Dumb question....

froggirl · #1 05/15/06, 02:13 PM

If you don't milk a goat will it dry up until it's bred again or will it cause damage to it's udder? Told you it was a dumb one!
--f.g.

commomsense · #2 05/15/06, 02:24 PM

If you don't milk her she will dry up till shes bred again and has the kids. It shouldn't cause damage to the udder.

**mygoat** · #3 05/15/06, 02:27 PM

Watch the doe for mastitis as well... It is reccomended to dry up a doe that you milk her once a day (as opposed to twice a day) then once every other day, then twice a week, then once a week, then hardly at all... Or somethin like that. Gradually decreasing milk production is the key. Maybe serious milkers can help you.
Good luck!!

froggirl · #4 05/15/06, 02:30 PM

Thanks to you both....that's what I thought (since it made the most sense) but sometimes the things that make the most sense just don't work.

--f.g.

commomsense · #5 05/15/06, 02:30 PM

Mygoat is right. Don't stop miking her at once. Gradually work you way down till you don't milk her at all.

Wendy · #6 05/15/06, 07:37 PM

I always just stop milking & have never had a case of mastitis. The fullness of the udder is what triggers them to stop producing milk. So you can do it either way.

**mygoat** · #7 05/15/06, 08:19 PM

Just stopping milking doesnt' cause mastitis, but you should always check dry does for a couple months after for mastitis. I would do it the gradual way just because it is more comfortable for the doe. I don't think I will ever let a milking breed just 'dry up' but I wouldn't mind doing so with a meat breed. I have pygmies (teeny udders, lol) and last year I just let my doe dry up. She got mastitis, which I noticed a long time later that she had mastitis. It really is easier just to check them every other week or so for signs of mastitis after they're dry.

froggirl · #8 05/15/06, 10:08 PM

good info...thanks! We might be getting a very sweet 1 year old LaMancha and this is all new to us so I'm going to be asking a lot of dumb questions for awhile.

--f.g.

wooly1s · #9 05/16/06, 12:05 AM

Having been a milking mom myself, I definitely side with the gradual approach. Stopping abruptly is painful. Ask away...the only dumb question is the one you wished you had asked.