Rural farms are dominated by local dairy breeds bred by breeders. The most dairy breeds are Saan and Alpine. The average milk yield of purebred breeds is up to 6 liters of milk per day on pasture, which gives 800-1200 liters during lactation. The result is impressive, especially in comparison with the body weight, which in an adult is 55-70 kg.

The main factor influencing unit milk production is the genotype of the animal. Noble goat breeds selected for milking produce more milk over a longer lactation period than local breeds. In noble and ennobled breeds, the average milk yield is more than 800-1000 kg of milk, during 260-280 days of lactation and local breeds, the average milk yield of which is from 100 to 500 kg of milk for 140-200 days of lactation, respectively (Table 1).

A country	Breed	Duration of lactation (days)	Capacity (kg)
Switzerland	Saanen Toggenurskaya	200	690
France	Alpine French, Saanen French	275	760
USA	Saanen toggenburskaya, alpine. Anglo - Nubian	305	1000
Germany	German white and colorful noble	240	700
Poland	White Polish refined, Polish colored refined.	260	600
Norway	Norwegian dairy	210	560
Spain	Mursi - granadina	210	390
India	Beetal jamnapari	180	170
Russia	Saanen Russian white Gorkovskaya Toggenburg	330	600-700

Influence of inbreeding level

A genetic factor such as outbredness, as in other animals, leads to the presence of undesirable genes caused by the effect of increasing homozygosity (inbreeding depression). Although artificial insemination is rarely used in goat raising and breeding, limited populations of some species (small numbers of goats involved in breeding or natural isolation of some populations) can lead to increased inbreeding.

The opposite of inbreeding is the increase in heterozygosity through the use of proper crosses - usually local breeds with noble breeds.

The phenomenon of heterosis contributes to the fact that the milk productivity of goats in a generation of descendants increases.

Influence of physiological state

The physiological characteristics of animals also affect the level of milk yield. One of these factors is the age of the animal, which is closely related to body weight and duration of lactation. Body weight may increase up to 5-6 years, but after the third year this increase is small - this is one reason why a goat produces little milk. Peak performance is between the 3rd and 6th year, and sometimes between the 4th and 8th year of lactation. Weight differences between breeds also affect milk supply. Therefore, when choosing a breed for breeding, environmental conditions should be taken into account. For intensive breeding, goats of large breeds should be chosen; for extensive livestock farming, animals with a lower weight are suitable.

Dairy goats receive more feed and produce more milk per unit of body weight than cows.

This is due to a higher metabolic rate. A goat with a milk production of 700 kg consumes on average 30% more nutrients per 1 kg of milk than a cow with a milk production of 7000 kg. This is due to the great needs of goats. When fed with high-quality feed, its digestibility is at the same level as for sheep and cows. However, when feeding low-quality feed (straw with low nitrogen content), the goats' digestive efficiency increases, so it is more advisable to feed them with high-quality feed so that they produce more milk.

They have a very high tolerance to bitter, sour and salty tastes. Animals have a narrow mouth with a mobile tongue and a very well developed sense of taste and smell. They carefully select the richest parts of plants that are rich in nutrients, so they collect enough nutrients even in poorer conditions.

Effect of stage of lactation

The level of milk production changes uniformly with the duration of lactation. The peak occurs around day 60-80. The performance of dairy goats was studied over several years without repeated lambing. Although the animals were kept at the same temperature throughout the year and fed the same, it was found that the annual rhythm of milk production was maintained, but was maximum in the summer. Therefore, it is concluded that the amount of light also affects how much milk a goat produces.

Number of kids

The number of kids in the litter also affects the level of milk production. During pregnancy, glandular tissue develops. In the case of multiple pregnancies, this mass, as well as the production of hormones responsible for milk secretion, is greater. In the case of raising kids with their mother, suckling (feeding kids for up to a month) also stimulates milk production.

Milking a goat

It is very beneficial to massage the goat's udder before lambing begins. This procedure will prevent the occurrence of mastitis and will help milk the goat after lambing. Massaging the udder daily will also help ensure trouble-free milking during lactation.

Manual

There is nothing complicated about how to milk a goat, although the process is not easy for novice breeders. First you need to figure out how to milk a goat correctly and how to prepare the animal and udder for the process.

