If you want goats’ milk, you’ll need to be ready to have a baby goat every year. Just to get a better picture, a single cow produces around 8 gallons of milk per day, which can translate to approximately 128 glasses. They are also rather smallish, so they eat less and need a bit less space. Some cheeses made from goat milk include cottage cheese, Neufchatel cream cheese, Coulommier, French Roquefort, Norwegian gjetost, Greek feta, chevre, and numerous other soft and hard cheeses. It’s most common to milk them twice a day. In the morning, milk your does and then allow the kids to nurse throughout the day. It takes more work to maintain a herd of goats than it does a herd of cows, and the same number of cows will yield more milk. Daily weight gains after birth range from 50 to 150 grams per day (0.1 to 0.33 pound per day), but meat goat crosses can exceed 250 grams per day (0.55 pound per day). However, if you own a Nigerian dwarf goat, for instance, you won’t get as much milk. Learn how your comment data is processed. I am the only person in my area that has Nubians, so I have no-one to compare them to. Not every goat breed is meant for milk production; in fact, there are specific breeds that are good for dairy production, meat production, and having as companions. And yes, goats are herd creatures, so you need at least two or they are very lonely. Depending on breeds, dairy goats produce about one pound to a gallon of milk daily. Goats can produce a significant amount of milk during their milking period, which generally pays off the cost of raising the goats and then some. Under the same conditions of detention, some goats give 2 liters of milk per day, while others all 5. At about 8-9 months after freshening, she’ll be at 2 cups at MORNING and again at NIGHT. How much milk a goat will produce per day depends on the cumulative effect of all factors. On average, they produce around 1.5 gallons a day, but their milk is low in butterfat and protein. Domestic goats are raised to produce meat, milk, fur and leather. Basically, the price you pay for the animal dictates the type of producer she will be. In fact, while the United States has a preference for cows milk, did you know that goat milk is actually far more popular worldwide? This goat is one of the largest of the dairy breeds. Like goat's milk, sheep milk is naturally homogenized so cream does not separately as easily as cow milk. When the doe gives birth, she naturally produces milk for the baby. Goat milk is the milk of domestic goats.. Goats produce about 2% of the world's total annual milk supply. Divided by the 305-day lactation, we can expect 1.82 pounds per day, on average . Under the same conditions of detention, some goats produce 2 liters of milk per day, while others all 5. Alternately, you could keep one full-sized doe and keep a wether for company and as a pet. How much milk a goat will produce per day depends on the cumulative effect of all factors. The amount of milk that goats produce depends greatly on the breed of the goat, the season, and the quality of care they receive. On average, a good quality dairy doe will give at least 3 kg (6 lb) of milk per day while she is in milk. Do Goats Have To Be Pregnant To Produce Milk? A healthy female goat (doe) will produce about three quarts of milk a day for ten months out of the year. 1 decade ago. When it come to herds of cows, their production capability can go even higher, and some figures indicate that 800 cows … Therefore if your doe is pregnant, then her milk will continue to dry up and at 10 months you should However, the animal begins to produce milk only after the first pregnancy. As practice shows, pedigreed animals can produce more than 20 liters of milk per week. Chicago, IL 60637. There are 5 people in my family, and and we’ve got enough milk for the last 3 years with only Dolly, out goat. When do goats start giving milk? How much milk does a pygmy goat produce per day? Combined they accounted for a production volume of more than 70 billion pounds of milk … Unlike the Swiss dairy breeds, LaMancha goats are from North America. They also need to get enough water, and the ratio for dry food versus water is 1:4. If you keep your buck separately, or simply don’t keep a buck at all, the milk your does produce will taste just as fresh and sweet as cows’ milk. We may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. When choosing the milk goat you want, be sure you know what you’re looking at. Milker goats, however, need more hay, sometimes 7 pounds per day. Naturally, you’ll want to know what the best goats for milk are. Dairy sheep are able to produce higher yields of milk per ewe per year. There are dairy cows and dairy cows. We try to help farmers better understand their animals; however, the content on this blog is not a substitute for veterinary guidance. While the aforementioned value reflects how much an average milking goat produces per day, different factors can affect