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Milking Question

3K views 4 replies 4 participants last post by  Victoria99 
#1 ·
I've been a goat owner for years but I am just now considering milking. I've been doing a lot of research on removing the kids overnight after a certain age, milking mom in the morning and then returning her kids for the rest of the day. The question I have is when you milk, do you empty her fully or do you leave some for the babies since I am sure they will try to nurse as soon as they get back to her?
I'm excited to be getting some milk for our family but I am concerned about depriving the kids. Thanks for your help.
 
#2 ·
Boy, this forum isn't as active as it once was... you'd have ten to twenty suggestions by now! Anyway Hugginpup, I'd like to hear an answer to your question as well. I've made up my mind to lighten the load so to speak since we're breeding six does this Fall and when it comes to bottle feedings, I'm getting too old to keep playing that theme.
I also noticed substantially better growth resulting from the practice!
 
#4 ·
Go ahead & milk the does out completely. Somehow there always seems to be enough for the kids. Don't know if mama holds some back, or if the constant nursing just brings in more milk, but no need to save any for the kids. The doe should be milked out completely.
I always leave the kids with the mama around the clock until they bond well. With some does that is almost instant. With other does I have to put them into a kidding pen together for several days.
 
#5 ·
It depends on the kids. If I have ones that are doing real well, growing, eating and such about 2 weeks old should be enough time. But if they are slow or several small ones, I would wait a month or more. Lock them up at night, milk in the morning until she is completely empty. Don't worry about the baby(ies) mama does hold back extra just for them. And you get all you can in the one milking a day.

Don't worry about the babies, they are pigs and will take care of themselves (as far as getting enough milk) just fine. I worry about the mama more. I don't want her getting so stressed out that it messes with the milk supply or getting an infection. With some of my girls I can't take the babies away, so I just milk them 2xs a day while the kids are with her. I will also milk 2xs a day if they are just producing way more milk than the kids can drain during the day. I have 2 like that. I would rather milk twice than have their production go down. Once it's down, it's really hard to get it back up.
 
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