Author Topic: when to stop milking a goat  (Read 14901 times)

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Offline addame

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when to stop milking a goat
« on: April 09, 2014, 12:27:39 pm »
I have a goat that is pregnant for about 4 months.
I stoped milking her but there is still milk. Do I have to continue to milk her or not?
Will the milk left make here sick?

By the way, I applied the following strategy before stoping milking her: for one week I milked her once a day for another week I milked her once for each two days than three days and I then stoped.

Thanks

Offline iddee

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Re: when to stop milking a goat
« Reply #1 on: April 09, 2014, 01:38:46 pm »
Just watch her close. If you start to feel knots in her teats, milk her. If they remain soft, all is well. Mastitis is the only problem I know of that will come from not milking.
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Offline LazyBkpr

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Re: when to stop milking a goat
« Reply #2 on: April 09, 2014, 06:04:53 pm »
Just watch her close. If you start to feel knots in her teats, milk her. If they remain soft, all is well. Mastitis is the only problem I know of that will come from not milking.

   Not sure about goats....   with a cow she will complain a lot when her udder is tight.  Tapering off is the best way, as it seems you have done, though we used to do it over a little longer time frame. we still milked every day, but didn't milk as MUCH each day. Enough to relieve the pressure only.
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Offline addame

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Re: when to stop milking a goat
« Reply #3 on: April 10, 2014, 10:36:34 am »
Thank you @iddee and @LazyBkpr for your advices! 
They are a precious help for me ... and for my goat too :-)

Offline blueblood

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Re: when to stop milking a goat
« Reply #4 on: April 10, 2014, 10:41:46 am »
I'm glad you received some good answers.  I was gonna say when the goat udders, "stttttttop."   :laugh:

Offline Slowmodem

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Re: when to stop milking a goat
« Reply #5 on: April 10, 2014, 10:59:00 am »
I'm glad you received some good answers.  I was gonna say when the goat udders, "stttttttop."   :laugh:

Udderly pun-ny!
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Offline BoilerJim

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Re: when to stop milking a goat
« Reply #6 on: April 10, 2014, 12:54:28 pm »
WoW...........I am finding I am learning a lot more than just bees. This is cool.  :thread:

I was not raised in an urban area and nor was I raised on a farm.......so this is neat to read about.
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Offline LazyBkpr

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Re: when to stop milking a goat
« Reply #7 on: April 10, 2014, 12:58:18 pm »
Stand by Jim.. I am sure SOMEONE will have to post An udder pun soon!
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Offline apisbees

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Re: when to stop milking a goat
« Reply #8 on: April 10, 2014, 04:39:56 pm »
What Lazy said, the father in law had both cows and goats and would milk less each day so she would produce less but would do it over 3 weeks to a month.
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Offline mamapoppybee

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Re: when to stop milking a goat
« Reply #9 on: January 25, 2016, 09:11:14 am »
So we all know my mind runs a mile a minute and I have been giving more and more thought to goats. I think I would like nigerian dwarf. I'm thinking with small size and a tall fence my chances of scape goats are less. Any advise for some one who is thinking long and hard befor leaping?

Offline brooksbeefarm

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Re: when to stop milking a goat
« Reply #10 on: January 25, 2016, 10:03:51 am »
I don't remember that much about Goats? I think it takes almost 6 months for them to kid? Why did she come to her milk 2 months before she Kid?? Jack

Offline iddee

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Re: when to stop milking a goat
« Reply #11 on: January 25, 2016, 12:01:36 pm »
Five months, Jack. I would taper off 30 days before delivery date, but others may do it at other times. Sometimes we never quit, but fed the last week of milk to the other animals. It may contain colostrum.

To quit all at once may lead to mastitis.
“Listen to the mustn'ts, child. Listen to the don'ts. Listen to the shouldn'ts, the impossibles, the won'ts. Listen to the never haves, then listen close to me... Anything can happen, child. Anything can be.”
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Offline tedh

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Re: when to stop milking a goat
« Reply #12 on: January 25, 2016, 12:26:26 pm »
The only thing I've heard about goats is that your fence has to be able to hold water!  Ted
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Offline iddee

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Re: when to stop milking a goat
« Reply #13 on: January 25, 2016, 12:54:43 pm »
Ted, I've seen goats climb fences like a ladder. The best thing to do is feed them at the exact time every day. Then you can lock them back up and patch the new escape route at that time. They will be there waiting.
“Listen to the mustn'ts, child. Listen to the don'ts. Listen to the shouldn'ts, the impossibles, the won'ts. Listen to the never haves, then listen close to me... Anything can happen, child. Anything can be.”
― Shel Silverstein

Offline Perry

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Re: when to stop milking a goat
« Reply #14 on: January 25, 2016, 03:29:12 pm »
Sounds like goats are a lot of work, something I am allergic to. ;D
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Offline tedh

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Re: when to stop milking a goat
« Reply #15 on: January 25, 2016, 06:08:17 pm »
Iddee,  I sat in my chair and laughed till tears rolled down my cheeks when I read that!  The more I thought about it the harder I laughed!      My chest hurts!  Ted
Share that which you have an abundance of.  In doing so both the giver and receiver are enriched.

Offline brooksbeefarm

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Re: when to stop milking a goat
« Reply #16 on: January 25, 2016, 06:47:41 pm »
Hey perry, my goat had a gray beard, can't put my finger on who he remind me of. ;D Jack

Offline lazy shooter

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Re: when to stop milking a goat
« Reply #17 on: January 25, 2016, 08:02:32 pm »
My lil old lady friend that has kept goats most of her 80 years does as Iddee.  She feeds every day at the same time.  The goats will be there waiting on feed.  They are smart animals, and they are escape artists.  The not only break out, they also break into things like gardens and young tree orchards.  I wouldn't have one of the nasty creatures, but I do like goat cheese on Mexican dishes.  My gal keeps Nubians for milk and cheese and Spanish goats for meat.  Texans eat a lot of goat meat, especially cabrito.  I don't care for goat meat.  I'm a beef and pork guy.

Offline lazy shooter

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Re: when to stop milking a goat
« Reply #18 on: January 25, 2016, 09:37:46 pm »
To the question of when to stop milking a goat, I don't have a clue.  When a youngster, decades back, mom did like Lazy.  She slowly milked less each day for three or so weeks.  We kept three milk cows and two of them well always producing milk.  Sorry my last post did  not address the question. 

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Re: when to stop milking a goat
« Reply #19 on: January 25, 2016, 10:03:00 pm »
I miss my goat. They built new houses near me and I'm already over number on chickens if you count my new hatches, so I probably had better not indulge.  I used to have a nubian. She escaped one time too many and it was fatal. Hugely pregnant. Broke my heart.  If I did it again I would go with a very small dwarf breed but I think I have some fencing issues to address first.  and city limits?  probably I will have to wait til I can move.