Debating cutting back to once a day

[AshleyB]

We have two does in milk, and are getting about 1.25 gallons per day. I make chevre about once a week, and yogurt, and we drink the rest. It seems though that we always end up with surplus, and I end up giving about 1-1.5 gallons to the chickens per week. I am 32 weeks pregnant, and my husband has suggested we cut back. I am getting tired, and it is getting harder, and we always have extra milk as it is. I did this in the past though, and it seemed as though the milk production dropped by more than half. I want to have enough milk to be able to make extra stuff when I want to, but I don't do that every day. I can't make a decision, can someone give me some clarity?

[chamoisee]

Unless your hubby milks them, I would dry them off before you have your baby, unless there is the possibility that you will need the milk for the baby or yourself.

If he does milk them, then can you give excess milk to another homesteader with pigs or dogs? Or you can make soap, but soap really doesn't use a lot of milk. I have been known to feed milk back to the doe who gave it, just to keep the flesh on her because she was too thin and we had enough milk already.

[mary,tx]

Do you have space that you could freeze some of the extra for later? I understand getting tired toward the end of pregnancy. Of course when you cut back to once a day, the does will begin to dry off. At least that is my experience. Any chance DH could milk them once a day, and you do it the other time? If not, there's always later for having milk.

[suzyhomemaker09]

Perhaps let one dry off and keep the other milking twice a day...
It is difficult work for a pregnant woman but it's been my experience that milking 1 time a day is not a good thing..it drops production so much. They are a supply and demand creature.

[AshleyB]

Thank you for the confirmation that once a day will drop the production really low. Drying them off is not an option because I have four other younguns who need the milk, and I don't want to have them go without for so long. Currently, my hubby milks in the morning and I milk in the evening, but for 1-2 weeks after I have the baby he will have to milk both times. I hate to ask that of him, as the goats are really supposed to be my dominion, and he already does so much. Drying off one of them may be the best bet though, it will decrease the work load by half, and the milk by 1/3.

[farm mom]

I dropped my girls (La Mancha and Nubian/Saanen cross) last year about four months after freshening to once a day. They both were milking around a gallon a day at two times a day. After dropping to once a day they gave around half a gallon a day for the next 6 months until I dried them up for kidding this spring. So, for me and my goats it worked wonderfully.

[Lada]

I milked once a day, but my gal was nursing her babies, so they were taking care of the other milking. Last year we tried going to once a day and it was just not worth it. The amount we were getting dropped by like 75%.

Are any of your other kids old enough to take care of one milking a day? My dd did it last year when I was out with a hand injury. She was nine at the time and did an o.k. job. Not super, but it got done.

[AshleyB]

No, my oldest is only six. We are teaching him, but he still is another year or two away from doing it himself.

I think the hardest part for me is getting my FF to the milk stand. I have to hold onto her color and "escort" her because otherwise she won't go up on her own. She takes a very long time to catch if she gets loose too. She is getting better at walking calmly, but she does still pull, and it gives me a pretty painful cramp when she does. I've talked about it with my midwife though, and I get the same cramp doing other things throughout my day, so she feels like it is fine. It's just, well, a pain. I only have eight more weeks though, and then I'll just be busy.

[deafgoatlady]

Oh i understand how you feel. I did milk my goats twice a day until I had my baby and kept going milking the goats. It wasnt that bad for me because it was my 3rd child.. But I know the feeling being tired.. It is okay to ask your husband to help you. I do ask my husband to help me if it needed to be done. I wouldnt milk once a day becuz it does reduce a lot of milk.. Good Luck with the baby coming on the way..

[christie]

How about cutting 1 once a day, and see how her production does.
I milked mine 1 a day and got about 1 qt. If you have 2 doing that 1/2 gallon, that may be just what you need.
Good luck on the baby..
I am 23 weeks on #3!! and milking 1 doe!!! It is a lot of work. But I rather milk then muck the stalls, I always try to pawn that on hubby then the milking!

[Jillis]

I milk once a day. I get plenty of milk. My one milker gives me over a half a gallon every day. The others are Nigie crosses. I freeze the surplus for the winter---after I make cheese and we always have plenty to drink.

Once a day milking is good for animals becuase you are not draining so much from them physically. Commercial dairys couldn't do it feasably but therre is no reason for a home milker to hesitate to drop to once a day milking. I'm glad I did.

Blessings, Jill

[LittleRedHen]

I just wanted to say congrats on your impending baby! I am a mom of 6! my oldest is 11 and youngest is 2. Thankfully my 11 yr old and 8 yr old are good milkers and can help out! but my 6 yr old .. well.. he could never take over milking! good luck on making the best decision for you and your family!