FF pouring milk before kidding

TennesseeMama23 · #1 03/27/10, 09:00 AM

Seems I have both ends of the spectrum here,

I have a ff yearling that will kid in the next day or two. Her udder is HUGE and every time she lays down she leaves a huge puddle of milk. She is very uncomfortable and has trouble walking, she has to spread her back legs so far apart. Her skin is stretched to the limit, I think.

Would you milk one like this out just enough to relieve the pressure? I never have before.

She is an Alpine/boer (alboer), but her mom (full boer) milks as well as any dairy goat, so she will be very milky despite her meat qualities.

Alice In TX/MO · #2 03/27/10, 09:23 AM

I'd milk out enough to make her comfortable and freeze it in 8 ounce packages for colostrum.

shiandpete.1 · #3 03/27/10, 10:11 AM

I would milk her out, she will continue making colostrum for her kids.

TennesseeMama23 · #4 03/27/10, 11:57 AM

Well, she just kidded. A beautiful single buckling (who is 1/4 alpine 1/4 boer, and 1/2 lamancha). His ears are elf ears and he is the most beautiful dark chocolate/black trim goat ever.

I'll milk her out this evening anyway.

motdaugrnds · #5 03/27/10, 12:04 PM

Is she of short stature like Boers?

I would definately keep her as comfortable as possible by milking her. The less you milk her, the more she will tend to dry up. If you want the milk & take it all, you will need to milk her at least twice a day.

TennesseeMama23 · #6 03/27/10, 02:29 PM

Yep she is shorter and meaty. Here is the little buckling. FF pouring milk before kidding - Goats

Here's mom: this is last year and old pic, just to give you an idea what she looks like. FF pouring milk before kidding - Goats

TennesseeMama23 · #7 03/27/10, 02:31 PM

I milked her out after the baby got finished. I am kinda surprised at his coloring.

farmmom · #8 03/27/10, 03:21 PM

He's beautiful!! What a little cutie. Congrats!