The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Goats => Topic started by: clydesdaleclopper on April 21, 2014, 09:00:09 pm

Title: How much milk to take off
Post by: clydesdaleclopper on April 21, 2014, 09:00:09 pm

My poorly girl who is down all the time has a very engorged udder. She isn't due until 3rd of May. I took about 200ml off her the other day to relieve the tightness and tonight I did the same as she was actually dripping milk. I don't want to take too much off and stimulate her to produce more or cause any other problems but I'm not sure what is best in this situation. How much would you milk off?

Title: Re: How much milk to take off
Post by: jaykay on April 21, 2014, 09:20:56 pm

Just as much as it takes to ease it - you could take half a litre and she'd be ok I think.

Title: Re: How much milk to take off
Post by: Anke on April 21, 2014, 09:26:16 pm

Is what you are taking off milk or colostrum? If the latter I would definitely freeze it (I am not sure when they start to make colostrum, never had to milk out before kidding).

Also if she is dripping milk, you need to make sure that she doesn't get any muck (or bugs) into the teat canal - so I would definitely teat-dip with an iodine solution, or just spray the teat with something like bactakil maybe?

Title: Re: How much milk to take off
Post by: clydesdaleclopper on April 21, 2014, 09:39:29 pm

It isn't looking like colostrum yet but I have frozen it anyway. I have been teat dipping with a dilute solution of Capricleanse and leaving kitchen roll underneath her udder so that it doesn't come into contact with the straw until the mucus plug has reformed.


If I took off too much milk could it cause premature labour?

Title: Re: How much milk to take off
Post by: jaykay on April 21, 2014, 10:10:18 pm

I don't think so.

I milked Ellie out fairly well, 3 days and 1 day before she kidded, as 1. She looked really uncomfortable and 2. I was worried that Rowan might not milk well (she did, fortunately) and that since Ellie had plenty of milk/colostrum I'd freeze it for Rowan's.

Ellie was still 2 days late!

Title: Re: How much milk to take off
Post by: ballingall on April 23, 2014, 07:26:26 am

No, it wouldn't cause premature labour. Worse it would cause would be her calcium levels, as mik fever could be a risk. But it can be easily treated with calcium if that happens. I am sure I remember someone telling me last year that they had had to take 5 litres of a goat before she kidded to make her comfortable!

Beth

Title: Re: How much milk to take off
Post by: tattycat on April 24, 2014, 08:26:32 pm

Sounds like one of my girls!!
Now. I'm sure I found somewhere that said that colostrum is produced/stimulated when they go into labour....however still scary to do..
One of my girls that hasn't kidded for 2 years has just come back into full milk....spring's sprung nd so has she!!lol