[ScotsGirl]

I took kids away yesterday and tonight all udders were fit to burst. I just milked them enough to make udder feel soft but should I take more? They are Boer crosses and I want to dry them up but also get weight on them. Kids were 3 to 5 months old and I thought they were darting to self wean.

[jinglejoys]

If you don't want the milk why wean the kids at all?

[ScotsGirl]

Because they are losing condition and I want to get some weight on them before winter. I am milking my duff milker and using for pups and pigs until I get the hang of keeping her feet out the bucket! Only get about 3 pints a day. Will try and make some cheese soon when I get a kit.

[Anke]

If you want her dry and don't need the milk, take out any concentrate feed until she is dry, just hay/grass and water. Just ease her out as you have done for a few days, then reduce to once a day, then two days and so on... once she is definitely dry you can re-introduce some concentrates to get some meat on her, but it may be slow progress if she fed her kid(s) well.

[ScotsGirl]

Great thanks. One last question how do I know taste wise that the milk is good (ie right mineral balance)? I always get an aftertaste but have been told it should taste like cow milk. The pigs and pups love it regardless!

[ZaktheLad]

I have only once had fresh goat milk and it didn't taste anything like cow milk to me!  I thought it had quite a unique taste but can't actually describe what!

[fifixx]

I'm going to take the female kids off their mums next week - and they have a couple of uncomfy days then dry up OK.  I do have a couple still feeding triplets (greedy things!), so I might take off 2 first, then the final one a week after.

Boer X like yours

[Anke]

Great thanks. One last question how do I know taste wise that the milk is good (ie right mineral balance)? I always get an aftertaste but have been told it should taste like cow milk. The pigs and pups love it regardless!

If you find that it has a "goaty" aftertaste a mineral/multi-vit drench will be good. Won't do any harm in any case. I don't know if Boer milk is quite creamy, but if I have shop-bought cows milk now it tastes really plastic-y to me...

[ScotsGirl]

Do I get a drench from Scats or vet? I put a sheep lick in but doubt that is enough. I don't intend to use the boer milk although they have loads but udders are feeling a bit softer tonight so will ease of milking during this week. Amazing how quick they get used to coming in though. We put a handful of chaff with some sugarbeet in feeder and they are fighting to come in!


My milker (don't know breed) is first in queue. We will continue to milk her for a bit but will have to dry her up I think to get weight on her. Might need to look at a better milker for next year if we like the milk

[ballingall]

I have to confess, I think there is a difference in the taste of cows and goats milk. Cannot stand the taste of cow's milk!


Beth

[Anke]

Do I get a drench from Scats or vet? I put a sheep lick in but doubt that is enough.

My milker (don't know breed) is first in queue. We will continue to milk her for a bit but will have to dry her up I think to get weight on her. Might need to look at a better milker for next year if we like the milk

You should be able to get a sheep-drench, like Osmonds for example from the merchants. Just make sure it does have copper in it (goats do need copper so much more than sheep).
 
Giving thin (and picky) goats a course of Combivit (or similar vit b concoction) is helpful to improve their appetite. But if they are eating well but are still thin, then maybe just slowly feeding them up may help.
 
I would think if you do want reasonable amounts of milk you may have to get a good milker, it is rare that a goat's milk yield improves dramatically from one lactation to the next, except maybe from 1st to 2nd.

[jinglejoys]

There is a differance.Goats milk should be drunk from a wine glass...cows milk,a mug will do!

[ScotsGirl]

Lol, hopefully I will get a taste for it then! 

[sokel]

Our Boer and Boer Xs dried up within a week getting just hay , I had to milk them the first night (not something I would want to do very often  ) then the second night just took a bit
TBH The Boer milk tasted no different to our Dairy milk
I cant drink Cows milk, it seems to leave a greasy film in my mouth

[Penninehillbilly]

Lol, hopefully I will get a taste for it then! 

Is it a 'sweet' tasting, strong, or bitter?
I don't think it's like cows milk, but I think it should taste sweeter (unless boer goat milk IS stronger).
What are you feeding? I missed out on sugar beet a couple of feeds and the milk went from a bit too strong to absolutely delicious, I'm putting more weight on drinking even more milk now!
Was telling this to a dairy farmers wife as the farmer came in, he reeled a long list of feeds that will influence the taste of the milk.