burst-statistics domain was triggered too early. This is usually an indicator for some code in the plugin or theme running too early. Translations should be loaded at the init action or later. Please see Debugging in WordPress for more information. (This message was added in version 6.7.0.) in /home3/themoew1/public_html/wp-includes/functions.php on line 6170I am not using an iodine teat dip but certainly have heard of people using it. I use “Fight Bac” spray, I believe it is linked in the blog post. It is used to prevent mastitis. I have never had an issue.
]]>Hi Jess! So, it all depends on if you decide to retain a baby or not. If you do, you will likely only be able to get one good milking in (morning) and at night you won’t get much as the baby has been able to nurse throughout the day unless the mother self weans. I milk morning and night, and the lactation length can greatly vary goat to goat. I have a friend who milked her ND for 2 years straight because she wouldn’t dry off. Most people will kid and continue to milk through being rebred and dry off a couple months before their next kidding. And yes, the only way to get milk from an animal is for them to have a baby!
]]>Hi Alex!
I’m so glad you found me and you enjoy! 🙂 Some of the questions you asked do vary depending on the particular goat/breed but generally speaking: a goat will produce milk for around 9 months or so because of human interaction. Around here kids are born typically early spring, and they are milked all the way through they are rebred in the fall and then they are “dried off” early winter so their bodies can focus on baby development. Their lactation cycle naturally increases as the kids are nursing and growing to supply their demand and then yes you essentially stimulate the production once the babies are weaned. But, some goats just are really consistent producers and if they aren’t rebred the same year they kidded, can produce for quite a long time. One of my friends has a ND goat that she milked for 2 years straight! But a lot of goats would just naturally dry off. So, it depends on the goat itself as well as if they are being bred back or not.
Audrey produced a quart of a milk a day. She is not the only goat I milked, just happened to be the only one in milk when I originally wrote that post. I had another doe that I started milking in June and she too produced a quart a day. This year Audrey and my Nubian Ruby are pregnant so I can expect a quart from Audrey and over a gallon a day from Ruby! I have three does (1 didn’t take this year), a buck, and a wether!
]]>Also, how much milk do you get per day? And why is Audrey the only goat that is milked? Are your other goats males?
Best,
Alex