the milk output of your goat. You want a goat who is in good condition with no injuries or observable physical problems, bright eyes and a friendly and inquisitive temperament. Why milk production of goats is so different, and whether a person can influence it - further in the article. A purebred animal is capable of producing about six liters per day. Milker goats, however, need more hay, sometimes 7 pounds per day. The Best Goats for Milk: Breed Overview. Related: Selecting the Best Dairy Sheep Breed for Your Farm. Dairy sheep can produce 400–1,100 lb (180–500 kg) of milk per year while other sheep produce 100–200 lb (45–91 kg) of milk per year. Another alternative would be to keep a donkey, pony, horse, cow or other hoofed animal. For example, after about half a year, your goat may only produce anywhere from ½ to ¾ of their original milk output. This is because Nigerian dwarf goats are about half the size of a regular goat, meaning their smaller utters can’t hold as much milk as their bigger counterparts. How Much Milk Does A Goat Give Per Day. Nicky has been an editor at Farm & Animals since 2019. Wiki User Answered 2012-08-24 20:28:02. If you really don’t need the amount of milk you would get from two full-size does, you should choose Nigerian dwarf goats or pygmy goats. As far as how much, it depends on where they are in their lactation (they give the most right after kidding) and whether they are from good milking bloodlines, but good does will give at least 2+ quarts of milk per day. Currently goat milk sells for between Ksh 80 and Ksh 100 per liter, more than double the cost of Cows milk. Wiki User Answered . California and Wisconsin represent the most important milk producing states in the U.S. milk market. Farm & Animals do not intend to provide veterinary advice. Dairy goats must breed, e.g. On average, one domestic goat per day gives from 2 to 3 liters. There is a secret to goat keeping and not being tied to a 12-hour milking schedule. You can start milking doe relatively shortly after she has freshened. See Answer. A good dairy goat provides between 6 to 12 pounds of milk a day for about a 305-day lactation. Farm & Animals is a farm life blog run by two farming enthusiasts helping first time farm owners and beginners. If you don’t have the proper milking technique, you could end up not getting any milk at all, even if your doe has some available- leaving you to think there is something wrong with you or your goat. Bucks are very smelly creatures, and their smell can make its way into the milk of the does. Give her a little break until autumn, and then have her bred again. If your doe is not pregnant, she may continue to produce milk for up to 2 years. 2 does will be into their 3rd lactation when they freshen and the other 2 does will be into their 4th. It is more nutritious, contains less fat and is easier to digest. If your answer is yes, keep reading so you can find out all you need to know about the goat milking process and the best breeds to buy for milk production. If we are considering milky breeds that would be good in a dairy production, then we'd be considering the one of the Swiss breeds (ie French Alpine, Oberhasli, Saanen, or Toggenburg). They have been known to produce as much as 3 gallons of milk a day per goat. Also Read: How Much Milk Does A Cow Produce in Its Lifetime? About a few days before the lambing, the udder of the animal becomes elastic, full. Goats need so much water so their digestive system keeps running. We’ll reduce the breed average by 25% to get to our estimated milk production per doe per year, which is 556 pounds. Goats can produce on average between 2-6 liters of milk per day. Your doe may keep producing milk for up to two years after her pregnancy. The first thing to know is that larger goats produce more milk. Farm & Animals is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. The very top show goats can give as much as 8L (2.11 gallons) Run of the mill home milkers can give as little as 1 - 2 L (about half a gallon) a day. If you also feed your goats fruits or vegetables, they will eat 6 pounds of them per day. Peak production season begins once your doe’s babies can be weaned off their mother’s milk, at around 8 weeks. Goat milk is in high demand all around the world, and raising goats for milk is well known to be a lucrative venture. With these daily values, you’re sure to make a profit off your goat’s milk. When do goats start giving milk? She may even be bred. Farm animals have been in her life from her earliest memories, and she learned to ride a horse when she was 5. Supposing that the cow is on pasture. ... Goats produce so much milk that you can allow the kids to nurse and still take what's left over. You may also wish to look for a doe who is slightly older (a junior doe). Does giving birth to twins produce more milk and have greater total kid weight per maintenance doe unit. France has 820 000 goats and is the 5th biggest goat milk producer in the world, with 643 million of liters produced annually. Anonymous . Other does have nice personalities or spots, but the best they can milk is less than three quarts a day in peak production. If you find a young doe who has been bred, you’ll naturally pay a higher price, but you’ll only have a short wait before you can begin milking. How much milk, on average, does a dairy cow produce per day? This is when your goat will be producing the most milk. Learn how to judge a goat’s health and temperament upon examination. While ordinary domestic thrush supply no more than 2-3 liters of dairy products. Don’t milk in the evening. