Going to once a day

christij · #1 05/12/08, 05:01 PM

I am over running in milk so I am wanting to move the ladies to 1 milking a day. I have done this with Cassie before but at the end of her cycle. These girls kidded in late March and depending on the doe they are giving 2-4 lbs a milking.
Do I follow the same procedure? No grain or extra rations in the afternoon and just milk in the morning???

Shazza · #2 05/12/08, 10:27 PM

Personally I wouldnt cut them down this early, they have only been kidded for 8 weeks?
They have just reached their peak quantity and will level off now....I would imagine there will be udder problems if you did one milking. Find a use for your milk...buy a piglet or two, sell some to neighbors, give your neighbors free milk.

IMO

PS..Just looked at your website, very nice...and I see you sell your milk but I didnt see a Pig...Sydney would love a piglet.

christij · #3 05/13/08, 04:41 AM

That was the original plan, to buy a pig or two, but since I went to work f/t at the school we cut back on some of our plans. I was actually hoping to avoid burnout since I'm the only one who does the milking. Right now it's leave work, rush home milk, rush to pick up DD and then back home to make dinner and have it on the table 6-6:30 and DH doesn't arrive home until after 6! Plus, when school lets out I don't want to be fighting with DD on getting her and everything out there past the LGD that needs to be trained! And DH is lobbying for once a day. SO I was hoping it would be an option. I think Cassie would benefit she looks rough.

Shazza · #4 05/13/08, 05:08 AM

Did you look at my website? If you really want something you find the time to do it....if you dont have time, but have a really good milker then something has to change, and thats up to you what you do....its your farm and your life....all people like me can do is answer or advise what we would do.

Good luck in your choices.

waygr00vy · #5 05/13/08, 06:35 AM

I have 3 nigies and one nubian doe I am milking right now. I started out milking twice a day but my evening schedule is just not very consistent and often I would get home pretty late. I went to once a day milking and everyone has been fine. I feed them grain in the morning when I am milking and they just get hay in the evening. If you switch, just keep a close eye on them and you may have to milk out just a bit in the evening at first to relieve some pressure. It is true, you don't want to ruin udders but getting burned out is no good either! I personally would try it and just keep a close eye on things and make sure your girls will take to the once a day....Good luck!

christij · #6 05/13/08, 07:34 AM

I didn't mean to sound whinny this morning - I was up earlier than normal b/c DH was leaving early then I got a call from the babysitter saying she wasn't going to be able to take kids today.............. so DD is home with me today so we will find out how it goes - although I would like to try without the possiblity of serve storms!

christij · #7 05/14/08, 08:52 PM

Shazza - imy hats off either way but do you work f/t on top of it all?

Sydney was so cute at milking yesterday - pretty goat - you hungry? We got through all the chores with just a few sprinkles!

Shazza · #8 05/14/08, 11:50 PM

LOL....me...work...I have been too busy raising 6 children for the last 20 or so years...my youngest is 7. So I can empathise with you trying to do the farm and work at the same time. I finally have time to myself during the day as they are all at school...

mommahen2four · #9 05/15/08, 08:03 AM

Christij - If you are going to cut back to once a day, do it like you would weaning your own baby...gradually. Milk is produced supply and demand, so the more you demand the more she'll produce. Take less and she'll produce less. Just do it slowly so it doesn't hurt her... Good luck!

Jubel · #10 05/15/08, 09:14 AM

When you change to once a day. Will you get half the milk you were getting before? That may be a "duh" question, but I had to ask.

christie · #11 05/15/08, 11:42 PM

What do you mean ruin the udders? How does that happen?

Shazza · #12 05/16/08, 08:33 AM

Well, you ruin an udder that is genetically designed to produce milk...by stopping that udder from its full potential you ultimately change the udder. An udder may go from a capacity of 5-6 litres a day to 2-3 litres a day. And to answer mammahen2four yes you will get less than half by going to once a day.

JIMO

christie · #13 05/16/08, 11:36 AM

so ruin meaning taking her milking potential from her! Her udder only produces what is taken from it.
If I have a goat that was bread 5-6 liters a day, But I only ever milk her 1x a day, so she only now ever gets to produce 3 liters, do you meen its a shame that she never was able to go all the way, or is there more to it.