The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Goats => Topic started by: angie on August 05, 2021, 11:29:42 am

Title: Changing to once a day milking
Post by: angie on August 05, 2021, 11:29:42 am

I need to change from twice a day milking to once a day due to health issues.  My concern is mastitis setting in as I have always milked twice daily. Also with only milking once a day should I adjust their hard feed rations?

Many thanks for reading
Angie

Title: Re: Changing to once a day milking
Post by: Anke on August 05, 2021, 03:25:39 pm

What breed/type are the goats? What amounts are they giving right now?


I wouldn't switch to once a day unless the goat gives 2.5 ltrs or less in a 24 hour period.



Unless they are already giving only that, you would have to reduce their rations to get down to that amount before you start moving to once a day milking. If they are skinny at the moment that may not be wise.

Title: Re: Changing to once a day milking
Post by: angie on August 05, 2021, 04:58:59 pm

Hi Anke, golden Guernsey s two giving around 2.5-3 lt a day, older one 1.5lts
Angie

Title: Re: Changing to once a day milking
Post by: Anke on August 05, 2021, 06:09:54 pm

The older one you could easily milk out only once, the younger one, if she is not too thin I would reduce feeding and she should also cope with once a day quite quickly.


Mastitis is more of an issue if you stop completely too soon.

Title: Re: Changing to once a day milking
Post by: angie on August 05, 2021, 06:29:35 pm

Thank you Anke

Angie