How much milk

white eagle · #1 11/02/07, 02:59 AM

We was wondering what breed of goats produces the best goats milk an the most milk in one day between the Saanens and Alpines?

We was doing some research on the Saanens goats and Alpines. We found on one site that the Saanens goats are the best goat for milking. We did find some information on Alpines but it doesn't seem to have a lot of information like it did about the Saanens goats.

If any of you all have any websites about these types of goats please tell us.
We like to be able to read about the butterfat on these 2 breeds if possible.

Also we have never drank any Nubian goats milk is it better than the other 2 we just asked about?

Thanks

Marysgoats · #2 11/02/07, 06:08 AM

I'm no expert on this but, I also have ALPINEs,Saaneens,Boar,Nubin. My Alpine for better milkers and thats real close to 2 gallon a day. Saaneen is not far behind them. Milk taste real good too.

Trey · #3 11/02/07, 06:32 AM

As of a few years ago, I believe Saanens held the milking records. Theirs is the only milk I have ever drank and it is good, I think I have heard nubians have a higher butterfat. I easily can get a couple of gallons a day out of mine, without pouring a ton of feed into them, and they will mild through, my oldest milked for three years (stay in lactation without being bred). Now, the flip side, this year she had twins and I tried to dry her off, after weaning she had a bout of polio or a stroke, I still don't know, very hard to dry off, still actuall has milk in her udder and this was 3 months ago.

AnnaS · #4 11/02/07, 06:46 AM

Here is the official average based on DHIA records

http://adga.org/DHIR/06breed_lactation_averages.htm

Saanens averaged 224 lbs/year higher than Alpines- less than 2 cups a day difference. Components are pretty much the same.

I would look at the production records on an individual animal's pedigree. You can have a 1200 lb Saanen or a 2500 lb Alpine. The breed is no guarantee of production or taste.

Toggenburgs actually have the highest records. Most of the world records were made by Toggs and the current world record of 7,965 lbs is held by a Texas Togg.

prairiedog · #5 11/02/07, 08:06 AM

our Nubian gave two gallons a day last year

HazyDay · #6 11/02/07, 08:24 AM

It all goes with milk lines. If the doe doesn't have them she won't milk good. Some breeders will give up on milk and breed for a show doe, good but then you will have a barn full of goats that will never pay for themselves. Nubians tend to have a HIGH butter fat % and thats why alot of people like their milk for drinking/cheese/etc. We had a Saanen here before for 2 weeks when her owners were away and she was a good doe, but I hated her milk. It wasn't very good tasting. It had a water taste to it. I got a Nubian a few months later and was hooked!

Tracy in Idaho · #7 11/02/07, 12:06 PM

My Alpine doe Agatha just gave 30# in a day on her verification test ;-)
As a two year old, she milked #4660 pounds of milk at 4.4% butterfat.
Her 2 yr old daughter this year is slated for nearly #4500, and Agatha at over #5000.

Like many things, milking ability runs in family lines.

Tracy

Vicki McGaugh TX Nubians · #8 11/02/07, 12:35 PM

And is hugely affected by management. Hugh Tracy??! By the way that is 3 gallons plus 3/4ths of another gallon in one day! And not on barn tests.

Alex, when milking the above mentioned 2 gallon a day milkers, or Tracy's Alpines and cross gals, you sure had better have some good 'show' breeding behind that udder, or it will be dragging the ground by the time she is 3.

Give me my 8 to 10 pounds a day for 300 days, anyday!

Thanks to word of mouth via the internet, my milk customers want Nubian milk

Vicki

topside1 · #9 11/02/07, 12:41 PM

I must have some real junkie goats, with six in milk (Lamanchas & Nubians) the best we can do is a gallon or less per goat per day.....Maybe it's my radio station? I need to look for a Nubian/Holstein cross, bet that would help.

Vicki McGaugh TX Nubians · #10 11/02/07, 12:59 PM

John, the backbone of our dairy were our Lamancha and crosses of them, they milked everyday, no matter what, no decrease in the August heat on less grain, less noise, less fighting and less room and still less fighting. Vicki

dezeeuwgoats · #11 11/02/07, 01:14 PM

One thing to consider: goats are happier with a friend, so technically, figure two milkers. Then you can stagger breedings to have milk year around and you can also be realistic about production numbers. I don't believe two gallon milk goats are all that common.

