How to Dry Up a Milk Goat
Whether your doe is weaning a kid, being removed from the milking rotation, or resting her body before her next breeding, eventually it will be time for your dairy goat to dry up. A doe cannot simply stop nursing without a gradual drying off period or she will suffer from an overly full udder, causing pain and possibly leading to mastitis. By carefully watching your doe and listening to her body, you can dry her up painlessly and without anxiety for either you or your nursing goat.
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Instructions
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Reduce or entirely remove the grain from the doe's diet.
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Reduce the milkings from two per day to one.
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After about two weeks, skip a day between milkings. After the doe has adjusted, spread the milkings out to one every three days. Gradually cut down until you are no longer milking the doe.
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Consistently check the doe for mastitis, which is more common during the drying off period, according to the University of Florida. Look for swelling, pain, redness and heat as well as a change in milk texture or production. Contact your veterinarian immediately if you suspect mastitis.
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Tips & Warnings
According to Fias Co Farms, it takes some time for does to completely dry up. The milk will eventually be absorbed into the body, although the occasional doe will lactate through her next pregnancy.
Never cut a nursing doe off without gradually drying her up.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit goat 1 image by Paul Woodward from Fotolia.com