How to milk a goat after the first lambing: it is better to place the animal in a separate room.

It is recommended to start feeding after 3-4 hours, with a period of 3-4 hours in the first 5-6 days. Clean the udder from dirt, hair, wipe the nipples with a rag moistened with a warm iodine solution and wipe until dry. After this, put on clean clothes, cover the bucket with gauze, sit on a low stool, gently massage the udder and begin milking, providing the animal with free access to food.

First massage both lobes of the udder in turn, and then, slightly lowering the nipples to the bottom, without tugging on them, begin the milking process.

It is better to restrain the milking goat, as at first it may be in pain and she will kick. Act in such a way as not to injure the animal, console and calm it with gentle words and stroking. Movements should be calm and smooth so as not to frighten the animal.

During the first 5-6 days, colostrum will come from the udder, which must be fed to the kids. It is rich in minerals and vitamins and has a great influence on the further development of the offspring.

After the udder is empty, repeat the massage and lubricate the animal’s nipples with Vaseline or a special cream. The procedure helps keep nipples healthy and clean, without cracks or inflammation.

To prevent milk production from decreasing, it is important to milk the goat at the same time. With proper care and a balanced diet, dairy goats, after the first lambing, produce 4-5 liters of milk per day, and after subsequent lambings 8-10 liters.

Machine

A goat milking machine can greatly simplify the milking process. If you can’t buy a milking machine for a goat, you can build it yourself.

The milking machine has an electric motor that drives the vacuum pump to create a constant vacuum. The machines come in several options:

• mini-machine for milking and personal use;
• stationary installations for milking goats on an industrial scale.

When constructing a milking machine for goats with your own hands, or improving it, first of all take care of the safety and comfort of the animals.

Approach the milking process carefully so as not to damage the udder, and therefore assemble all milking machines carefully and carefully. Treat animals with care.

During pregnancy, before the birth of kids, the goat must be given 6-8 weeks of rest before giving birth, before the start of the next lactation period. But milk should not be allowed to accumulate in the udder; it should be soft. If necessary, the milk must be milked completely and given to animals, otherwise it is not suitable for consumption. During this period, limit the consumption of root vegetables, silage and feed concentrates.

A pregnant goat can be milked up to 1.5-2 months before the planned birth. Then limit milking to once a day and stop milking completely after 5-7 days.

Milking frequency

The milk yield is affected by how many times a day a goat is milked. If one milking during the week is omitted, the milk loss will be 5%, while with one milking during the day the loss will reach 1/3 of her production.

Goats are usually milked twice a day and can be milked mechanically or by hand. Mechanical milking lasts 3-4 minutes, manual milking 6-7 minutes. A goat produces about 2 liters of milk per day during one milking. The increase in milk yield directly depends on the quality of feed, as well as on her mental and physical state, due to certain conditions:

• hunger and thirst;
• discomfort;
• pain, wounds, illnesses;
• fear and stress.

Influence of environmental conditions

Among the environmental factors, the most important are:

• ambient temperature;
• feed quality;
• grazing.

Low temperatures, as well as too high temperatures in summer, lead to reduced productivity. Milk yield at -1°C was only 30% of production at +20°C. However, the reduction also depends on the quality of the diet. Vitamin-rich raw fiber increases the goat's milk yield and the less the impact of falling temperatures. In addition to nutrition, humidity and air movement also significantly affect animal performance.

How to increase milk yield? The problem is complex and depends on many factors interacting with each other. The amount of energy and protein consumed, as well as the structure of the diet, have a decisive influence on the productivity and composition of milk.

Good parameters can be provided with:

• correct balancing of the feed dose in terms of protein and energy;
• providing mineral and vitamin supplements in the diet, taking into account the lactation phase;
• no changes in feed quality
• constant access to clean water;
• creating technological groups taking into account the phase of lactation and milk productivity;
• ensuring animal welfare and environmental hygiene.

How many teats does a goat have: The udder consists of two independent mammary glands with separate glandular tissue and blood supply and the same number of teats. The septum that separates the mammary glands is elastic and helps support the udder. The volume of the udder increases with the age of the female and significantly affects the milk yield. Large, highly productive goats have an udder volume of about 2.5 liters and a weight of 3 kg.

