Will milk production increase much?

[Vickir73]

I've started milking both my Nubian mix does. One is producing 1 1/2 - 2 cups each morning. The other I just started milking Sunday and only put out 1 cup this morning. I have not locked the kids up at night, but am milking at about 5:30 am, so I don't think the kids are nursing before I milk. If I separate the kids from the mothers will this increase the milk I get each morning or is this about all I will get? If all I'm going to get is about 3 cups a day from 2 does, I'm not sure if getting up an hour earlier each morning is worth it. I may just quit milking and let the kids nurse until the mothers dry up. The one is is a FF (2 cups), but the other doe is on her second season.

Any advice (except to get better producing does, which I'm looking into)

 

[bjjohns]

If the kids are over two weeks of age, you could pen the babies up in the morning and milk in the evening, or vise-versa. That would give you a better idea how much milk you will get. If you need a day off, just tlet the kids back with the momma.

 

[Chirpy]

Do you know what your does are mixed with? They should be giving much more than that.

I agree that if the kids are two weeks old then you can lock them up at night, separate from their mothers, and you milk them in the morning and then let the kids be with mom all day. That will tell you immediately how much milk you can really get from the moms. It sounds like the kids are getting to the milk before you are in the morning.

 

[mydakota]

In my experience, I have always gotten WAY more milk when I have separated kids at night. Way more. WAAAAAAAAAYY more.

 

[sawfish99]

I have an Oberhasli right now that is separated from her kids at night. She gives about 1-1.5 quarts each morning and still has some held back for the kids. Yes, if you lock them up, you will see a significant difference in production. The kids nurse a lot more than you think.
Depending on what your nubians are mixed with, I would expect you can get AT LEAST 2 quarts a day, from 1 milking in the morning if the kids are locked apart at night.

I will caveat that it does depend highly on how long ago they freshened. If the kids are under 2 months, I think you will get a lot. If the kids are older, then the does may already be starting to dry up naturally and it may be hard to boost the production.