Domestic goats are raised to produce meat, milk, fur and leather. Those who are going to engage in goat breeding are primarily interested in the question of how much goat milk can yield for a certain period and which breeds lead in these indicators. Let's figure it out together.
At what age do goats start to give milk
Like all mammalian animals, goat milk appears in period after lambingbecause its main purpose is to feed offspring. It is formed when certain hormones begin to act. In the udder is until the nipples begin to get annoyed.
Learn more about lambing in goats.
Milk milk is possible only with the onset of lactation. The duration of this period is from 5 to 9 months, most often - 7. For representatives of dairy breeds, the lactation period can last for a year. After this, the milk ends, and in order for the female to achieve it again, it is necessary that she again become pregnant and give birth. 
The best goat age for the first mating is 1.5 years. According to experienced kozovody, having happened to a young female during this period, it is possible to achieve the highest and stable yield. However, the female can begin to happen even when it reaches the age of 1 year.
Can there be milk without lambing
Udder develops in females before birth. And for some dairy breeds, it even fills with milk. But it’s forbidden to milk a pet before lambing. This can be done only with the aim of helping the animal in case the udder is bursting and it is full.
Important! Premature milking adversely affects the development of the udder, the goat itself, and, accordingly, the future milk yields.
What determines the yield
Goat milking rates depend on several factors:
- breeds;
- age;
- period of life;
- feeding;
- the number of births;
- health conditions.
Read tips and advice for beginner goats.
What breeds of goats give the most milk?
Breeds of goats are divided into 3 types: dairy, meat and downy. Dairy breeds are the most popular among farmers.
The best among them are:
- zaanenskaya;
- toggenburg;
- alpine;
- nubian;
- Russian white;
- Mingrelian.
The first is ranked among the record holders by the number of milk yields - in the year it can achieve up to 1 thousand liters of milk and up to 6 liters per day. And the most productive of them even boast 3 thousand liters a year.
Read also about the Boer and Lamancha goat breeds.
Up to 1 l can be obtained from the toggenburg breed. From the Nubian and Alpine rocks you can really expect 800-900 liters per year, from the Russian white and Megrelian - 500-600.
Did you know? Due to the fact that the goat pupil has the shape of an elongated rectangle, it can see within a radius of 340°.
How many liters of milk does a goat give?
Regular goats, not related to dairy breeds, are able to give per day up to 3 liters of milk. A week from dairy animals can be expected 14-20 liters per month - up to 50-55 liters (in the summer - 60-80). The annual performance of ordinary goats - about 400 liters. 
At what age is the best productivity
Usually the largest volumes of milk goat brings after the second or third and sometimes fourth pregnancy. That is why experienced kozovody advise not to be upset, if for the first time the domestic thrush is only 2-3 liters per day. It will be possible to judge its real productivity only in the first 4-5 months after the second or fourth lambing.
How old is the goat milked
The maximum life span of a domestic goat is 15 years. But high-quality milk she can consistently bring up to reach her 12 years of age, but only with excellent feeding and care. There are exceptions, when goats lived to be 20 years old, and their lactation lasted up to 18 years.
Before the female turns 5 years old, her productivity will increase. Fall will start after 7 years. It is from this period that the animal has a worsening of the chewing apparatus, tooth loss. As a result of these processes, the horned beast will eat less and, accordingly, bring in smaller amounts of milk.
Why the goat began to give little milk
If you notice that the goat began to give less milk than usual, or it disappeared altogether, then you need to know: these problems provoke several reasons. 
The first reason and the main one are disturbances in keeping animals. It is necessary to check whether there is enough heat in the room where they live, whether it is well ventilated, whether there is dirt or high humidity in it. Especially scary for goats damp. Temperature should not be lower than + 8-10 ° С. Make sure that no drafts go around in the goat house.
Check out the recommendations for the independent construction of a goat shed.
Also, a decrease in milk can occur when the milking regime and the rules of hygiene are not observed during this procedure. Daily milking should be carried out strictly at certain hours. Before the process, you must wash your hands to prevent infection in the skin of the animal.
Another factor affecting the productivity of the female, is the diet of feeding. It should be stable, without abrupt changes.