Milk is a healthy and nutritious product, especially goat milk. It is used to make soft cheese and other delicacies. Living in a rural area or just outside the countryside, you can get a goat to provide your family with milk for years to come. But many young breeders face a lot of problems. Questions about how much milk a goat gives per day, when it appears at all, and many others will be answered below in the article.

When does a goat produce milk?

Some breeders are confident that having bought a young goat, they will immediately begin to receive milk from it. However, the animal begins to produce milk only after the first pregnancy. It is intended for feeding kids, but a dairy goat produces so much milk per day that it is enough for both a newborn and for personal use.

About a few days before lambing, the animal’s udder becomes elastic and full. But before lambing, the goat cannot be milked; you can only wash it and massage it a little to improve blood supply. After lambing, the young mother produces milk for 6-7 months, sometimes 9, but the quality, fat content and quantity in the last months will be low. After 6-9 months, the milk disappears and in order to get it again, the goat must again bear a kid.

What factors influence milk yield?

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The answer to the question of how much milk a goat gives per day directly depends on several factors. And the breed plays the main role here. A dairy animal produces more milk and its fat content is much higher than that of meat goats. Productive species include: Toggenbur, Saanen, Megrelian and Russian. They milk 1.5-2.4 liters of milk per day, without special care. But the Alpine breed of goats is distinguished by the highest indicators. The milk yield per day is 4 liters with a fat content of 3.5%! This is currently a record figure.

In addition, among the decisive factors are:

• age;
• stage of lactation;
• content type;
• health;
• feeding.

As you can see, almost everything affects the amount of product received, so you should not neglect the standard of care or feeding. This is something that the breeder can directly influence.

Separately, it is worth mentioning health. When buying a goat, you should choose the right individual. If there is no personal experience, it is better to involve a specialist, otherwise they may be deceived in the market and sell a defective or sick animal. In this case, it is very important to pay the most attention to the udder. It is it that must meet all quality criteria - round, smooth, without deformation, nipples of the correct shape sticking down and to the side.

How many liters of milk does a goat produce per day?

Breeding dairy goats produce 6 liters of milk per day. At the same time, the highest productivity is 3-4 lambings - the middle of lactation. It is during this period that even simple goats produce a record amount of product, as for breeding dairy goats, they will satisfy the needs of even the most demanding breeder.

Ordinary goats can produce up to 3 liters of milk per day. This includes simple meat and dairy breeds. It is worth noting that the amount of milk can be increased with good maintenance and feeding. Supplements that stimulate lactation will also help.

It is important to note that a goat produces a large amount of milk at the beginning and middle of the lactation period. At the end of lactation, the amount may decrease to 0.5 liters per day. This is quite normal and in order to get milk again the animal must lamb.

Meat goats always have little milk - a maximum of 1.5 liters per day, but more often up to a liter. It is very tasty, fatty, but it is only enough to feed young animals.

How to increase milk yield?

Almost everything from age to feeding affects how much milk one goat can produce per day. But, in fact, only feeding and maintenance, as well as the female’s pregnancy period and the choice of breed, depend on the breeder. So, how to increase the daily milk yield of a goat?

1. The first thing that can help is regulating the timing of pregnancy. In summer there is a lot more succulent feed, and it is they that affect milk production. Therefore, if a goat gets milked in the summer, it will produce much more milk.
2. If there is no possibility or desire to adjust lambing to the summer period, you can simply provide the animal with a nutritious diet throughout the year. Fresh hay in winter will be a gift for him. But besides this, you need a large amount of vitamins, microelements, various additives - but only high-quality and natural ones!
3. Conditions of detention must be strictly regulated. The more comfortable a young mother feels, the more high-fat milk she will produce.
4. Experienced breeders recommend not breeding a goat in the first year after birth. The fact is that the young animal has not yet fully grown, the cub will only do harm, because the goat’s body is still developing, and there is an additional burden. As a result, it can produce a meager milk yield of up to 2 liters per day, or even less!
5. To obtain milk, you should choose only dairy goats or, as a last resort, meat and dairy goats.

Some owners believe that attention to the animal is excessive. But practice shows that care, the ability to bestow comfort and love leads to incredible results. Goats quickly become attached to the owner, and even more so to the mistress, and with due attention they can provide the breeder with liters of fatty, high-quality milk.

