goat milking

17 years ago

Hello all,

I used to have a milk goat last year and didn't care how much milk she gave, this year I have a real milk goat, I need to have a certain amount every day. She went from 50oz per milking to now 25oz per milking. There has been no real changes in feed, or surroundings, other that I haven't been out there as much, due to me having to care for my in-laws. could this cause a goat to drop in milk production??

does anyone here know of a way to increase a milk goats production.

She freshened a month ago

she is 100% nubian

she is on 16% protien dairy feed

she gets lots of hay every day and some fresh grass four days a week.

I milk her twice a day

Any help would be appreciated, thanks

shelly

Comments (5)

oberhasli1
17 years ago
Does your goat still have babies on her? They eat a lot as they get older. Also if you have pulled them off of her she could be depressed. You could feed her shredded beet pulp that has been soaked in warm water. That will boost milk production. Start off slowly though, and give her a handful to start. I buy it at the feed store. I does come pelleted as well, but you have to soak it longer. It MUST be soaked first. You could try to add some sunflower seeds in the shell to her grain which might help. Is she eating all of her grain? I give a large scoop full (3 or 4 cups) at each milking. You could also try giving her warm water or putting some powered lemonade mix into warm water to get her to drink more so she will subsequently make more milk with more liquid intake.

It is odd that she has cut in half what she was milking. You could try milking three times a day to boost her production as well. The more you milk the more she should produce. Also, has the milk changed in texture or flavor? She could have mastitis. But, unless her udder is hot to touch and hard on either side, and the milk would be clumpy.
Does she have a temperature or does she act like she doesn't feel well? Maybe check her temp and make sure she isn't sick.

Good luck, let me know if she improves.

Bonnie
shellybabe
Original Author
17 years ago
We bought her three weeks ago or so, and she had freshened two weeks before that. We do not have her babies, and it was just last week when the production dropped. Her attitude changed, she was so mild mannered and for a couple of days she was down right mean, dumping her feed, trying to bite me etc. She is back to normal in teh attitude now, and this morning it was almost a quart of milk. Her milk tastes fine, no clumps or anything, her udder does feel warmer, but then it has been colder here, so to cold hands I guess it would. I will see about taking her temp.
I have beet pulp actually, I juice them. I will try that and the lemonade mix in the water as well.

Thanks so much
shelly
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oberhasli1
17 years ago
Shelly,

It sounds as if your new goat is a little stressed from the move and probably having her babies taken off of her before you bought her. Once she gets adjusted to her new home, she should increase her milk production. Does she have other goats to keep her company? Nubians can get quite the attitude going. Just make sure you don't put up with the grain dumping. I bolt my feed pan down onto the milk stand so no one tries it more than once. Grain is too expensive for them to do that often! I would try to spend as much time with your new goat, brushing her, giving treats, etc. so she adjusts to her new home quickly.

Good luck!
Bonnie
Macmex
17 years ago
We live in an area in which the predominant hay is Bermuda grass, and our main milker suddenly dropped in milk production. She was also listless. Upon investigation we discovered that she had what they call "milk fever," a calcium deficiency and magnesium imbalance. Our hay didn't provide enough of these things.

We treated it by getting a calcium/magnesium supplement, in a tube, from the feed store. It was meant for dairy cattle and we could use a tube for about 10 days to two weeks. We had to purchase the applicator for this big tube. But then we would just mix up a squirt of this with two tablespoons of yoghurt and a spoonful of probiotic. We'd apply this with a syringe, in her mouth. It REALLY helped. Milk production started back up and her appetite returned quickly.

Since that time we found a salt block that has these minerals and the goats are thriving. If it is possible that you have this problem I'd move quickly to get these minerals to your goat. Milk fever can be very dangerous. Can you call someone local, who also has goats, and perhaps more experience? They would probably know if this kind of thing happens in your local with the available feed

George
Tahlequah, OK

George
guineagarden
17 years ago
Powdered lemonade is the right direction to get the goat to drink more, but apple cider vinegar is a better choice.

Powdered lemonade is full of sugar -or worse yet, artificial sweeteners- and who knows what else. ACV is heath promoting, and goats love it! Probably cheaper too, though I go with the organic version so that is not cheaper. ; )

Good luck,
GG