Prepping for One Day Milk Test

[Wags]

The Oregon State Fair is going to be doing a One Day Milk test in Sept and I am considering entering a mother/daughter pair of Nigerians.

#1 = Rita is a FF that will be 142 days in milk at the time of the test (kidded April 15th with triplets)
#2 = Millie is a 3rd freshener who will be 73 days in milk at the time of the test (kidded June 23rd with quads)

Both does peaked at a little over 4lbs and the FF is still giving a little over 2lbs a day at present and her dam is giving about 3.5lbs at present.

Right now they are getting browse in the pasture and alfalfa pellets on the milk stand. I had their milk tested yesterday and both had butterfat percentages over 6%. I have started giving them alfalfa pellets off the milk stand now too, in an effort to increase or maintain their current milk levels as much as possible.

I'm looking for advice on preparing them for the one day milk test.

Oh and I will be showing the FF for the first time at the State Fair as well. First time for her and for me! I will also be showing her kid, and her dam's kid from this year too. So advice on showing would be appreciated as well.


Rita & her daughter Itty-Bitty


Millie's doe kid from this year Choc-o-latte


Rita's udder - taken when she was about a month fresh

[RedSonja]

I've not done milk test, but I sure did just take a *thunk* at the cuteness. Good luck!

-Sonja

[saanengirl]

Get the best quality alfalfa hay you can buy in your area, and offer it in limited quantities at first, working up to free-choice alfalfa hay. The hay often works better than the pellets. Make sure they always have free choice minerals and baking soda available.

[Wags]

Well phooey! Apparently they haven't held a milk test for the past two years, but someone in the office keeps forgetting to take that info out.

Guess it will just be showing for us.

[Hollowdweller]

Is there a separate one day test standard for Nigerians?

If not 4 lbs is not enough to earn a *.

Normally it's around 12lbs at 3% or 10 lbs @ 4%

[saanengirl]

They do have different standards for NDs on both DHI test and one day milk test.