The goat is a productive, unpretentious domestic animal, which both large farmers and owners of small farms are willing to breed. However, many, especially beginners, often have questions about the technique and time of milking. To increase milk yield and maintain the health of the goat, it is important to explain how many times after lambing and on what schedule it is recommended to milk the goat, what to do before and after lambing, and how the milking procedure occurs.
When does a goat start giving first milk?
Goats are considered sexually mature at the age of 6-9 months.Fertilization should occur after reaching one and a half years of age. It is believed that by this age the goat is fully mature and ready to bear offspring. Once fertilization occurs, hormonal changes begin that cause milk production in the udder.
Without kids
First, colostrum (a thick yellowish liquid) is formed, and only then milk appears. It is secreted until the goat kids begin to eat adult food. If this is not the first pregnancy, then the goats must be launched 1-1.5 months before lambing. This increases the daily amount of milk and its quality. Usually the goat is fed food with a high concentration of protein.
Experts recommend:
- The first milking of the goat should be done no later than 1.5-2 hours from the moment the offspring appear;
- Before this, it is generally undesirable to milk her;
- for the first week, milk 4 times a day, then switch to a three-times-a-day regimen;
- take into account the time of year: in summer the goat is milked three times a day, in winter - twice.
There is a lot of controversy about the need to keep a mother without kids from the moment of birth. Some leave them together to feed with mother's milk until the age of 2 months, others take them straight away, preferring early weaning. The choice here remains with the owner.
Important! On average, goats produce milk for about six months, but in some dairy breeds the lactation period lasts up to 11 months.
Udder preparation
For a goat, the milking procedure should become familiar and comfortable, and milk yield should be as productive as possible. To do this, special attention should be paid to preparing the udder for lambing and milking - this usually begins a month before calving. Most often, they get by with a regular udder massage.
It is carried out as follows:
- gently rub one lobe of the udder with light hand movements;
- the lobe being rubbed is lifted, slightly squeezed with the palm of the hand, pressed to the upper part of the udder;
- return the share to its original position;
- repeat the procedure with each share 4-5 times.
To increase the amount of milk, the goat is first milked, massaging the udder with your hands for 1-3 minutes each time. This is done on a schedule every 4-5 hours. Then the number of milkings is reduced to 1-2 times per day. This way the animal becomes obedient, calms down, gets used to the breeder’s hands, and the massage will have a beneficial effect on the body’s blood circulation and productivity. Thanks to this technique, the goat's milk yield reaches its peak within a couple of months.
It is also recommended to accustom animals to washing the udder, since not all of them are good at this simple rule of hygiene. However, this is necessary, so it is advisable to teach washing before birth. Typically, warm water is used for washing, then the udder is dried with a sterile cloth. You can use paper towels. If the animal is often outdoors, then it is also worth washing the udder every week with baby or laundry soap.
Some farmers simply wipe the udder with germicidal wet wipes, which is also acceptable. It is important that they are without odor or additives. It is recommended to cut nails before milking or washing.
Rules for milking a goat after lambing
Milking after childbirth should be done regularly. Nature dictates that kids drink the milk completely at first, but the goat needs to be milked additionally, even if she continues to feed her offspring.This makes the future milking procedure easier and also allows you to free the udder from milk residues.
From the moment of birth, the kids are placed separately so that with their horns they do not injure the mother’s irritated udder and do not learn to constantly be near her.
Manual technique
Before hand milking, the goat is restrained, although this is not required if it is already accustomed to its owner and behaves calmly. It is believed that a familiar voice acts as a calming factor for the animal, guaranteeing safety, which is why it stops resisting or kicking. Therefore, when milking, it will not be a bad idea to chat with the goat.
How to do manual milking:
- After birth, the first few streams of colostrum are poured into a separate cup due to the danger of containing pathogenic microorganisms and dirt.
- It is not recommended to deposit it on the ground or floor, otherwise, even with regular cleaning, a specific aroma will appear over time.
- The milking process should not be interrupted, nor should the pace be changed. You need to do it quickly, at the same speed, rhythmically. This will be more convenient for the farmer and more comfortable for the animal.
- Usually the first few days milk is given to kids, even if they are weaned from their mother.
Upon completion of the process, it is necessary to wipe the mammary glands from the remaining milk, also massage a little with your hands, preferably lubricate with a special cream, for example, baby cream.
Important! The milk from the udder must be milked completely, to the last drop. The last portions of milk are the most saturated in terms of fat concentration. Unmilked remains can cause inflammation and disease.
Using a milking machine
Milking an animal milking machine makes it much easier for the farmer process, especially when there are more than 10 heads, however, it is advisable to pay more attention to the comfort of the goat:
- during milking with the machine she needs to be fed;
- It is recommended to secure the animal’s legs in advance using special stands, but you can get by with a simple rope;
- disinfection of the apparatus, washing with massage of the udder are necessary;
- The first streams are usually also separated by hand into a separate cup.
After securing the device, it is recommended to monitor the uniform flow of milk into the container. When the milk stops flowing, you can remove the device. It is recommended to milk the leftovers by hand. Afterwards, the udder is wiped, smeared with cream, the milking machine is washed, and the goat is sent to the herd.
Frequency
The frequency of milking is determined by various factors. For example, by the time of year: in summer goats are milked three times a day, and in winter - twice. After lambing, animals are milked 4-5 times, strictly according to the regimen. This increases the goat’s productivity by 20%, as the animal’s body gets used to the schedule and often stimulates lactation itself. On days 8-9, the number of milkings is reduced to 3 times, after a month it is increased to two times.
The number of milkings also depends on the volume of milk milked. If there is less than 2.5 liters of milk per day, then you can get by with two milkings. If more, then it is advisable to milk 3-4 times a day.
Typically, farmers adhere to the initial four- or five-time regimen for almost 3 months after the birth of the offspring. But still, the most favorable regimen after the goat kids switch to adult food is considered to be milking three times a day.
Goat milk is preferable to most other types due to its high taste and healing qualities, and its inexpensive content and unpretentiousness only increase the love for it. Real goat cheese is especially appreciated by consumers. Despite the fact that many people are afraid of the milking process, there is nothing complicated about it.Even a novice farmer can master it if he follows the advice of experienced livestock breeders and treats his animals with love.