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. If you breed her again, the process starts all over again. Milk the mother first thing in the morning and then reunite mother and baby. One of the best things about keeping goats for milk rather than keeping cows for milk is that goats can do well on all sorts property. She is a mom of three who spends all her free time with her family and friends, her mare Joy, or just sipping her favorite cup of tea. Why milk production of goats is so different, and whether a person can influence it, later in the article. In order to get the most comprehensive explanation of how much milk goats can produce, we’ve got to get into the nitty-gritty. Following closely behind these two are Nubians, Toggenburgs, and Oberhaslis, and Sables. Total goat milk per day is one quart or 7 gallons a month. Generally speaking, Nubian goats are said to produce the best milk. Milk production varies with the breed, age, quality, and diet of the doe; dairy goats generally produce between 680 and 1,810 kg (1,500 and 4,000 lb) of milk per 305-day lactation. Goat milk naturally has small, well-emulsified fat globules, which means the cream will stay in suspension for a longer period of time than cows milk; therefore, it does not need to be homogenized. That said, in my experience, people who buy a doeling for a milk goat don't typically want to wait three or four years for their goat to start producing that 3 to 4 cups per milking, especially given that with triplets or more, the vast majority of the milk will be needed for the kids until theyâ re weaned. Top Answer. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Alpine goats also supply a lot of milk per day, averaging at 1 gallon or 3.8 liters per day. That’s a lot of milk we are talking about. After about five months, you’ll notice that your doe’s milk production begins to diminish. How much milk can a goat give? The butterfat content and protein content of sheep's milk is higher than that of cow's milk. On a general basis, your goat’s milk output will depend on these three factors. Most adult goats will eat between 2 and 4 pounds of hay or any type of roughage they get in a day. See Answer. You can let your does raise their kids, have fresh goat milk in the refrigerator and still have a life by milking once per day.And this secret made my husband very happy! While ordinary domestic thrush supply no more than 2-3 liters of dairy products. In Week. The main reason is that most goats will produce a lot of milk — often a gallon or more per day — soon after kidding. In quantity of milk you get daily, goats are not much far behind cows. An average cow can produce around 21,000 pounds of milk each year, which is almost 2,500 gallons. How much milk does a Nubian goat produce per day? No matter how little milk you need, you need a minimum of two does. Most of the goats in France are Alpine goats and Saanen goats. How Much Milk Does a Goat Produce Per Day. It’s hard to say exactly how much you’ll spend for any of these choices because a great deal depends upon the type of goat you’re looking at and the pedigree. Milk your does once per day, if you allow your goat’s kids to nurse part-time. Just like dogs, different goat breeds have different characteristics. Dairyfarminghut.com is a member of the Amazon Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide ways for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. All of them are great for different reasons, but above all else, treat your goat with lots of care and love; the taste of your goat milk will show it. Dairy Farming Hut is a participant in the Amazon.com Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. She will also produce one baby (kid) per year which you can sell, use for meat or raise to produce more milk. This makes them the perfect choice for smaller farms. How much milk does a goat give per day. Happy farming! In terms of nutrition, goats’ milk is far better than cows’ milk. If you are very limited on space, the Nigerian dwarf is a good choice. Facts about dairy goats and milk production: A good dairy goat producers between 1 to 3 liters per day. A purebred animal is capable of producing about six liters per day. This is a good rule of thumb, but there can be exceptions, so do your research on your specific breed ahead of time.