Not sure what to do (RANT)

[GLENMAR]

I have had my goats for almost 2 years. I started out with a yearling doe and two twin weanling does.
They have all been through a first freshning. The now two year old, freshned last July. The younger two as yearlings freshened
this past January. We are milking once a day. We are getting 3/4 of a gallon a day. I can't use all that milk. About once a week we are dumping all the milk.

I am having a few issues at home with my SO not wanting to milk on the two days a week that I work double shifts.
Now I am thinking of selling the goats. It seems like a waste to go through all this work to dump milk down the drain.

I have made yogurt and goats milk soap. Cheese is taking more practice.

Any advise??

Really depressed right now.

 

[Southern by choice]

So sorry Glennmar!

Remember you can always let the girls dry up and wait it out a bit... things change, people change, circumstances change. It may just not be the best time right now. You have so much invested and it is still a good investment.
Give it a little time and you never know, you may have a high school kid or someone who can fill those two days.

BTW- I think of you often and Nala especially.

 

[GLENMAR]

Thanks. Nala is doing great. I gave her a bath the other day, and she was a white fluff ball.

I thought that they needed to go through a whole 305 day lactation? Stella, who freshened last July is showing no signs of slowing down.
She is giving a good 1 quart a day.

 

[BrownSheep]

You could always " rent" her out on those two days. Find somebody who wants to try out goats to come and milk her. Let them keep the milk.

 

[OneFineAcre]

So sorry Glennmar!

Remember you can always let the girls dry up and wait it out a bit... things change, people change, circumstances change. It may just not be the best time right now. You have so much invested and it is still a good investment.
Give it a little time and you never know, you may have a high school kid or someone who can fill those two days.

BTW- I think of you often and Nala especially.

Southern is absolutely right.

You don't have to milk your goats.. You can dry them off and wait until circumstances change.

I've got too many goats, and this is a hobby for me and my family. An increasingly expensive hobby

I've got 6 month old goats still nursing their mama's because we don't want to milk them.

Please don't sell your goats.

 

[OneFineAcre]

Thanks. Nala is doing great. I gave her a bath the other day, and she was a white fluff ball.

I thought that they needed to go through a whole 305 day lactation? Stella, who freshened last July is showing no signs of slowing down.
She is giving a good 1 quart a day.

You can dry them off whenever you want. You don't have to let them go through a full lactation cycle at all.

 

[GLENMAR]

Thanks. Nala is doing great. I gave her a bath the other day, and she was a white fluff ball.

I thought that they needed to go through a whole 305 day lactation? Stella, who freshened last July is showing no signs of slowing down.
She is giving a good 1 quart a day.

You can dry them off whenever you want. You don't have to let them go through a full lactation cycle at all.

Will that change the volumes for the second lactation? Does the udder have "memory"??

 

[OneFineAcre]

Thanks. Nala is doing great. I gave her a bath the other day, and she was a white fluff ball.

I thought that they needed to go through a whole 305 day lactation? Stella, who freshened last July is showing no signs of slowing down.
She is giving a good 1 quart a day.

You can dry them off whenever you want. You don't have to let them go through a full lactation cycle at all.

Will that change the volumes for the second lactation? Does the udder have "memory"??

Maybe. I'm honestly not 100% sure.

We know a breeder who dries all of his at 3 or 4 months. His business is selling kids. But the value of the kids is a reflection of how well his does perform in shows. So, I think he would say no.

But, I see your point.

But, in your situation does it really matter? You have more than you need.

 

[BHOBCFarms]

Someone where I live sells his goat milk on craigslist and explicitly says its not for human consumption, but is good for soapmaking, etc. Maybe you could sell it for extra $?

 

[GLENMAR]

You can dry them off whenever you want. You don't have to let them go through a full lactation cycle at all.

Will that change the volumes for the second lactation? Does the udder have "memory"??

Maybe. I'm honestly not 100% sure.

We know a breeder who dries all of his at 3 or 4 months. His business is selling kids. But the value of the kids is a reflection of how well his does perform in shows. So, I think he would say no.

But, I see your point.

But, in your situation does it really matter? You have more than you need.

You are right. And this is why I was torn about going down to once a day milking, but I did not have any choice. I wanted high performing does. And I know that going down to once a day would cut their volumes. I guess I am competitive, and thought that I would go for some milk stars, or something. Shortening lactations and cutting milking volumes due to not having help or being able to use the milk defeats the purpose of buying $$$ performance bloodlines.