This is meant to be an informative discussion for new goat owners. I am new and looked for this specific information on the web and couldn't find what I was looking for, so I plan to document with photos and milk records my FF's progression. I also documented her pre-kidding udder development in another thread, unfortunately she delivered still born twins 10 days early and I wasn't able to save them. She is just grade, as I don't know her background, just a photo of her dam and sire. The buck, came from a farm that raises registered stock, but he has no papers either. that is all the background that i have.
I would also like for this thread to be a informative question and answer for everyone as well. I know as I go along that I will have questions that will need to be answered.
I plan to post weekly updates. So get ready for lots of photos and data from start to end.
Pre kidding udder left
Post kidding udder on right
1 days fresh on right
udder 3 days fresh
udder 7 days fresh, morning milking.
below profile on left and
milked out on right
......
Now for the milking information..I decided to milk 3 times a week for the first week to try and get a good start and then went to 2 times a day. The first day I wasn't able to weigh, but have been weighing since. I have seen a steady increase every day, but also expect it to slow just a bit with 2 times a day.
Look for updates on Sunday or Monday
Here is my chart.
| 2/8/2016 | 1 1/2 cups | total ounces | tare (jar weight) | ounces milk | daily milk total | increase day to day |
| 2/9/2016 | 7:00 AM | 15.6 | 8.4 | 7.2 | ||
| 12:30 | 11.4 | 8.4 | 3 | 13.8 | ||
| 6:00 PM | 12 | 8.4 | 3.6 | |||
| 2/10/2016 | 7:00 AM | 18 | 8.4 | 9.6 | ||
| 12:30 | 12.2 | 8.4 | 3.8 | 17.4 | 3.6 | |
| 6:00 PM | 12.4 | 8.4 | 4 | |||
| 2/11/2016 | 7:00 AM | 18.4 | 8.4 | 10 | ||
| 12:30 | 12.4 | 8.4 | 4 | 18.4 | 1 | |
| 6:00 PM | 12.8 | 8.4 | 4.4 | |||
| 2/12/2016 | 7:00 AM | 19.2 | 8.4 | 10.8 | ||
| 12:30 | 12.4 | 8.4 | 4 | 18.8 | 0.4 | |
| 6:00 PM | 12.4 | 8.4 | 4 | |||
| 2/13/2016 | 7:00 AM | 19.4 | 8.4 | 11 | ||
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 0.2 | ||
| 6:00 PM | 16.4 | 8.4 | 8 | |||
| 2/14/2016 | 4:30 AM | 17.2 | 8.4 | 8.8 | ||
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 19.6 | 0.6 | ||
| 6:00 PM | 19.2 | 8.4 | 10.8 |
Replies
here is the latest update. she was doing good increasing daily and now has gone down to a pound a day.
latest update this morning 2/28. now almost 3 weeks fresh and the milk is tasting better, hooray..also continuing to get a little more milk every day. i didn't get a foreudder shot this morning but it is starting to smooth out and the teats are getting longer, i now can use 3 fingers against my thumb to milk. When will the butterfat peak?
date--ounces
2/21--20.8
2/22--20.6
2/23--21.5
2/24--24.2
2/25--21.5
2/26--22.4
2/27--22.4
here is my update this week, 13 days fresh. i have some seen some improvement almost every day. i have also noticed that i get a little more milk when milking one side at a time as opposed to milking both sides at the same time.
date---ounces
2/15---19.2o
2/16---20.8
2/17---21.3
2/18---19.7
2/19---22
2/20 22.5
I have a feeling that this thread/info will be useful for me in the future. I have a doe who will be a first freshener in mid-April. I hadn't thought of keeping records on her milk production, but being that I'm pretty forgetful, I think it will be a great idea. I'm thinking I'll make up a printable sheet where I can just jot numbers each day.
Thanks for the info/thread, James. Very helpful.