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Unfortunately, not all farmers and summer residents can afford to keep a cow. But many people want to drink aromatic and healthy milk every day. To solve this issue, livestock breeders resort to breeding goats, which are unpretentious, take up little space, and their milk is no less valuable than cow's milk. However, when purchasing such an animal, novice farmers are not always able to independently provide it with proper and prolonged lactation. We will take a detailed look at what determines lactation in goats, and also share the main ways to increase milk production.

When does a goat start producing milk?

Having settled a young goat on the plot, the farmer expects large milk yields from the animal in the near future, but in practice this is not the case. It will take time for her to enter the active phase of lactation.

First time

The main task of milk in an animal’s body is to replenish the offspring’s need for nutrients and vitamins and minerals important for development. Therefore, lactation occurs only after the birth of the first offspring, for which the animal must necessarily grow, mature and prepare. Let's consider at what age a new addition to a farmer's farm will produce its first milk.
Often, puberty in domestic goats occurs at the age of 6-8 months, but at this time they are not yet ready to give birth to offspring. During this period, their body is weakened and not fully formed. Therefore, for successful productivity, you will need to wait for the phase of full maturation.

Depending on the breed, the time for goats to mate occurs no earlier than 9-12 months after birth, as evidenced by behavioral and physiological changes. If mating is successful, new offspring appear after 250 days, after which the animal is ready to give milk. Thus, the purchased goat will please its owner with its first products no earlier than in 8-12 months.

Did you know?The domestic goat is considered one of the first animals domesticated by humans. This happened about 9 thousand years ago in the Middle East.

After lambing

After lambing, the goat is able to give the first milk within a few hours after the birth of the offspring. However, at this time, her body produces colostrum - a secret that is vital for the immunity of newborns. Full milk is produced a few days after lambing and only if you have purchased a highly productive dairy breed.

For the majority, for several months after lambing, so little milk is produced that it is hardly enough to provide for the kids.

In this case, it will take several months for the offspring to get stronger. After which the milk can be removed without harm to the kids and their mother.

After the first lambing, it will take quite a long time to milk the animal. This is due not only to the characteristics of the body, but also to the lack of habit of milking. In addition, in some cases, full lactation occurs only after the second lambing, regardless of the productivity of the breed. This often occurs in immature animals, or after pregnancy accompanied by pathologies.

Average daily milk yield

Productivity depends not only on the characteristics of the organism and breed, but also on the conditions of detention. In addition, the activity of lactation often depends on the composition of the diet and its balance, therefore the total milk yield of a healthy and productive individual varies. Often, common breeds produce 5-6 liters of milk per day.
In recent decades, several highly productive breeds have been developed (Alpine, Saanen, Toggenburg), capable of producing up to 8-10 liters of milk per day. Such hybrids are expensive, which reduces the profitability and feasibility of their maintenance.

Important!These figures are given as an average during the most productive period. At the beginning and end of lactation, milk yield will be lower.

How many times a day should you milk a goat?

When breeding meat and dairy animals, maintaining a milking schedule is an important measure to maintain long-term lactation. Otherwise, the amount of milk may decrease sharply. This is due to the high energy consumption during milk production. Therefore, the goat is milked 2 times a day: morning and evening.
This mode is optimal for most breeds. But if you want to extract the maximum volume of milk in a minimum period, increase the number of milkings per day to 3. This is an acceptable norm, at which there is no harm to the body.

What determines the amount of milk yield?

Productivity depends on the breed, age, health status, and number of lambings. Therefore, when keeping a goat, pay attention not only to its general condition, but also to periodic stimulation of lactation.

In addition, take into account the features that cause a decrease in milk production in productive individuals:

• lack of physical activity;
• lack of lighting in the barn;
• high humidity in areas where animals are kept (especially during the off-season);
• sudden changes in temperature;
• non-compliance with hygiene conditions.

Breed

Breed is a factor influencing the amount of milk production. Genetically determined productivity becomes the condition that ensures long-term lactation. Not many existing breeds are highly productive. This is due to the fact that the market is dominated by low-quality hybrids from natural or non-professional animal husbandry.

Therefore, in order not to make a mistake in your choice, pay attention to the following highly productive breeds of factory selection:

The breed does not always play a dominant role in productivity. Often hybrids are born with defects that inhibit lactation and affect its duration.

