Doe Giving Less And Less Milk....

FoxFire_Ga79 · #1 03/27/09, 09:55 AM

Hey all. Just thought I'd see if someone could help me trouble shooting with this.
I bought a doe a few weeks ago, a Nubian already in milk. The previous owners told me she gave about a half gallon a day.
But I've only been getting a quart a day. We thought maybe it would take her some time to get settled in, but now, the past 3 milkings she's been giving just under a half quart each time for just less than a quart a day. She seems to be losing instead of gaining. And I wait until the foam settles before I try to eyeball measure it. I don't have a scale for that right now so I can't tell in pounds how much I'm getting.
She has some browse in her lot, she gets Bermuda hay at feedings and alfalfa pellets twice a day during her milkings. She's with an Alpine doe, a mixed something or other buckling, and a quarter horse mare so nobody will be lonely. They all seem to get along well.
She's an easy milker, walking on the leash and standing still on the porch without having to be tied up, so it doesn't appear she's under a lot of stress. I mean, nothing that stands out as obvious to me.
I don't know exactly how long ago she kidded but I'm thinking less than 3 months.
That all being said, I'm very new to milking. I already knew how to do it from a mechanical sense. A friend asked me if I was "bumping" her when I milked and I wasn't, but I am now. And as she gets low I massage her udder to help bring out a few more squirts. Is there any way to get her supply built back up or is the best I can hope for would be to maintain what she's giving now?
I'd really like to get that half gallon a day I was told, if possible.
Thanks everybody!

Alice In TX/MO · #2 03/27/09, 10:18 AM

Congratulations on entering the world of goats and goal milking. It's strangely addictive.

Here are some thoughts based on two years of experience and lots of mistakes. Others with more experience will surely add other info.

You have some goat psychology things working against you...

1. You moved her from her home. Goats do NOT like change, and that's a huge change/stress. Her milk supply will drop off this lactation, just from the move.
2. You moved her from her friends/herd. She's lonely for them. She is having to establish her place in the pecking order now. Constant stress.
3. Her milking routine and surroundings are different. That is a stress to goats.

Other factors:
1. If you are feeding differently from her previous owners, that's going to reduce supply. Did they give you some of their feed so that you could gradually transition her to a new diet? Even changing brands of alfalfa pellets could cause stress.
2. Half a gallon per day is not a great level of production to start with.

You can try milking three times a day for at least a week, being sure to have the same routine each time. This sometimes helps.

If she's used to being on a milk stand, I'd build one today. You can put one together in about three hours. Plans: http://fiascofarm.com/goats/milkstand.html

You need to find out for sure when she kidded. If you don't know where she is in the lactation cycle, you are missing a very important piece of information. She may be at the end!

DairyGoatSlave · #3 03/27/09, 10:50 AM

i also didnt know if you are feeding grain but that seems to help with production, and minerals, Congrats on entering the goat world!!!!

jadedhkr · #4 03/27/09, 11:02 AM

Not an expert either, but I've had a drop in production from new does in the past, so from my experience, I would try adding grain to her diet and milk her more often to try and increase her supply. Just stick to a good routine and give her some time to acclimate.

Freeholder · #5 03/27/09, 11:10 AM

All good advice. For those who may be reading this who are considering getting goats, this is one reason why it's good to start with either a young doe who isn't in milk, or a bred doe, who will have time to get over the stress of moving before she kids.

Kathleen

FoxFire_Ga79 · #6 03/27/09, 11:58 AM

Ok, I'll get some goat grain this weekend. Thanks! The previous owners had given me some of her grain but of course in all the excitement of a million other things happening all at once here I forgot to gradually ween her over. I still have it, but would it do any good to go back and use it now? Or maybe just move forward and ween her with the new grain I get her this weekend?
I knew a half gallon a day was less than typical and I'm sure I over paid for her but for some reason I had that little gut feeling telling me to go ahead and get her. She's at least a registered purebred, and as far as I can see, producing less milk than "normal" is her only flaw. I couldn't have asked for a better beginner's goat as far as temperament.
Thanks for all the advice. I'm sure you'll be hearing plenty more questions from me before it's overwith!

steff bugielski · #7 03/27/09, 02:17 PM

Just out of curiosity how much grain are you feeding?

southerngurl · #8 03/27/09, 02:24 PM

Foxfire, but sure to start the grain very gradually, over a couple of weeks!

She may also not be getting enough alfalfa, give her 3 lbs per day.

You are just not likely to see good production out of her until she freshens again at your place.

prairiedog · #9 03/27/09, 02:37 PM

Free choice alfala pellets all day with plenty of hay and fresh water. Grain on the milkstand. Can go with a goat pellet or whole grains , which is what I like. We feed a mix of whole ots,barley and Boss. With minerals available 24/7

Madfarmer · #10 03/27/09, 02:37 PM

How old is the buckling she's with? If he's more than about three months, she could end up getting bred, and you might not know it.

