drying up doe a couple of ?s

luvzmybabz · #1 09/28/08, 10:57 AM

OK I have decided to dry off my doe, she is giving very little milk (maybe a quart a day) and is thinner then I would like for her to be, I just got this doe a couple of weeks ago. She was stacked out at her former home and caused and injury to her neck well I have gotten this on the mend but I think she could be in a little better shape before breeding her. A lot of people say to take away grain and alfalfa and her production will decrease. What could I give her in place to get her weight up? She is being milked twice a day and people say to go once a day for about 2 weeks? Is morning or evening better for once a day, I would perfer morning as she is usally nicer ( was supposed to be so gentle ) on the station in the mornings. I only have 1 tube of Tomorrow I could pick some up on Wednesday when I go into the city But I am still unsure You insert it on the very last day you will be milking, and do you have to do anything prior to her kidding so that the kids do not get this? her orifices do not seem big enough for the end of the tube. I hope this is maying sense I am beyond exhaustion and need sleep, but would like to start today if possible she was milked this morning.

QoTL · #2 09/28/08, 11:36 AM

I'm very new to goats... lol. When I bought a doe this summer, she was still nursing her baby. I attempted to milk her, but that was a no-go (she was supposed to be just a companion animal anyway, so no big deal). Not knowing any better, I just let her dry up on her own, didn't treat in any manner. She was fed hay/browse/a tiny bit of grain throughout (she also was way too thin when I got her home, which is why she had grain). She dried up just fine.

I'll be interested to hear what everyone else has to say!

Meghan

AnnaS · #3 09/29/08, 06:30 PM

You can keep her on the grain and alfalfa and still dry her off. Diet reduction is really only needed with does who are heavy or persistent milkers. At 2 lbs, this doe will likely dry off fast. I've never went to 1 a day milking for dry off. I just dry treat and quit.

I would pick up more Tomorrow. You would not want to use one tube on both teats as that can transfer skin surface bacteria into the teat. Milk her out, scrub the teat end well with the alcohol pad (they hate this). The tube end does fit in the orifice.

The antibiotic in Tomorrow is slowly absorbed into the udder and should be completely gone in 30 days.

luvzmybabz · #4 09/29/08, 07:47 PM

So how much of the tube do you put up there? The whole thing?

AnnaS · #5 09/30/08, 06:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by luvzmybabz

So how much of the tube do you put up there? The whole thing?

Yep, the whole tube, one tube per teat.

Shazza · #6 10/01/08, 06:38 AM

Why not just stop milking her? This is what I do when drying up a doe as you have described. I have never used anything that required inserting into teats. Imagine yourself when breast feeding...when you wanted to stop you just stopped...kept an eye on how they feel, not lumpy or very hot....the natural way.

suzyhomemaker09 · #7 10/01/08, 08:44 AM

*Nods*
Tomorrow is a treatment for mastitis...if your doe has a problem by all means use it..but it is not necessary for drying a doe off...just gradually decrease her milkings...go to once a day for a few then to every other for a few more..if she's only giving 1 qt a day you could have her dried off to a point where she could be completely left alone after 1 week.

copperpennykids · #8 10/01/08, 10:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by luvzmybabz

So how much of the tube do you put up there? The whole thing?

We (and the experienced goat breeders who told us what to do) use one tube for 1 goat - 1/2 tube per side. If you are worried about bacteria transfer, just wipe the end of the tube with rubbing alcohol before inserting in the second side. Just put the tube at the opening of the teat - just enough so that the Tomorrow doesn't squirt back on your hand. Do not try to stick the tube up her teat!

Then just slowly plunge the Tomorrow into the teat. That's it.

Many people do this routinely when they dry up their goats. Others do it on a case by case basis. If you have mastitis concerns/issues, it is a good idea.

Camille

luvzmybabz · #9 10/01/08, 01:34 PM

I am drying this doe off in hopes that she can put on some weight before breeding, and I DO NOT NEED anything else to go wrong so it is definately a rather spend the small $ now and have a chance of a better outcome. I am also very new to goats and would hate it if she had to suffer anymore ( other owners) due to my lack of knowledge. I took fecals to the vet (awesome vet was willing to teach me what I should be looking for in the slides) and will be starting their worming regimen the day after tomorrow. As well as vacinations. JUst to get her to the point of being able to outsource breeding. PS anyone with nubians what should a 3 year old doe in GOOD shpae weigh by ceonversion charts?