[Lesley Silvester]

Tonight I milked my favourite goat for the last time.  She gave me slightly less than half a pint and that's in two days so it's time to stop. She's nearly ten and is not good at giving birth. I thought we were going to lose her last time and did lose the kid so it's not worth the risk. Sad though because she is such a darling to milk - just stands there placidly and lets me get on with it.

[Anke]

Yes know how you feel . I  have been through this with three of my goats (one was my adult male, but I didn't milk him) this year... both of my foundation females were too old to breed again this autumn. But at 8.5 and 9.5 they had a good innings and I have their offspring still here...

[Lesley Silvester]

Thanks, Anke. I knew someone would understand.

[pharnorth]

Mine aren't milkers so in that sense I don't know exactly how you feel.... But  anyway because I admire the dedication of you milkers and it must be tough. It's a hard frost out there again today so I reckon everyone is too busy lugging hay about and breaking ice to go on line. I'm just having a coffee first then out into the wintery wilderness. My goats are out there in the frost waiting patiently for breakfast.......

[Brucklay]

Sorry to hear MGM - I know how special your girls are 

[Lesley Silvester]

Thanks, Brucklay.

[sabrina]

Losing her is sad 

[Lesley Silvester]

I still have her but not to milk her any more. She will stay here for the rest of her life and just be a much loved pet. I think she's quite enjoying retirement because she still gets the cuddles and sweeties. 

[clydesdaleclopper]

Scarlet Dragon - if it is that small an amount she is unlikely to be uncomfortable with it.

[Lesley Silvester]

I was still getting about that after two days from Pom. I shall keep an eye on her to make sure she isn't getting uncomfortable. She last kidded well over a year ago but we lost the kid due to her getting very stuck. The body had to be dragged out with a rope in the end and my poor girl couldn't manage to get up for ages afterwards. The vet said that if she wasn't up by next morning to get him back in but she had managed by then. Not putting her through that again.


So now I have one retired goat and one that I can't breed from because of the split teat gene. Oh and two off for slaughter soon.

[Lesley Silvester]

    I have no idea. Lots of people have more than that. I wonder if it depends on whether you are classed as Farmer full time, Farmer part time or other. I'm an Other but I only have room for three or four anyway.

[Polyanya]

Sorry MGM, I haven't experienced that yet, other than to send the aggressive (not to us just his stable mate) whether off to slaughter, but I do have to say goodbye to my old ewes and thats awful  . How long will you keep her for?

[Lesley Silvester]

For the rest of her life. She's been a good milker and, more than that, she's a pet so she will just stay here.