I raise Nubian dairy goats. Note the word dairy. That means they are milk goats. So, what milk? My does are all going dry.
Kids Are Necessary
All mammals produce milk to feed their offspring. Man decided he liked milk too and bred various mammals to give more milk. We often think of cows and goats, but camels, sheep and horses are milked too.
Since my bucks died last year, none of my does got bred. A couple milked through so I have had milk up until now.
Importance of Dry Time
Producing milk takes a lot of energy, minerals and food. Producing kids takes a lot of energy, minerals and food too. A doe trying to do both, doesn’t do well.
My does are now bred. Their due dates are hazy, but several are starting to show.
Those does I have been milking are now deciding to shut down. What milk? No milk.
The does will spend their time building up reserves of protein and minerals so they can produce milk after their kids are born.
Milking After Kids
Commercial dairies sell milk so they usually take the offspring away right after they are born. I am not a commercial dairy and leave the kids with their mothers.
Does think their kids come first. When the kids are small, I get the leftovers. As the kids get older, less and less milk is leftover.
By the time kids are six weeks old, they are eating well. I lock them away overnight and milk in the morning. Then we are both happy.
Waiting
So now I am waiting. First, I am waiting until the kids are born. That could be any time from late April to end of July.
Then I will wait until the kids are old enough to lock away at night. I’m hoping for early kids.