Pygmy goats and milking

[kgby13]

I read somewhere a few months ago that Pygmy goats do not require milking. Is this accurate ? I’ve never had goats before and didn’t want to be tied down with a milking schedule.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

I read somewhere a few months ago that Pygmy goats do not require milking. Is this accurate ? I’ve never had goats before and didn’t want to be tied down with a milking schedule.

If you don't wish to milk the goat, simply either leave the kids on them or dry the goat up after kids are removed. They will only stay in milk if there is a demand being put on them by kids or milking. Any goat kept in milk will need milking (by you or nursing), regardless of breed

 

[RiverOtter]

Dairy breeds need to be milked. Happily, Pygmies are not a dairy breed.

Stay away from Nigerian Dwarfs or any breed with Mini, as they will be mini dairies. Stick with Pygmies, Fainters, Angoras and Boers. All those will have just enough milk to feed their kids and not a bit more.

Do NOT be tempted by any dairy breed doe, regardless how many online "experts" insist that if you just don't feed her or milk her she'll dry up. You're not defeating 9,000 years of selective breeding for high milk production with starvation and neglect. Just choose meat or fiber breed goats.

 

[cassie]

Look at it this way. Pygmies were originally bred as meat animals and Nigerians as dairy animals. People who breed pygmies leave the kids on them and don't milk them. Nigerians are another story entirely.

 

[lomine]

Are you breeding? The only reason you would have a doe producing milk is if she's had kids. (except for a very rare case of spontaneous lactation) If these are just going to be pets, then don't breed them. If the doe has had kids but you don't want to milk, then don't milk her. She's going to produce the milk that's demanded of her (within her genetic capabilities). If you are getting a doe in milk, that was being milked or had kids, it might take a bit of time to dry her off but it's not a big deal. You just reduce the demand on her over a couple weeks and she'll dry up.