And, of course, the productivity of thrush depends on her health. Even small micro cracks in the nipples can lead to a decrease in milk. Therefore, it is important to carefully monitor the health and condition of your pet's udder.
How to feed to have more milk
The productivity of a domestic horned animal can be increased with a special diet. It is known that goats are quite picky about food and can be content with a poor diet. 
However, during lactation it is worthwhile to introduce the following products into their daily menu:
- sliced vegetables, including tubers and roots;
- grain, including wheat, barley, oats;
- turnip and root vegetables;
- hay of non-coarse components that were mown in the flowering phase, including chamomile, clover, legumes;
- young twigs and dry brooms.
Learn, than turnip, a camomile, a clover (a red clover), bean products are useful.
Mandatory conditions for good lactation are abundant drinking and use of vitamin-mineral complexes.
Please note that when feeding, emphasis should be placed not on the amount of feed, but on its balance. Otherwise, the animal will gain weight, and milk, on the contrary, will decrease.
Video: Experience of increasing the yield of food
Did you know? In 1906, during the World Congress of Pediatric Physicians in Paris, goat milk was recognized as the best substitute for breast milk. According to nutritionists, it is absorbed by the human body 5 times better than a cow. The product is wonderfully suitable for feeding practically all mammals.
How many times a day to milk
Milk the goat should be three times a day.: in the morning, at lunch and in the evening. Some also resort to a two-time milking. After 5 months of lactation, when the milk begins to decrease, you can only milk in the morning. The highest fat content and best quality has morning milk.
In each case, the animal itself will suggest which milking mode is optimal for it.
How to milk
In order for milking to be successful, several months before lambing, the animal must be started to prepare for this. Preparation consists of massaging the udder, washing it with warm water and mowing the hair around it. Immediately before the lambing, these procedures should be discontinued.
Read also about the use and selection of milking machines for goats.
After birth, you will need to fan the goat. It is better to keep babies away from the mother so that they do not damage the udder. They need to be fed with milk for up to 3 months. Although the representatives of non-specialized breeds of children are usually weaned only at three months of age. 
Dispensing is to stimulate udder and nipple irritation. In the first week, the goat will need to be milked 5 times a day, and all the milk should be fed to babies. After 7 days, you can milk it three times and feed the kids 4 times a day. A month later, the milk will need to be diluted with boiled water, and the diet of the offspring will be gradually expanded through the introduction of hay and mineral supplements. Mom at this time can be milked twice or thrice a day - this will depend on the condition of the udder, its softness and pliability.
In order not to frighten a goat, you should give it a good watering before milking, talk to her affectionately, put slices of apples or bread alongside. Show as much animal care as possible, because this horned animal is very sensitive and strongly attached to its owner.
Important! The cattle must be taught that the person who milks it comes at the same time, preferably with equal intervals. If a person is late with daily milking for 3 hours, the yield decreases by 0.5 liters.
Before you begin milking, the udder should be well-massaged to improve its blood supply. Then wash with warm water and dry with a soft towel made of natural fabric.
There are several ways of milking: side, "Moldavian", combined. Each goat can choose the most appropriate for themselves. The process is no different from milking cows - the nipples are compressed with a fist or fingers alternately from top to bottom. 
There are several rules for milking:
- To carry out smooth, soft, rhythmic movements. Sharp movements may scare the animal, so they are prohibited. A change in rhythm leads to a decrease in the amount of milk.
- To approach the animal is boring only with clean hands and clean clothes.
- Drain the first jets in a separate container - they contain a lot of bacteria.
- After completing the procedure, the udder should be massaged again and lubricated with petroleum jelly.
Video: Goat Milking Process
Did you know? The goat is one of the first tamed animals. For the first time she began to live next to a man about 9 thousand years ago in the Middle East. Her wild ancestor was a bezoar goat.
How to increase the yield of goats: reviews of livestock breeders
Thus, the productivity of a goat depends on several factors. In turn, most of these factors depend on the owner of the animal. So, in order to receive stable and high milk yield, the goat breeder must monitor the animal's health, provide high-quality care and feeding, ensure decent living conditions, properly and milking it at the same time. In addition, do not rush to cover the goat. It was noted that high productivity is observed in females, which occurred at the age of 1.5 years, but not earlier.
