Possibly pregnant does - should I dry off? How?

cjb · #1 07/08/08, 12:48 AM

I bred extremely late this year (started March 25th). For four weeks, I had a Nigerian Dwarf buck running with my 5 does (1 ND and 4 standard does). Unfortunately, I had to go out of town for 2.5 of those weeks so wasn't able to observe to see who was bred and when.

Of the five, I'm only milking two does right now. I am positive that one is pregnant as she has thickened and just looks the part. The other has a large body and just doesn't show until the end so I'm not 100% sure that she is pregnant. Since I left them with a buck starting on March 24th, they could be about 8 weeks from their due dates if they got pregnant right away.

Would you just dry them both out in case they are pregnant? They're giving milk just fine and are in great condition. Would you dry them both out and just breed back if there are no babies?

I have not dried out a goat doe yet. Do you have to dry teat treat them like cattle? What's the process?

Funny, I figured that my 1 ND would get pregnant (and she looks it) but wasn't sure if he could get the job done with the larger 4 does. It sure looks like at least 2 of the 4 are pregnant. Where there's a will...

Thanks in advance
Cliff

mpillow · #2 07/08/08, 08:37 AM

You can milk thru if you can get colostrum. I'm in the same boat but have 2 FF due in the next month before this gal that kidded Mar.15 and apparently re-bred 2 weeks later. Here's my post

Milking doe thru suprise pregnancy ??'s

cjb · #3 07/08/08, 01:36 PM

Oh ok, thanks.

So, I assume that when she starts producing colostrum, I'll be able to see the difference? How much in advance do they change over to producing colostrum?

I should know this but honestly, these are the first does that I've actually milked for any length of time so haven't run into the end of a pregnancy while still in milk.

I'll start a separate thread when they're born on raising babies in heat - ie, Cocci prevention etc.

Vicki McGaugh TX Nubians · #4 07/08/08, 01:54 PM

I would blood test the one to make sure she is indeed bred, $7 plus shipping biotracking pretty sure it's just .com we have the info up on our site.

No sense drying off unbred does. You also, if you dry them off and they are bred will still continue with some grain, maybe half what they are used to, if you dry them and they are unbred no grain.

If you do dry just stop letting them have milkstand trips. Usually this break in routine and the less calories is enough to stop a very bred doe from milking. Twice a day when you normally milk go out into their pen and feel of the udder. Take the flat of your hand inbetween the teats (floor of udder) and press up, is it loose? Than do nothing. Is it too tight? Than clip her to the fence...I put eyebolts around my barn inside to do this on, and simply ease out a cup or so a side. You are not milking, you are just easing out some milk. The udder must remain full to dry a doe up, the pressure signals the brain not to make more milk. Do not clean teats, do not put them on the milkstand, you do not want to signal the milk let down. Do however carry your teat dip with you to dip afterward.

At no time should she be spraying milk, this is how does get mastitis during the dry period. Soon you will notice you haven't had to ease milk for several days. I then put them on the milkstand and milk them out, teat dip and leave them alone, if they have had a problem ever with mastitis I will also dry cow infuse them at this time. Vicki

hoofinitnorth · #5 07/08/08, 03:20 PM

On dates, watch to see if anyone comes into heat again. Write down that date and then write down the date 21 days prior (if they were with the buck that long). Those are your most likely two possible conception dates and will probably get you close to estimating kidding at 145 days, provided they took on one of those heats.

mpillow · #6 07/08/08, 03:27 PM

If you continue milking thru kidding she wont get colostrum, they have to go dry for a good month or two prior to kidding for colostrum to develop, I believe. I'm going to steal colostrum from my 2 does due B4 the one my brother has- kids -and bottlefeed them (if they are girls, males I'm not messing around with.)