1. Body shape. The animal must be in proportion and free from external defects. The skeletal system of healthy animals looks complete, and the legs should be straight and directed one opposite the other. A healthy body is dense, round, with a small layer of fat under the skin.
2. Udder. It should have a structure that is elastic to the touch and a voluminous spherical shape. The nipples should be pronounced, their size depends on the palm of the milkmaid, so individuals with small and uncomfortable nipples should be discarded. Healthy udder skin is thin, evenly structured and exceptionally smooth.
3. Mood. A good goat is always playful, active and curious, and has an excellent appetite. Oppressed, passive animals must be abandoned, since such animals are often sick with some kind of ailment.

Age

Individuals aged 2-5 years are considered productive. At this time, under optimal conditions, they produce a sufficient amount of milk to meet all the needs of the owner. But this does not mean that it is not worth buying young animals. When purchasing a goat, you should definitely remember that it needs to get used to its new owner. It is more difficult for an adult animal to do this than for a young animal; it often experiences stress, and this affects productivity.

Did you know?The bezoar goat is considered the ancestor of modern domestic goats. The animal is still widespread in the wild today in Asia Minor, Western and Central Asia, as well as in the vicinity of the Aegean Sea and the Armenian Highlands.

Feeding

Often, a lack of substances necessary for lactation causes a decrease in lactation.

Therefore, a balanced diet for a productive animal should be based on:

• vegetables;
• fresh grass;
• young branches of bushes and fruit trees;
• hay and straw;
• concentrates (barley, silage).

The animals are fed enough, 3 times a day. The first feeding is carried out at 6-7 o'clock in the morning, the second - closer to lunchtime, the last - no later than 18-19 o'clock in the evening. For highly productive breeds, additional feeding is introduced at 15-16 hours of the day.
In summer, the basis of the food is fresh grass and vegetables, to which concentrated and vitamin supplements are mixed. In winter, goats are fed vegetables, root vegetables and hay. Additionally, they are given concentrates (up to 20% of the total weight) and always supplements rich in vitamins and minerals.

When feeding, avoid foods with a high content of harmful and specific toxins.

These include:

• lupine hay;
• fern, bristle grass, thistle, feather grass, trailer, hellebore;
• flax cake, mustard, rapeseed, camelina, rapeseed, hemp;
• potato tubers turned green in the sun;
• grain damaged by any insects or their waste products;
• rotten hay, fruits and vegetables;
• sour silage.

Important!The amount of milk production also depends on the volume of water consumed by the goats, so they should be provided with an unlimited amount of it. The water must be fresh and clean.

Number of births

Productive time for goats begins after the second mating, since in the first year of lactation the young animal is milked. The exception is narrowly focused dairy breeds, which are able to produce sufficient milk within a few weeks after lambing. Productivity decreases sharply after 5-6 lambings. The reason for this is the natural wear and tear of the reproductive and other systems of the animal’s body.

Impact of diseases

A decrease in milk yield is also caused by diseases and pathologies affecting the udder and related systems.

These include:

1. Infectious agalactia. Bacterial infection of the udder caused by a microorganism Mycoplasma agalactiae. The bacterium enters the body through wounds on the damaged udder.
2. Mastitis. Inflammation of the mammary gland caused by a variety of irritants (mechanical, chemical or biological nature). They occur during periods of stagnation and in the productive period.
3. Injuries. Mechanical damage to the organ. They are caused by hitting objects and obstacles, or improper milking. Accompanied by local swelling and bruising.
4. Edema. They occur due to poor circulation in the udder during pregnancy or childbirth. The organ increases in size and acquires a dense structure.

Why did the goat stop giving milk?

Lactation disturbance is a dangerous phenomenon for farm productivity and livestock health. This is a symptom of processes that result in impaired blood circulation in the udder. The goat may completely lose the ability to produce milk, and in advanced cases, even die.
There are many reasons for deterioration of lactation.

But if the pathological process is not accompanied by pronounced symptoms, it is associated with a disorder:

• conditions for keeping animals - temperature, humidity and ventilation;
• nutrition - an excessively meager diet and the use of low-quality products or the use of too high-calorie foods;
• milking regime - non-compliance with the frequency of milking per day and the number of milkings per day;
• maintenance hygiene - neglect of the rules for cleaning and disinfecting the barn.