Madfarmer

FoxFire_Ga79 · #11 03/27/09, 07:31 PM

Hey all.
The buckling is no more than 3 months, but the gentleman I got him from had somewhat a big herd and didn't know for sure. His horns are about 1/2 inch if that means anything to anyone.
I called Lassie's previous owner and she says Lassie's kid is about 6 weeks. But she recommended worming Lassie, and says they're treating 2 of their does for possible coccidia. I just bought a few little chicks myself so I guess I know what I'll be treating her for....
She said the dose for Di-Methox for Lassie would be 3 ml 2x daily at the 12.5% solution but I can't find that, I can only find 40 ml, for cattle, and it's IM only. Now, I'm not afraid to give an injection but I'm not too confident in trying to hit a vein. Any suggestions? What do you guys treat with?
SouthernGurl, I know, things probably just won't be back to normal until her next freshening.

Thanks for the help!

farmmom · #12 03/27/09, 07:39 PM

I was having that trouble and added a yeast supplement to they're diet. I now have 2 giving me a gallon/day and another giving about half that. The increase happened very quickly - within about 48 hours.

Alice In TX/MO · #13 03/27/09, 07:53 PM

I use Corrid. Here's a link to the page that has the dosages on it. It's given orally.

http://dairygoatinfo.com/index.php/topic,65.0.html

Goat Servant · #14 03/27/09, 08:02 PM

Foxfire if her poop is normal you probably dont need to worry about cocci. On the other hand if you want to use the DiMethox get the doses from the former owner if he's near enough & offer him a few dollars. I've heard that cocci smells really horrible.
I got mine from the vet to have on hand. Was maybe 10 or $12 for a pint but it is done orally not injected.
The stuff I got from my vet was called Sulfadimethoxine (12.5%) it might be the same general stuff but someone else would know for sure.

But it sounds like you are doing pretty good, keep it up!

Chaty · #15 03/27/09, 08:41 PM

Dimethox is what I use and its only used injected for cattle and with goats its given orally. I use the DiMethox40 and its great. I would also worm her as the stress could be giving her problems you cant see. I just got a new doe in milk and she has increase alot since worming and a better feed program and she is getting milked 2x a day...She did come with a friend. That helps also...

XCricketX · #16 03/27/09, 08:58 PM

Don't be discouraged about her milk production! When I first got into goats... I was told my doe was a gallon a day milker. When I got her home, she barely gave me 1/4th a gallon a day in 2 milkings. I was so heartbroken. The next year, I bred her to a really good buck... and she gave me 1 1/2 gallons a day!!!!!
Your doe may very well be a gallon a day milker or more... but is just going through transition. ^_^

Good luck and keep going! It gets better!!! ^_^

Madfarmer · #17 03/28/09, 01:38 PM

Coccidia is species specific. Your chickens won't give it to your goats, and vice versa. On the other hand, it is ubiquitous. So you need to treat for it appropriately, regardless of what the manure looks like.

Madfarmer

christie · #18 03/28/09, 02:00 PM

I would definitely give her dairy goat grain on the stand and minerals free choice. and at least 3 lbs of alfalfa. You'll get her up again!

Feral Nature · #19 03/28/09, 03:33 PM

FoxFire, your doe needs more or different feed. BUT you cannot make fast feed changes with a goat as they can become very ill.

It seems you are not feeding her a grain mix. Alfalfa is not a grain mix. Alfalfa is condense hay. It is full of calcium and good for making milk, growing bones and growing babies.

Your grain mix is carbs. Feed 1 lb. on the milkstand only with the morning milking and 1 lb with the evening milking. HOWEVER since you have not been feeding her grain, I would start her off on maybe 1/2 pound in the morning and 1/2 pound in the evening for a total of 1 lb of grain a day for a week. The go up to 1 lb each in the morning and evening. Then later, if she is not maintaining her weight, you can gradually increase. My grain mix is oats and corn chops. Other folks use other mixes.

Always provide plenty of alfalfa pellets, hay, loose goat minerals (or good loose horse or cow minerals. Just do not use a block or anything marked for sheep).

Clean water, goats are picky.

And stick to an exact milking routine. Lead her the same way, sit on the same side, only the same people watching each day, everything the same....they know.

DairyGoatSlave · #20 03/28/09, 03:53 PM

definatly start the grain slowly, learned my lesson on that one by having the back end of one of my does "exploed" after she got into the grain bucket...very messy, stinky and not pretty! i was sooo lucky she didnt bloat!