[colliewoman]

Hi guys!


AS I am knee deep in goats milk and may have to start full time work soon I would like to start milking just once a day. Also I am trying hard to put weight onto Millie so I think this would help her too.
Is is possible to do this without hurting my girls?
Evening would be easier, but I can milk in the mornings if that is better. If it is possible how do I go about it?
Do I just stop one of the milkings?




Thankies in advance

[Mays]

I seem to of managed it, I just delayed the morning by a few hours, then did the eve an hour or so earlyier, then over a few weeks reduced the time between the two milkings until I ended up just doing her once at noon. This seems to of worked as she has dropped back a litre (which is fine) and her udder feels fine, so I will soon will be doing every 2nd day but that is a scary thought!

[colliewoman]

Thanks Mays, that's wonderful.
I make cheese, my friend makes soap, we drink it, I soak the chickens feed in it and give the dogs some and give some away to friends. Yet still I have to waste some which is awful.
If I only milk in the evening, then Hubby is able to see to the goats in the morning when I have to work.


YOu are a star thank you!

[plumseverywhere]

In the same boat Colliewoman!  I'm pouring away so much milk currently     I have a spare freezer which we are filling with milk, I obviously have the soap business which uses so much, we drink it, the chickens have some, the cat turns her nose up at it (typical) and the children are being forced to have milkshakes every day 
because mine's a maiden milker I've never felt in control of her milk production and she keeps pouring it out. 9 pints aday currently and she's in fine shape!

[colliewoman]

WOW!


I get about that between my 3 but I have never pushed them hard to produce more. The kids went about 3 weeks ago and I have tried to use all the milk since and simply can't with limited space. For next year I am definitely going to have some bottle lambs or some pigs to use the excess!
But I think for now, once a day will suit all round

[plumseverywhere]

I kept her feed right down, never tried to increase her yield and no hay unless it is tipping it down with rain so that's all from minimal concentrate (titrated now to yield) and grass/clover/branches etc.
I wish she'd produce less, seriously I do and we had to go to twice daily milking as when she started back up again this Spring, within a few days she couldn't walk with her huuuuge udder unless we did 

[jaykay]

I only milk once a day. But fortunately I have Old English, who produce two pints a day on that regime, not two gallons 

Yes, get from two to one milking as Mays says. Then you can move the noon milking by an hour each day til its at a convenient time in the evening.

Actually, I milk in the morning as that's more reliable for me - I can work 9 or 12 hour days, but always go to work at the same time in the morning.