Did you know?Among domestic goats, there is a “fainting goat”, which, when greatly frightened, loses consciousness and falls. This is due to hereditary neuromuscular pathology, which is unique to this breed.

How to increase milk yield?

Domestic goats produce milk for a limited period of time, so every farmer should take care of increasing the productivity of his farm.

To do this you should:

• provide a high-quality and balanced diet, as well as at least 5 liters of fresh water per day;
• walk the wards on pastures in the summer, and in the winter - on the plot;
• base the diet on fresh grass from field or meadow herbs;
• periodically examine the goats by a veterinarian;
• comply with the standards of care and hygiene of farm animals.

The domestic goat is an unpretentious and productive animal that should produce at least 5 liters per day of high-quality and aromatic milk. In order to achieve high productivity from her, it is necessary to create favorable conditions: optimal microclimate and conditions in the housing premises, provide a correct and balanced diet, and also adhere to the mating schedule.

Many homestead owners are thinking about getting a goat. After all, this “little cow” is an ideal animal to keep. Small size, unpretentiousness, cheerful disposition - these attractive qualities only increase the number of his fans. Caring for a goat is comparatively easier than caring for a cow, and there will always be environmentally friendly products on the table: milk, tender cottage cheese, delicious feta cheese. Or maybe there will be something left for sale, then the purchase of some feed will pay off. If you start not just one goat, but a small herd, then the number will increase significantly. But those who decide to try themselves in this field have completely justified questions. How much milk does a goat produce per day? What to feed her, how to care for her? How to successfully choose a dairy goat so that the purchase does not disappoint?

Breeds of dairy goats

Of course, you can buy an ordinary mongrel goat, and if you’re lucky, the amount of milk that the goat gives per day will be 2.5, and maybe 3 liters. This is enough for a family of 3-4 people. But it also happens that for some goats 1.5 liters per day is the ceiling, and she will milk not 8-11 months a year, but 6, and then keeping the animal will be unprofitable. Therefore, if high performance is important to the future owner of a productive herd, then it is worth thinking about buying purebred goats that can provide not only his family with dairy products, but also bring a small benefit. Which breed should you choose, and which goats will give the highest milk yield?

Compound feeds contain vitamins and microelements. For goats, you can use nutritional mixtures adapted for birds. They have a positive effect on the intrauterine development of the offspring, the health and immune system of animals and, of course, on how many liters of milk a goat gives during the day. During the stall period, the animal eats up to 300 kg of them.

Roughage

The basis of nutrition for artiodactyl domestic animals during the cold period is hay. Dry food with thin stems of grasses, legumes and cereals is especially valued. The hay should not be overdried; the moisture content of a good harvest is about 17%. It makes up a third of the goat’s entire diet in winter; 2 kg per day is enough, but if the animal is large or lactating, then the norm can be increased to 2.5 kg.

Goats prefer straw from spring cereals, legumes, lentils, peas, and beans. But goats are reluctant to eat stems from winter crops.

To increase the nutritional value of the straw, as well as give it a more attractive taste, it is crushed and sprinkled with warm salted water (50 g of salt per 10 liters). Then, it is kept in a wooden box for 16-18 hours, concentrates and root vegetables are added. Goats eat this product with pleasure, but next time they should not leave it, it may spoil.

Goats also love twig food; in addition, it significantly increases milk yield, significantly affects how much milk a goat gives per day, and contains an impressive range of microelements. They begin to collect brooms from the very beginning of summer. Suitable branches of willow, linden, poplar, birch, hazel, ash, elm, rowan. Branches no more than 1 cm thick and half a meter long are cut with pruning shears and dried for several hours in the sun to produce vitamin D. Then they are hung under a canopy or in the attic and dried for 2 weeks. Then they are folded in rows in several layers.

During the stall period, the goat can be given 5 brooms a day, but give birch brooms in limited quantities, they can provoke inflammation of the kidneys. One goat needs at least 100 brooms for the winter.

If it was not possible to prepare brooms in the summer, then thin branches up to 4 mm thick can save the situation. Goats happily eat up to 40 of them at a time. They are also rich in vitamins and contain a lot of chlorophyll. You can start cutting branches in November until spring.

