I just have to share because I am pretty darned pleased with my little girl. SilverAurora JC WhisperSweetly, a Nigerian Dwarf second freshener, milked 3.8# on test! That isn't anywhere near what I think she *can* do, and I KNOW we could have had over 4# if we had not tuckered out on the first milking, but overall it was a pleasant result.
This was Whisper's first test this year at 6 weeks fresh and I expect that once I wean the kids for good (probably in about 4 weeks), Whisper will likely blossom and show an udder even more closely resembling her mother (Faith) and her full aunt from the same kidding (Patience - who is a phenomenal milker in the SilverAurora herd, having tied twice, I think, for most milk ever in one day by an ND, last at 6.8#!!!!). Whisper has a lovely, solid udder that is sucked way up tight into the escutcheon and is more lateral than vertical. I especially like her foreudder (side view), and her teats are nicely sized too. After I get the first pound of milk out, she really softens up and becomes very simple to milk. Now if I could just get her to relax a bit more on the milk stand and let me have all that milk she's holding back for those babies! lol
Anyway, I am pleased with this little goat and if she continues this way, she will have her dairy star this year. I've been on DHI since last year but this will be my first full lactation with a goat on test. Since she didn't give me any doelings this year and is doing so well on the milk stand, I guess she will have to stick around at least another couple of years. Hehehehe...
I can't wait to see how my other two girls do this year too. SilverAurora SB WaitingForMe will also be a second-freshener and we're taking bets on how many babies will pop out of her sometime in the next week or so... I am thinking twins but this girl does seem to hide her babies. She lost her mucus plug last night but I think she still has a way to go. That pre-freshening udder edema is sure a tell-tale sign of impending birth! Last year I learned that Waiting has lovely, large orifices that make milking very quick and easy. I can't wait to see how fast we can empty her udder this year with the added volume we anticipate.
Sandy Hollow SS Butterscotch 3*D 2*M already has her dairy star but it is always interesting to see how a goat matures and develops her udder over each lactation. Her udder is so lovely and easy to milk, very soft and supple, and with a very strong let-down reflex. She would only be easier to milk if she had larger orifices, but by in large, she is quite a delight for us amateur hand milkers. She also has that sweet, willing attitude and really stands like a champ for me on the stand. That is a huge plus when you're fiddling around under the backside of a goat for your first few hundred milkings! LOL
So anyway, I just had to share my enthusiasm with the group. Thanks for indulging me.
Milk brag
