which would you keep?

[Lauri]

I presently have the following:

1- 3 yo Nubian due Mid May, not the loveliest of personalities, queen doe, but fine around me. I bought her last year after she had been in milk about 4 1/2 months. She gave me about a quart, one milking per day, till I dryed her up.

1 -2 yo Nubian, kidded in Feb. presently the only one I am milking. (give 1/2 gal 1 milking per day) Showing a slight limp. I think from an old hoof injury.
personality wise, she is pleasant enough. I have owned her since mid Feb. I think the above Nubian hates her.

1- 3 yo LaMancha, sweet. I bought her in milk several months after kidding. She was giving me a little more than a quart, one milking per day. She did not catch this past fall.

1 - 2 week old Alpine (cross??) doeling I have mentioned in the "I feel like crud" post.


So why have I given all this information? I need help deciding which doe/s to keep.

There is only my husband and I, DH is not much a milk drinker.

The 1/2 gal I am presently getting is enough to drink, make yogurt, make a couple of batches of carmel and several batches of soap. I am putting a fair amount in the freezer.

I don't need 4 does. I don't need to be feeding 4 does.

the 3 oldest ones are cae, cl and johnes free. the doeling is yet to be tested. (but of course you know I am now very partial to her!!)

Which one/s would you keep?

[Alice In TX/MO]

Keep the one you're milking and the Alpine!

[CaliannG]

The Lamancha and the doeling. Reasons:

You mentioned she is sweet. That makes her the best temperament of the adults.

She may not have caught last fall, but she doesn't HAVE to stay dry...you could do a lute/CIDR on her and have milk in 6-7 months.

She was giving you the middle-of-the road amount.

The doeling: Because she is NOT milking yet, so you won't be overwhelmed, and she will keep you from impulse buys on bottle babies. (Not that you are subject to them, but it is always better to have that bit of safegaurd.)

[Oat Bucket Farm]

Keep the doe you are milking, LaMancha and the doeling. The reasons are, you mentioned that the Mancha was sweet, which means you like her.The doeling you are partial to.The doe you are milking now will keep you in milk until your Mancha and doeling are in milk. Then you can sell the doe you are milking if you are so inclined or you can sell one of the others in milk.

[rootsandwings]

I agree with Alice - you will have plenty of milk and a loved pet to keep her company. You can always breed the Alpine later. You don't need bad attitudes and breeding difficulties.

[Backfourty,MI.]

Originally Posted by Oat Bucket Farm

Keep the doe you are milking, LaMancha and the doeling. The reasons are, you mentioned that the Mancha was sweet, which means you like her.The doeling you are partial to.The doe you are milking now will keep you in milk until your Mancha and doeling are in milk. Then you can sell the doe you are milking if you are so inclined or you can sell one of the others in milk.

Yep, I agree & sell the oldest nubian because she's mean to the others. You know though there is always going to be a herd queen so after she's gone most likely the other nubian will be queen. Doesn't mean she is going to be mean though.
I still say sell the oldest meaner doe & keep the rest.

[LittleRedHen]

i agree with alice

[CaliannG]

Hmmmm, I did mention selling both Nubians....but I was thinking you have as much frozen milk (since you mentioned freezing a lot) as I do....and the amount *I* have would EASILY last us 6 months.

Do you?

In my situation, with a chest freezer full of milk and nothing needing to drink it right now, I would sell my milker too. (And did in January) But if you NEED it, just get rid of the bossy, aggressive one for now until you have enough milk to get rid of the other and still make it through to when your Lamancha kids.

I'd get the Lamancha with a CIDR ASAP, get a buck lined up, and get ready to breed quickly. The faster she has a kid on the ground, the sooner you can cut down on mouths to feed.

[Lauri]

I do not have enough milk frozen, at this time. But will continue to freeze as the Nubian is providing more than I need at the moment.


what is CIDR?

[CaliannG]

It is an insert, suitable for goats and sheep, made by Pfizer Animal Health.

You pop it in the hoo and leave it alone. ( Idon't have the exact instructions in front of me, so cannot give exact days here.)

X days before you want to breed, you give a shot Lutalyse.
Y days before you wish to breed, you remove the CIDR.

Then, at Z determined time, you breed or A.I. The combination of factors causes the doe to both ovulate AND come into a standing heat within a known time period.