Fallen leaves are also used to feed goats; vitamins are preserved in them and they have sufficient nutritional value. Leaves are collected with a rake in dry weather, rolled into rollers, dried and cleaned of dirt.

Approximate daily diet

If in the summer the goat is mainly satisfied on the pasture, and the green, lush grass practically covers the need for nutrients, then during the period of stalling, properly organized feeding plays a huge role. After all, a well-fed animal will never freeze, will be cheerful, and a balanced diet will help maintain its health, and future offspring will be born strong and developed. Plus, this will have a positive effect on how much milk the goat gives per day.

In the morning, it is better to give the goat concentrates - 150 g or a little more for a large animal and half a kilogram of root vegetables per head.

At lunchtime, hunger will be satisfied with hay, wreaths or leaves.

In the evening there is the same amount of concentrated feed as in the morning. And some more hay for the night.

If feeding standards are not followed, livestock may develop rickets and vitamin deficiency.

How to increase milk yield

How much milk does a goat produce per day? The quantity depends on several conditions. This is a hereditary factor, housing conditions, feeding, age of the goat, number of milkings per day, and duration of lactation. Some of them do not depend on the owner: they are determined by genetics, but there are reasons that a person can significantly influence. A set of correct measures will help a goat reach its full productive potential.

1. As soon as the kids are born, the goat needs to be milked: frequent milking up to 4 times a day, udder massage stimulates milk supply, increases blood circulation, which has a positive effect on the quality of the product.
2. You can significantly increase the amount of milk by increasing the rate of concentrated feed. But here it is important not to overdo it, otherwise you can harm the animal.
3. Milk comes from succulent additions, especially pumpkin, apples, and root vegetables.
4. Experienced breeders recommend feeding turnips to goats: it has milk-producing properties. It should be added to mash.
5. Tree branches diversify the diet; they contain microelements and vitamins.
6. Sometimes vitamin deficiency is the reason for a decrease in milk production, so especially in winter it is necessary to include vitamin supplements in the feed.
7. How much milk a goat gives per day is affected by the amount of water it drinks; you cannot deny this to an animal either on a hot summer day or in severe frosts. Some caring owners offer their pets water with the addition of a decoction of herbs, lemon juice, regular tea or kombucha. They steam a handful of rowan or viburnum berries and some dried fruit. Goats drink this water with great pleasure, but you need to choose it according to the animal’s taste.

How to milk a goat

How many liters of milk a goat gives per day depends on how well the milking is organized. Some people recommend starting to massage and develop the goat's udder a month before giving birth, but this is wrong. The udder may become irritated and then the young animals will be lost.

It is better to start the massage an hour after lambing, during milking, then the benefits will be obvious. After the goat has given birth, the offspring should be immediately isolated, otherwise the uterus may subsequently not allow the owner to approach the udder.

In order for the animal to stand calmly, you need to place a bowl of water in front of it and throw in pieces of bread, dried fruit, and sliced ​​apples. The udder must be washed with warm water, wiped dry with a towel and massaged into each lobe. Then grab the nipple with your fingers, squeeze and pull down, squeezing out the milk with sliding movements. The first streams should not fall into the milking bowl, as they are unsterile.

The udder needs to be completely emptied, because the remaining milk in it can cause mastitis. This also affects the increase in lactation: an empty udder fills faster.

If the goat is young and has had kids for the first time, then it is more difficult to milk her. She does not yet understand what they want from her, and is excited by new sensations. Not everyone has a pen, so you need to tie her on a short leash and offer her her favorite treat or tasty drink. It’s good if someone close to you helps, holds and strokes you, calming you down. A little patience - and your nurse will get used to the procedure and will take it calmly.

Having successfully purchased a goat with good heredity and properly caring for it, the owner can be sure: how many liters of milk a goat produces per day is enough to provide the whole family with high-quality dairy products, and even bring significant profit.

Today, raising goats on farms for the purpose of producing milk is not common. Animals are mainly kept in private farmsteads in small numbers, which significantly affects the cost of the final product. That's why how much milk does a goat give?, is mainly influenced by her breed.

Breeders have tried to develop several highly productive dairy species, among which the leaders are:

• Saanen;
• Gorky;
• Russians;
• Nubian.

