Drying does question

KimM · #1 08/20/06, 11:30 AM

I separated my does from their kids a week ago. How long before they start drying up so thier udders aren't so full? I'm keeping a close eye (and feel) on them to make sure they don't go into mastitis. How long does it usually take to dry up completely?

lijj · #2 08/20/06, 11:56 AM

I'm curious on this too. I was thinking I was going to milk mine some but I'm not sure how to go about milking it and drying off.

Patty0315 · #3 08/20/06, 01:35 PM

It depends on the goat. I usually cut down to once a day milking . When I want to dry them off I cut out there grain also.

lijj · #4 08/20/06, 04:57 PM

Do you milk in the morning or night? Yea, I heard of cutting off their grain, and also heard of cutting out the water for like, one or two days too. But I don't know if I want to cut off their water. It could possibly help drying off though.

How long does it take to dry off? And how do you know when they're done making milk? Does the udder just get smaller?

Milking Mom · #5 08/20/06, 06:37 PM

I would not cut out their water. It is too hot and I wouldn't think a good idea for goats to go without water. I go to once a day milking, in the morning, for a couple of weeks, then I go to every other day, then every 2 days then I just relieve them once a week for a couple of weeks. Then I infuse each half of the udder with a tube of Tomorrow and let them go. This is a more natural approach to drying them off. If you notice when a Doe starts weaning her baby she doesn't just quit nursing cold turkey, she does it gradually. Letting the baby nurse a little then she jumps away, gradually cutting the milk supply to the kid. So this is my method of gradually cutting the milk supply.

Dee · #6 08/20/06, 07:47 PM

I have Boers. I don't milk and they don't let me milk. I watch to make sure that the udders are not hot, hard or uncomfortable. If they are overfull, I will take out a few squirts to relieve the pressure only. And let me tell you, it is work to be able to do this. I usually have their heads locked with me straddling them facing their backends, bent over, reaching under the tail. They will usually dry up on their own with no help though. How long you asked... can't remember. I'm thinking a couple of weeks.

Separated them today as a matter of fact, babies crying in the background.

KimM · #7 08/20/06, 08:07 PM

This is pretty much what I've been doing. Mine sort of let me 'milk' them though, thankfully. I just wish they made goat bras so you could leave them all together during the process! I know they make them but the woman at Hoegger's (sp) said it wouldn't work for that....talked herself right out of a sale!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dee

I have Boers. I don't milk and they don't let me milk. I watch to make sure that the udders are not hot, hard or uncomfortable. If they are overfull, I will take out a few squirts to relieve the pressure only. And let me tell you, it is work to be able to do this. I usually have their heads locked with me straddling them facing their backends, bent over, reaching under the tail. They will usually dry up on their own with no help though. How long you asked... can't remember. I'm thinking a couple of weeks.

Separated them today as a matter of fact, babies crying in the background.