Here is the info:
4yr old doe
3rd freshening in Sept.
Only 1 kid (Sept)
2 kids on the other 2 freshenings
This doe seems to be healthy.No signs of parasites or other sickness.I have bred in Sept for all the freshenings and have usually seen a drop in production during heat cycle in Jan.and Feb.
This time it seems like she is is all done.Have been still bringing her in to milk in hopes she would come back up again.But this morning she barely had 2 squirts and it was obvious her udder was empty.
Previous freshening I have milked until end of June then given 2 months rest before next kidding.
Main feed is decent alfalfa.Free choice loose mineral,baking soda.Kelp every couple days.Other odds and ends browse as available.
On the milkstand: rolled barley,16% organic dairy goat pellet(1st year offering a ration),alfalfa pellets,boss(sometimes),flakey red bran(sometimes)
So all said I can not figure why this goat is producing nothing.
Drinks plenty of water.
Other notes: This does is very bucky when in heat or when other doe is in heat.
Since the decline in milk this doe has chosen not to eat what is offered on the milkstand.Except still wants raisens at end of milking.(I use raisens as treats)
I am wondering if only having one kid sets the lactation at less than normal.
In the fall when she kidded I had a trip planned so decided to not deal with having goat sitter have to milk.I would just leave kids on moms.So this doe with single kid did not have added demand to keep production up.When I returned 3 weeks later her production was down.It was 9-10 weeks into lactation.Sent kid to new home and began milking 2x a day.Production came up to her regular amount.
So my questions are: what is going on? and should I still try to milk to keep some sort of demand to see if she comes back.Feels a little silly going through all the procedure for 2 squirts.She is just finishing heat.But is consumed with being bucky as the other doe is in heat.
ok this is long enough will end here.Look forward to any replies.Thank-you
Replies
It seems like when she was last in heat(Feb 11),her production went down,as expected.But then never came back.And on the 27th she was in heat again and production dropped again ,so I would say gradual since the 11th.
Even though it is a production I am thinking I will continue to milk her and see if she starts up again.(I am still milking my other doe).She seems in fine health and not too skinny or anything like that.
Deborah Niemann-Boehle said:
This all sounded odd until I got near the end of your post and you mention leaving town for three weeks when she only has one kid nursing. That might have set you up for decreased production but am a little surprised that she ended her lactation earlier than usual. Has this been a gradual decline, or did she just drop to nothing within a day or two?