How much milk should I take?

mammabooh · #1 04/02/12, 08:17 AM

As some of you know, Mudge's kids were born last Tuesday evening. So, for the next few days, I got her up on the stand morning and evening to milk out a few squirts to make sure that everything kept flowing and to keep her from getting edema or anything like that. Yesterday, her udder was huge and it seemed like the milk was flowing a great deal better (perhaps it just switched from colostrum to milk?) and I milked around a quart...same with this morning. There was WAY more available, but I didn't know if I should empty her since she has the kids on her full time.

So, should I go ahead and milk her completely out twice a day, or would that be too much of a strain on her and not leave enough for the kids?

Cliff · #2 04/02/12, 08:42 AM

I think if you do that you will need to bottle feed the kids. I guess it could be done with a high producing dairy goat but I'd worry about the strain on her esp as the kids get bigger and need more and I'd also worry if the kids were getting enough. You should be able to get away with once a day though. And maybe take some of the excess in the evening just till the babies get bigger.
If you milk once a day, when the kids get a little bigger you'll have to lock them up at night because they will always nurse before you get out there in the morning

Alice In TX/MO · #3 04/02/12, 08:58 AM

Empty her at LEAST once a day. Completely.

mammabooh · #4 04/02/12, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alice In TX/MO

Empty her at LEAST once a day. Completely.

That's what I thought, but wasn't sure. Is there any reason that I should do it in the morning versus evening?

CarolT · #5 04/02/12, 10:12 AM

I usually tend for evening because they don't nurse as much at night and I feel it gives her relief longer... And I'm just not a morning person LOL

Cliff · #6 04/02/12, 11:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mammabooh

That's what I thought, but wasn't sure. Is there any reason that I should do it in the morning versus evening?

Right now not really. But when the kids are bigger and you have to separate them to get any milk, locking them up at night is just easier. You really don't want to keep them off pasture all day by locking them up in the daytime. Prolly not great to have them locked up away from the herd for the majority of the day every day either. Just easier to do when everyone is sleeping.
I'm sure you could fig out a way to work it if you really want to milk in the evening though

KSALguy · #7 04/02/12, 03:57 PM

milk her out in the morning all the way, she will make enough to feed them the rest of the day, her body will increase production to match need, i would also milk a decent amount out at night too if not all of it,