I was told by an Amish friend that they milk their cows only once a day in the winter months from Jan on till they freshen. Then they return to the twice daily milkings. I was told that they produce the same amount of milk once a day as they do twice a day when they are this late into the milking season. Has anyone done this with goats. I have two does who give only about a quart and a half a day now. I would sure welcome one less milking a day to ease my barn chore load. Does anyone know if this can be done with goats? Has anyone done this? Will I get the same amount of milk in one milking as two?

-- Tiffani Cappello (cappello@alltel.net), January 04, 2001

Answers

I don't know about your Amish friend but the normal procedure is to dry off the cow about two months before it is due to freshen.

The more times a day you milk a cow the more total milk per day it will produce that is why some dairies milk three times a day

You could milk once a day if it fit your life style you would just get less milk...............................JAY

-- jay (jay@townsqr.com), January 04, 2001.

Hi, I have done the 1 time a day for hard too dry up Saanens goats. At first they will give about the same amount of milk. Then after a month the amount decreases. But you should dry up your goats 6 to 8 weeks before they kid. It gives their utters a chance to rest. After the amount of milk gets to be less then a qt. Just stop milking and put some dry cow stuff in their utters.

-- Linda (hesscat@cot.net), January 04, 2001.

When you switch to once a day milking, the total production will decrease. At first the milking will be more than you would have gotten from one of the twice a day milkings, but soon it is the same or less. Dry the does up about two months from their kidding date.If you don't, there may not be much or any colostrum for the kids.

-- Rebekah (daniel1@itss.net), January 04, 2001.

We just milk our goats once a day, but don't get double the milk, they're like us ladies the more stimulation the more milk you will produce, the less milking or suckling the less milk, like someone sd earlier it will be more at first if they're used to being milked twice a day then taper off.

-- Carol in Tx (cwaldrop@peoplescom.net), January 04, 2001.

I would rather milk two goats once a day, especially in the summer heat. I freshen in Feb. or Mar., milk twice a day until it gets hot the end of June or so, and then milk just once a day in the morning until two months before freshening. I don't think that it would be accurate to say that I get the same amount of milk that way, but it is what I like to do.

-- diane (gardiacaprines@yahoo.com), January 04, 2001.

I have had goats off and on for about 25 years and I have also had milk cows. My experience is that there is no comparison between the two. You can get off schedule with cows and you can keep a pretty good milk supply with them by milking once a day but not with goats. Goats are more sensitive. I have only raised Nubians so other breeds may be different. But Nubians must be milked at the same time every day, twice a day or their production drops off and when I have gone once a day milking it is when I am ready to dry them off before their next freshening because when I go to once a day it is bye-bye goat milk. I hate it!!! Because I think Nubians produce the best milk I have ever tasted. That 8 weeks is more like 8 months.

Have you read Charles Long's book "How to Survive Without a Salary"? In the last chapter he describes a meal he had, it sounded scrumptious. But the Piece' de Resistance was new potatoes out of his garden...because he hadn't had potatoes sfor a few months because when they run out of something they do without until the next harvest..I'm that way with my goats milk!

-- Artie Ann Karns (rokarns@arkansas.net), January 11, 2001.

Artie, do you think it is a difference in our blood lines or the climate??? I milk nubians also, about 1 1/2 gallon daily for 4 months (milking twice a day) then when I cut back to once a day I average 2-3 quarts per doe after we get adjusted. My girls are happy and I am happy.

-- diane (gardiacaprines@yahoo.com), January 11, 2001.