that much, 2-4 cups a day

12 min to get 1 cup milking fairly steadily with both hands pumping means it would take 48 minutes to even get a quart. There's no way she would stand that long

I would be happy with 1/2 gallon per day.

 

[Moody]

Oh and we have just one kid nursing. She had a single girl and my other ff doe hasn't kidded yet.

 

[Sweetened]

I think even ff heavy milkers are kept down by kids if not seperated at night. When you restrict over night, the body fills up the udder and stretches it out, allowing for more milk production. She is ONLY producing for that kid, plus the 1 cup you're taking. When you start milking her out in the morning after the baby has been off at night, she will start making more milk because she's feeding more mouths. Her priority is the kid, and she will do whatever it takes to feed that kid, including making more milk.

Flora, my gallon a day producer as a FF, lost her kid a week prior to us getting her. When I emptied her out the first time, I got a gallon and a half of salty milk off her. She didn't put anything back into that bag for 3 days, so I milked that out, and started milking every day. It took me 2 weeks to get her producing well again milking multiple times a day, maybe half a cup here or a cup there. Finally I got her to give me a gallon every 3 days. Knowing her production (and because of orf issues here), when she kidded, she never filled her bag, and her kid keeps her empty. When I start milking her again (probably next week), she will give me very little, if anything, and I KNOW what she's capable of.

Boy is her kid massive though. She's grown twice as fast as the others, and is the youngest of them all. I'm hoping she'll be a big girl!

 

[Moody]

Thanks for that example. I won't judge her as a poor producer just yet.

Tonight I will try to separate them. It is only pallets dividing the stall so hopefully she can't jump it yet.

I have 5 goats. The buck and wether are in a separate pen in the woods. The 2 does and kid are in a 8x8 stall at night that can be halved by pallets. I will put baby with the other doe and she can still smell and see her momma that way.

 

[Moody]

Or maybe I will put her alone on one side so I can offer goat pellets to munch on....without the doe taking it all.

 

[Sweetened]

Without mom to protect her id recommend keeping her by herself. They can surprise you when a kid is left without mom and suddenly turn on them. My triplets cant be let in to play with the other kids unless im their as their mother (we pulled them) goes after them the moment im gone.

Id give her a small, well bedded place by herself with hay, water and any creep feed youre wanting to offer. Milk in the morning and release the baby once youre done.

 

[Moody]

Thank you so much for all your help sweetened!

I got 2 whole cups today in 15 min of mostly 2 handed milking.
I didn't empty her as I knew baby was hungry since this was her first night near but not with momma. She did fine by herself. I gave her some feed and a bit of water.

Im hoping to get at least 2 quarts a day from this doe.

 

[animalmom]

That is a good update! Great to hear!

 

[Sweetened]

Great update indeed! With mom being empty in the morning, it encourages them to try food with mom. She will feed heavily off her all day.

You did great!

Did mom stand any better for you?