I really doubt anyone would be willing to sell a three, or even a two gallon goat for a small amount of money. Vicki is right - you really want the conformation to be right on in order to support all the weight of such heavy milk production. So, finding a superior producer, with superior conformation would set you back quite a bit of $$, not to mention finding one that someone is willing to part with - I mean, we are talking about the crowning achievement of someone's breeding program. Probably YEARS of breeding. I know I wouldn't be interested in selling - I'd want as many offspring as possible from such an animal.

There are high numbers in all the different breeds. Bloodlines - milk records, and pedigrees full of ancestors with good milk records are going to give you more consistency than selecting a breed that is known for high production.

I have one of those holstein/nubian crosses, John - but she's not for sale! Oh - and I do prefer the way nubian milk tastes.

HazyDay · #12 11/02/07, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vicki McGaugh TX Nubians

Alex, when milking the above mentioned 2 gallon a day milkers, or Tracy's Alpines and cross gals, you sure had better have some good 'show' breeding behind that udder, or it will be dragging the ground by the time she is 3.

Vicki

No I said some breeders. I want both!! NOT ONLY 1

But their is one doe in my herd who is so good and makes great babies, but can`t milk if her life was deppending on it!

Vicki McGaugh TX Nubians · #13 11/02/07, 01:35 PM

But their is one doe in my herd who is so good and makes great babies, but can`t milk if her life was deppending on it!
.....................

Yep Alex and if someone tells you that this isn't normal alsoin their herd (or at least culled out of their herd) they are lieing to you

Vicki

HazyDay · #14 11/02/07, 01:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vicki McGaugh TX Nubians

But their is one doe in my herd who is so good and makes great babies, but can`t milk if her life was deppending on it!
.....................

Yep Alex and if someone tells you that this isn't normal alsoin their herd (or at least culled out of their herd) they are lieing to you

Vicki

Well she is on the culling block this spring. She at her high point was only milking 1/2 gallon per day. Thats SO SO SO bad to my other does who all peck at over 1-2 gallons per day!

Tracy in Idaho · #15 11/02/07, 03:34 PM

IMO, you really can't keep high producers that have cruddy udders -- it's just a disaster. You simply have to have strong attachments, strong medials, and snug fores.
Agatha's daughter has a much better udder than she does -- even Eric Jermain couldn't take away her E mammary ;-) Aggie is borderline TOO much milk though..... I never breed her to a buck I think is going to throw huge producers. Instead, I look for udder quality.
We are milk testing today as a matter of fact -- she milked #9.8 this morning. That is her strength -- she has such a will to milk that we don't have that steep lactation curve that so many milkers do. And yep, management (ie feed and parasite control) is huge.

BTW -- I had LaManchas at one time -- and they were the meanest goats I ever owned! Terrificly sweet to people -- EVIL to the other goats! I swear the Alpines breathed a huge sigh of relief when the last one went!

Yep, we all have animals that don't milk "up to par" I have one doe that I bought purely for her style. She only averages maybe 8# a day. That's okay, cause I didn't buy her for milk --- you have to know what your goals are.

Tracy

AnnaS · #16 11/02/07, 10:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by topside1

the best we can do is a gallon or less per goat per day.

A gallon a day (8.2 lbs) is a very good number. ADGA's Advanced Registry award requires 2 year olds & under to average 5 lbs a day. The commercial goat dairies around here make 4-5 lbs per goat per day.

Just to put Tracy's awesome doe Agatha in perspective- this is a doe that was #2 producing doe of ANY breed in the whole US in 2005. And, speaking of milk genetics, ADGA rates her as the 1# PTI Alpine doe in the history of the breed.

white eagle · #17 11/02/07, 11:28 PM

Thanks for everyones help. It sounds like this is going to be a hard decision on these two type of goats. I know of someone that has both breeds so I guess we going to have to make a trip one evening toward their place and do a milk taste test and then decide. Oh yea we will ask if they have been tested and etc.. I will also check the milk lines and the past breedings. I don't want no goat that doesn't provide much milk we want a goat that will provide milk for our family and other needs. If we do break down an get one milker at least the doe will not be alone because we have a Nubian Doe already alone with a Nubian buck. We are hopeing the Nubian Doe is already bred so later next year we can try her milk.