can you -reduce- milk output without drying off?

[zdecatur]

hi all, first time poster. I did search but couldn't find this question answered but I apologize if it's oft-asked and I just couldn't locate it.

I am new to goats, and wondering whether or not you can -reduce- the amount of milk a doe produces by decreasing the amount you milk out each day. we are milking one goat by hand and drying off the rest (for reasons too convoluted to share). I think she's yielding about 3 qts a day. if we milk her almost dry but not quite, leaving some milk in, is that asking for mastitis or will her body ratchet down the amount of milk produced in relationship to how "emptied out" she is each day?

it must sound strange to want less milk, but we'd like to only get what we need. my theory is that reducing her milk output means a reduction in grain input, and less time on the stanchion. she's a fussy one, and has to be eating the whole time or throws a fit. I've been giving her organic dairy grain, sunflower seeds, and water-soaked alfalfa pellets but she's still exceeding what I'd like to feed her.

a follow-up question might be, if she's only fed alfalfa pellets (with ample browse in their pasture) and no dairy grain, will her body begin producing less milk, or will it produce the same amount at the expense of her physical condition?

thanks.

[Alice In TX/MO]

About body condition.... all goats are different, and you'll have to experiment.

Yes, leave some milk or just milk once a day. (Milk till she pitches a fit, then put her back out in the pasture!)

[mygoat]

The problem is, all does will respond to feed changes and demand changes differently. Some will stubbornly continue to milk... others will dry up completely at the drop of a hat.

And, production varies with lactation stage - does decrease production over time. If you made her produce exactly what you want her to produce now, in a few months she'll be making LESS than what you need. And, later in the year she'll need to be dried off 2 months pre-kidding, giving you a dry spell.

If feed input is what is causing your trouble, why not downsize the herd? No point keeping a bunch of dairy goats if only to dry them right up every year. At 3qts per day, she shouldn't be needing a ton of grain anyways. If that's still too much milk, I'd consider switching to just a very high quality hay/pasture, and some alfalfa pellets in the stand, see how she does on that. No guarantees though - some does may take that feed change and just dry up especially if they don't like alfalfa pellets.

I suppose what I would personally do if I wanted ONLY a certain amount of milk, I'd just mark my milk pail at that qty, and milk till I reach the line. Ration the feed to just a bit of grain and much more alfalfa pellets, plus the high quality forage/minerals etc.

[zdecatur]

thanks, Alice and Dona. she does seem to have reduced her milk output to right around what we are milking. a quick adjustment!