Once a day milking plus some?

rabbitpatch · #1 07/27/11, 10:15 AM

As I was typing out a reply to this post, I had a question of my own and didn't want to steal that thread.

Here is the relevant part of what I said on the other thread:

Quote:

I'm milking my FF saanen doe once a day and I consistently get 1/2 gallon a day. I separate her from her buckling in the morning and milk in the evening. When I'm done milking, I put the buckling back with her and leave him until the next morning.

It's just me taking care of my goats. My husband has a disability and physically can't help me. My mom helps by letting them out of the barn for me in the morning if I have to be at work super early, but except for very rare occasions, that's it. She does not milk for me so if I don't milk, it doesn't get done. Because of my work schedule, I do not have time to consistently milk twice a day, and I certainly can't bottle feed a kid. So by leaving the buckling with his momma for 12 hours a day (night), I don't have to bottle feed and I only have to milk once a day. And if there are extenuating circumstances where I just cannot milk one day (i.e. if I know my other responsibilities will cause me to be an hour or 2 late for milking), I just don't separate them that day and the baby gets all the milk. It's not a good idea to do that frequently because as the baby's milk needs decrease, the doe's production will decrease as well. But one day, once in a while, doesn't hurt.

If I wanted to milk twice a day just some days each week (like weekends or my day off), would it hurt anything? What would I have to do for her buckling on those days? Could I just not milk her completely dry and let him finish her off and then separate them again? I never have bottle fed him so I doubt he would take to that very well, especially just a few days a week.

Any way to make that work or should I just keep with the once a day milking every day that is currently working just fine?

Rockytopsis · #2 07/27/11, 10:28 AM

Well, I always say "if it aint broke, don't fix it".
Nancy

Goatress · #3 07/27/11, 10:33 AM

May I offer my experience - it may differ for you...
When I was milking my Alpine doe twice a day, I couldn't skip a milking or her bag ballooned up and became most uncomfortable for her. When I bought her, her doeling had already been bottle fed, and I was able to graft her back on to momma and let her nurse in addition to milking her - that's how much milk she produced. Your does' buckling might be able to take the 'edge' off and allow you a break. I think it'd depend on the amount of milk mom gives. I know, the twice a day schedule can be cumbersome not to mention exhausting, if you have other pressing matters and responsibilities. My mom was dying last year and I didn't breed my girls back because I was physically unable to handle the milking schedule (I live alone and do everything myself here) or raising up the kids in addition to all I had going on, which was my mom's dementia, Alzheimer's and being a full time caregiver. I will be interested to see what others say and advice they give.

rabbitpatch · #4 07/27/11, 05:30 PM

I guess my question wasn't clear so let me try to clarify what I mean -

I'm currently letting the buckling nurse over a 12 hour period and then separating him from the doe and milking her 12 hours later - so I'm only milking once a day and he is getting plenty to eat without being bottle fed. I want to continue milking only once a day for the most part, but occasionally (like on the weekends when I have more time) milking twice a day.

Is it okay, if I'm normally milking only once a day, to occasionally double up and milk her twice? How will that affect feeding the buckling since he is not bottle fed? What extra might I need to do for him if I milk twice one day? (i.e. milk once a day Mon - Fri and twice a day Sat and Sun)

Are there any negative aspects to trying this that I might be overlooking?

Sorry if I'm making this difficult...I don't mean to be!

Rockytopsis · #5 07/27/11, 05:47 PM

Oh I don't think you are making it hard. How old is the buckling, is he eating grain at all? I don't think it would hurt if you milked her in the am when you have time. You might not get very much as the kid will down all he can in that 12 hour period.
Nancy

Lizza · #6 07/27/11, 08:35 PM

How old is the buckling? Do you mean separate him all weekend? Or just milk her an extra time during "his" time? Really, all animals are creatures of habit, especially milk animals, for the most part, bringing back up milk supply or changing their schedule will probably throw off the doe, so it will be kind of pointless, you'll get the same amount sat. & sun. but have twice as much work. I would just continue on as you are and then when you wean decide if you want to milk everyday once or everyday twice and then stick to that.

DamnearaFarm · #7 07/27/11, 09:58 PM

I'm not RabbitPatch, obviously, lol- but the buckling was born the first week of June. HTH.

rabbitpatch · #8 07/28/11, 10:47 AM

Yep, the buckling was born June 8th so he is 7 weeks old. He nibbles on grain some but he doesn't "chow down" like my adult girls do. He does nibble on browse pretty well and he eats hay like it's candy.

I have 2 does - Molly is my Saanen doe and the one I'm milking. Lilly is my boer doe and is more a pet and friend for Molly than anything else. Right now, when I separate Molly from her buckling in the morning, I put Molly in a pen by herself, and the buckling in a pen with Lilly. All 3 goats can see each other and visit through the fence, and nobody is stressed out. Lilly plays with the baby and keeps him occupied. Molly's main concern is eating so as long as the baby is not in distress, she pays him no attention. Quite frankly, I think she appreciates having Lilly be the "baby sitter" during the day. LOL

My thought was that maybe, on the weekends and occasionally an additional day through the week, I might keep the baby in with Lilly the whole time. Milk Molly morning and evening but leave a little to let the baby nurse. Give him time nurse her out and then put him back in with Lilly right then.

So you guys think that doing that wouldn't give me any more milk? I'll still only get a half gallon on those days like I've been getting with the single milking? I certainly don't want to take so much that the baby doesn't get what he needs. Of course milking twice a day and still only getting a half gallon would kind of defeat the purpose.

I can not switch to milking twice a day most days. There are some mornings where I have to be at work so early, it would be impossible to milk twice on those days without having to go 14 hours+ in between milkings, and I know that's not good.

I guess really what I'm wondering is would it hurt to try? or would it be pointless if I can only do it 2 or 3 days each week? If I do try, do I need to do anything extra for the baby or is leaving some for him sufficient?

Lizza · #9 07/28/11, 01:12 PM

Well, I wouldn't let him drain her, I would bottle feed him a bottle of her milk, he'll take more then you might want him to have, they can drain fast.

If no one is stressed and you don't let him be on her at all, you should get more milk. I honestly have never tried going back and forth between twice a day and once a day. I've tried to build back up milk supplies by going from once a day to twice a day and it takes awhile, for a long time you are still getting the same amount, just split in half. Since the baby has been keeping up milk supply, you should get more. I find it is just easier to pick, once a day or twice a day. What are you going to do once you wean him? He is staying a buckling?

rabbitpatch · #10 07/28/11, 01:22 PM

Well technically he has been banded but "wetherling" didn't sound right LOL

Right now my plan is to leave him on her as long as she'll have him or December, whichever comes first. I plan to rebreed her in October and dry her off in December. If she weans him before December then I'll have to be happy with whatever I get just milking once a day.

He's never been bottle fed so I don't think he would drink from a bottle.

Alice In TX/MO · #11 07/28/11, 01:47 PM

I'd try it. Neither of them will be hurt by it.