How to Stop Milking a Goat at the End of the Season
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Stopping Milking for the Season is also known as "drying off"
The "drying off" of a doe refers to how to stop milking her without causing complications. You'll want to do this because the doe will need to put the energy that would go towards milking towards the unborn kids and for her own health.
Older does should still be milking when they are bred. The doe will naturally dry up over time and/or with the progression of her pregnancy. If the doe is pregnant, she should be dried off 2 months before her kids are due. However, you'll likely want to stop milking before then, but it is up to much personal discretion as to when you determine if your time and effort is worth the milk yield. These equation will also change depending upon if you just have a couple of does in milk, or several, or more.
Simply quitting milking and cutting back on the sweet feed ration will result in the animal drying off quickly. As always, make sure you dip the teats in an antibacterial dip or spray them for he first few days you do not milk. Do not try to gradually ramp down the milking, this is harder on the doe than stopping altogether. In most cases, you'll have milked the doe for a long enough period of time that her udder will not substantially fill again and cause too much pressure. However, if this very rare instance should happen, simply milk out the doe and begin the process again.
Older does should still be milking when they are bred. The doe will naturally dry up over time and/or with the progression of her pregnancy. If the doe is pregnant, she should be dried off 2 months before her kids are due. However, you'll likely want to stop milking before then, but it is up to much personal discretion as to when you determine if your time and effort is worth the milk yield. These equation will also change depending upon if you just have a couple of does in milk, or several, or more.
Simply quitting milking and cutting back on the sweet feed ration will result in the animal drying off quickly. As always, make sure you dip the teats in an antibacterial dip or spray them for he first few days you do not milk. Do not try to gradually ramp down the milking, this is harder on the doe than stopping altogether. In most cases, you'll have milked the doe for a long enough period of time that her udder will not substantially fill again and cause too much pressure. However, if this very rare instance should happen, simply milk out the doe and begin the process again.
