Goat milking question

[stilwellchick]

I have always heard that after a doe kids she will give milk for 10 months. Now I have read an article that they can be milked for 22 months without being bred. How long has anyone milked a doe?

 

[hazelton farms]

I read something the other day about a goat that was milked for 10 years and had never even kidded, so I guess it can vary.
From what I can tell, most people will breed their goat once a year, dry her off for 2 months before birthing again. So your average of 10 months would be correct in everything I've read and heard. I personally will manage it that way with my goats. I got them from a dairy goat breeder/shower and that's how she manages it. She breeds her goats in the fall and let's them dry off for that two months before they birth and milks them the rest of the year.

Stacy

 

[hazelton farms]

Oh OH... I also read about someone's BUCK coming into milk!! How do you like that?! LOL!!!!

Stacy

 

[Chatychick]

I agree with Hazelton on that, I have heard and known some that do go longer but the doe needs a rest and her health has to be considered also. I give mine a break especially if I rebred them and I give them longer than 2 mths but I'm not a dairy and dairies do it differently. I watch the weight my girl has on her and if it starts to drop I slow down or either dry her off and let her have a much needed rest. Also larger dairy goats wont put on weight while milking and looks really thin almost boney and that is because she is putting it all into her milk. This is why I dont milk as long. If I see I dont need the extra milk I freeze it.
Bucks that come into milk isnt that odd and its basically hormonal and they need to be treated for it and dried off quickly before mastitis can set in. Some breeders really want a buck that does this but not me...

 

[ibpboo]

Quote:
trippy, didn't know that, don't know a lot about goats, they are cool though, had one as kid couple times. Gee Gee and then Gee Gee2.

 

[coffeemama]

Well I had milk for longer than 10 months, so I'm sure a goat could too

 

[Homegroanacres]

Quote:
Milk production in any mammal drops as the months pass, with quality
grain (+ amount) along with top quality, hay you can prolong the milk
cycle.

However unless you have serval animals milking you will end up with
a big hole in time with out milk as you get your milker back in shape
to breed and then wait throuh gestation.

Nigerians are the only goat I know of that has a 26 day cycle to be
bred. Which means you can have a steady milk suppy 365 days a
year. If you are into have kids you can get two kiddings a year,
its a bit hard on the doe but it can be done.

 

[stilwellchick]

I have read the same article about a 10 year old goat that never kidded. There is a lady with that doe I think that has written a book on The Natural Care of goats. She does a lot with minerals. She sayes that kidding is harder on the doe than a prolonged lactation period with continuous milking. As far as the whole buck milk thing, it just seems too odd to deal with! Thanks everybody for the intelligent input.