Ok, I gotta ask about milking

[shiandpete.1]

We have raised goats for many years but never milked them. This is our first year with a tried and true milk goat. Carla is a first freshener, has a great udder, easily milked and patience for my slow milking, that is getting faster. She is milking out about 6lbs of milk at 5 days freshened. My question is how do I know that I have milked enough from her, when she appears to be done after some gentle massaging and bumping her udder is still very round but not tight by any means. When we have been to shows and they milk the does out they are usually pretty flabby...is her nice round after milking udder normal or will it get flabbier as we milk her more and she is freshened again next year? I will have to post pics after this evenings milking.

I am really enjoying the milking, Carla looks back at me from the milk stand with such loving eyes, and it is so quiet makes my morning good!

[goatsareus]

Originally Posted by shiandpete.1

We have raised goats for many years but never milked them. This is our first year with a tried and true milk goat. Carla is a first freshener, has a great udder, easily milked and patience for my slow milking, that is getting faster. She is milking out about 6lbs of milk at 5 days freshened. My question is how do I know that I have milked enough from her, when she appears to be done after some gentle massaging and bumping her udder is still very round but not tight by any means. When we have been to shows and they milk the does out they are usually pretty flabby...is her nice round after milking udder normal or will it get flabbier as we milk her more and she is freshened again next year? I will have to post pics after this evenings milking.

I am really enjoying the milking, Carla looks back at me from the milk stand with such loving eyes, and it is so quiet makes my morning good!

That can be normal, depends on the goat. I have one that does that, she is saving some for her kids, and won't let me have it.

[farmmom]

My goats udders were still quite round for the first several days after freshening. There is some swelling in the udder as it starts making colostrum and milk (note how little colostrum there is and how big the udder is at kidding). As you milk, you may see this go down some, or like one of my does, the udder got larger around the firm area.

[Chaty]

Sounds like some edema and it should pass with time... as long as its not hot or uncomfortable she should do well.

[hoofinitnorth]

In addition to what others posted, some goats have more "meat" left in the udder. I have one that never looks empty, especially when she still has kids on. Even when edema is gone and she does let down after weaning, she always has a very round, firm udder.

[DQ]

more "empty udder" will probably be apparent as she gets older and the tissue stretches more. I don't think it sounds like edema at all. the firm part is the milk making part. after you have milked and massaged and milked and you can barely get any more out then that is it. the goats you have seen at shows are probably/may be very milky goats with super high production that are also left very full for quite some time stretching the tissue and skin that holds the milk. and then of course once its empty you just have a bunch of flabby skin. I can relate

[shiandpete.1]

Originally Posted by DQ

and then of course once its empty you just have a bunch of flabby skin. I can relate

I can relate too! LOL

I think it is just because she just freshened as farmmom stated. She is only five days into freshening. We are exclusively milking her and not letting babies nurse so I don"t think she is holding onto the milk for them because she really doesn't know who they are. It will be interesting to see how much she gives when she is at her peak.

Thanks for commenting I was wondering but I suppose she just has young udder not old saggy udder...