milk goat questions- breeds, seperators, milking

[InHisName]

Why do you have the breed you do? I talked to someone today who gets 2 gallons at peak from her Saanen goats. Is that the normal amount of milk to expect? (I have 2 LaManchas due March) Do you have a seperator, is it a worthwhile investment, and where do you get them? Saw on the Fiasco farm website about milking goats 1x day- is that ok? Thanks!
Teri

[HazyDay]

I talked to someone today who gets 2 gallons at peak from her Saanen goats. Is that the normal amount of milk to expect?

ummm, not sure about the Saanen I would like to up that by 2 more gallons, my Nubian doe milks 2 gallons at her peak. But she has alot of show and milking lines.

I have 2 LaManchas due March

I would say if these La Manchas are just normal does,(not from very heavy milking lines.) 2 gallons each would be good for them. But they can go alot more. But the just of milk in from bloodlines, but lets not forget feeding takes a HUGE part in it also.

Do you have a seperator, is it a worthwhile investment, and where do you get them?

No. I would like one, but with my milk I can get 1/4 cups off each litler of my Nubian milk. I have seen them at sale barns and farm sales. even know some one who got theirs from person who used it as a flower pot for years! And it still works!

Saw on the Fiasco farm website about milking goats 1x day- is that ok?

Yes and No.

IF you leave the kids on them, you separte them during the night and milk them out in the AM and then let the kids suck all day.
From a bottle raiser I say it will break down the udder over time. But thats only if you feel like not milking her one day.
If you plan to show, don't take the chance and bottle feed. They are now making feeders that all you do is load them up with milk once aday and they do all the feedings.

Why do you have the breed you do?

I like them! Their ears are so cute and who couldn't love a new born Nubian??? Plus with all the work with bloodlines and milk lines you can;t go wrong! Just make sure they have the bloodlines! I also have Boers as we just liked their look and of course we want to sell some meat goats. I have 1 Alpine as I want to have a very small of HEAVY MILKING Alpines and killers in the show ring!

Good luck! Have fun! Don't give up! and READ READ READ!! (I like all the "Storey's guides!")

[AnnaS]

2 gallons- 16.4 lbs- is what few National Breedleaders can make. Only four of the 2006 Lamancha National Top Ten had a test at 16.4 lbs or above. A doe that can hit 16.4 lbs has outstanding genetics and top-notch feed and management to support that level of milk. 2 gallons is the best of the best, the Olympic gold medalists of the goat world.

Normal Lamanchas on official DHIA test average 7 lbs- 3 and 1/2 quarts- a day. Those are for does around three years old. So a peak of 10-11 lbs is a good average doe. http://adga.org/DHIR/06breed_lactation_averages.htm

I don't know where this "2 gallon" thing comes from. I have heard it over and over for the last four months. It's possible that there are unrecognized 16.4 lb milkers out there. But I think a lot of these are wishful thinking, a really late milking mentally doubled to make a untrue number, or, as an Amish dairyman said to me Monday, "Five pounds of milk and four inches of foam."

[AnnaS]

Oh, and as to why I have the breed I do... I have Toggenburgs. My great-grandparents had Toggenburgs. I had a picture of my 3-year-old grandfather milking one of the Togg does in my bedroom as a kid. I didn't know what breed of goat it was then.
So I moved to the country and had to get all kinds of livestock. I went to look at some goats the country extension agent's daughter was selling.

They looked just like my great-grandparents' goat!

Had to have them!

That's my excuse.

[Freeholder]

The highest milking goat I've ever had peaked at about fourteen pounds. (And she was part Boer!) I've got some good milk genetics in my buck (Oberhasli), so we'll see how his daughters turn out over the next few years.

I have Oberhasli's partly because I think they are beautiful, and partly because I like their quiet personality.

Kathleen

[goatsareus]

Originally Posted by InHisName

Why do you have the breed you do? I talked to someone today who gets 2 gallons at peak from her Saanen goats. Is that the normal amount of milk to expect? (I have 2 LaManchas due March) Do you have a seperator, is it a worthwhile investment, and where do you get them? Saw on the Fiasco farm website about milking goats 1x day- is that ok? Thanks!
Teri

I live in a rural area and went with the breeds that were available locally. My does are cross breeds, but I get purebred nubians for bucks.

I expect more than a gallon of milk per day at peak production.

I once had a seperator, used it once and gave it away. At the time I was living without hot running water and cleaning the cones was not worth the trouble under the circumstances. I have never lusted after one again.

I milk once a day, every morning. The kids get the milk during the day.

[Tracy in Idaho]

Originally Posted by InHisName

Why do you have the breed you do? I talked to someone today who gets 2 gallons at peak from her Saanen goats. Is that the normal amount of milk to expect? (I have 2 LaManchas due March) Do you have a seperator, is it a worthwhile investment, and where do you get them? Saw on the Fiasco farm website about milking goats 1x day- is that ok? Thanks!
Teri

I have Alpines, because well... I like them best, lol. Yes, I do have goats that milk 2 or more gallons a day. My top doe milked over 20 pounds on several of her tests this year. She is already at #4260 at 234 days in milk. Her daughter is at #3110 pounds at 259 days.

Now do you expect 2 gallons a day from most goats? Nope. Heck even I have a doe that now that I look back on her record -- the best she has ever done is just #9.4. Which is really just a bit above what an average goat does -- about a gallon a day. A gallon a day is a decent milker.

I do have a separator, but I never use the thing....it's in a box somewhere???

Of course you can milk a goat once a day -- BUT you definitely aren't going to get 2 gallons a day out of a goat by doing that either! It really comes down to what you want to do -- goats are very adaptive.

Tracy