Goat milkng practices

[francismilker]

I've always kept a milk cow and had pretty good success with share milking. Is this also acceptable with goats? I've got one fresh goat now that is at the end of her lactation. Her kids were removed before I bought her. I also have another couple of does with the boys right now. (One registered Alpine and one registered Nubian.)

I don't want to have to bottle feed the kids and would like to share milk with them. Does it work with goats?

Another question: Since goats make significantly less milk than my jerseys do, I'll need to milk a few to get the same quantity of needed milk. Is it kosher to bring them to the stanchion one at a time and milk all of them into the same bucket? I've been told to get the milk chilled asap in order to prevent the goaty taste. If I'm milking three or four I'll add a few minutes before it gets refrigerated.

Thanks for the help. I'm new to this but love the relatively quick time and lower feed input on the goat versus the cows. Not saying I'll give up the jerseys but made some goat milk icecream last night for the first time and fell in love with it! I still need that large ring of cream on top of my jersey's milk for making butter. I don't want to have to separate it mechanically so I think I'll just use the goat's milk for cooking and drinking.

[Alice In TX/MO]

I don't understand your question. What is share milking?

I milk three before heading to the house to strain and chill the milk.

[April]

I milk all three of mine into the same bucket before taking it in to filter and refrigerate also. The milk still tastes wonderful. I do imagine that it just depends on the goat(s).

I did also have one doe I share milked with. It worked just fine. I put her babies in a stall overnight and milked her in the morning only. I think I probably got less than if I milked her myself twice a day - a little less than half a gallon once a day through most of her lactation, tapering down to a little under a quart before I dried her up. I don't know how much the babies got, but they certainly didn't look like it hurt them any.

-April

[Alice In TX/MO]

OH! I was confused. I was thinking maybe 'milk shares' which is an entirely different thing!

Yes, just about everyone I know (that doesn't bottle feed) pens the kids at night, milks in the morning, lets the kids run with Mom during the day.

[francismilker]

Sharemilking is what I do with my cows/calves at home now. I milk in the morning, turn the calves out with them for the day, and then lock the calves up at night. It gives the calves about 16 hours a day with them and I still have more milk than I know what to do with. I think a calf or kid nursing is good for udder and teat health. I just hate to bottle feed if I can keep from it. Occasionally, my daughter has to bottle a lamb because we've not ever been able to get a lamb to foster an extra on. What about goats? Will they take on orphans?

[Alice In TX/MO]

It depends on the personality of the individual goat.