With proper care, goats of these breeds are capable of producing more than 1 liter of milk per milking, but if their diet is poor and the living conditions are deplorable, then these animals sharply reduce their productivity indicators.

Description of dairy breeds

Interestingly, per 1 kg of live weight, goats produce 2 times more milk than cows.

Maximum result

Saanen goats are considered the most productive breed. They were bred on the slopes of the Swiss Alps. The average milk yield of the breed for the entire lactation is 800-1000 liters of product, but in Australia one animal was able to set a record and produce 3507 liters of milk. Per day, Saanen goats produce about 2 liters of high-quality product with a fat content of 4% -4.5%.

Externally, these goats can be identified by several characteristics:

• most of them are polled (hornless);
• The coat color of all individuals is white or cream;
• the coat is short and coarse;
• large pear-shaped or rounded udder;
• height at the withers – 70 cm and weight up to 70 kg.

This breed is ideal for farm breeding, since goats are adapted to machine milking and respond very much to good living conditions by increasing their milk yield.

Gorky and Russian

These breeds were obtained through selection of local animals and those imported from Europe. They received resistance to local weather conditions and high productivity without special requirements for feeding and maintenance. These goats grow up to 70 cm at the withers and 60 kg in weight. The main colors are white, black, gray and their crosses, medium coat.

How much milk a goat produces per day in reality does not correspond to the declared indicators of breeders. Usually it is possible to obtain no more than 700 liters of product during the entire lactation period, but the milk is very fatty and high in protein. All individuals of this breed actively grow and respond to food, so they are often bred for meat. In addition, goats experience multiple pregnancies.

African breed

Nubian goats appeared here relatively recently and took root only in warm regions of the country. They are capable of producing up to 2-4 liters of milk per day, and up to 900 liters over the entire milking period. Externally, goats differ from others by their characteristic drooping ears and lack of horns. Their color can be any, but spotted representatives of the breed are more common. Nubian goats grow actively and fatten quickly, which also makes it possible to obtain high-quality meat from them.

Proper nutrition

The quality of the diet greatly influences how much milk she will produce per day. The taste preferences of the animal itself may differ from the needs of the body. Goats can eat everything in their path - thorns, branches, weeds, roots and food waste, but if there are various goodies in the feeder, they will eat them first, leaving the rest of the food to spoil. The digestive system of goats is capable of digesting almost everything that enters the stomach, but to obtain high-quality milk it is necessary to introduce mineral and vitamin supplements into the animal’s diet. Lizun salts and various premixes are often used for this.

The basis of the winter diet of a dairy goat is dry hay with small twigs and leaves. The use of straw is allowed only if it is first chopped and soaked in salt water. It is recommended to give this straw to the animal mixed with chopped root vegetables or other vegetables. In summer the goats must graze and the straw is gradually replaced by green grass.

In the cold season, the goat should also receive tree branches, which are pre-harvested for this purpose. It is necessary to cut thin shoots of aspen, birch, rowan or other deciduous trees, tie them into brooms and dry them. To prevent the animal from reducing its milk yield with the onset of cold weather, the goat’s diet should consist of:

• hay;
• brooms from shoots of deciduous trees;
• root crops, vegetables;
• sunflower cake;
• grains of wheat, oats, barley.

When changing seasons, it is important to switch to new foods gradually to avoid sharp fluctuations in the amount of milk produced per day.

How much product a goat can produce per day also depends on its proper maintenance. It is very important to always separate dairy animals from other animals. This is required to facilitate milking and control the pregnancy of females.

Typically, goats are kept in small numbers on private farmsteads, which allows them to significantly increase their milk yield in the summer. In winter, the amount of milk practically disappears, since the animals are kept in closed sheds, which rarely have an area for walking.

When kept in pasture-stall conditions, goats are capable of producing significant productivity indicators per day, but this is only practiced on farms.

To improve winter productivity, it is important to keep goats loose in barns with deep bedding, good ventilation and natural light. For each animal, the room area should be at least 1.5 m2, and the walking area should be 2-4 m2. To ensure that the amount of milk per day does not decrease significantly, the temperature in the goat house should be maintained at least 12 0 C and humidity within 50% -70%.

What else affects milk yield

The amount of product obtained is also influenced by how many times a day the goat is milked. An incorrect approach to the procedure can significantly reduce productivity indicators for the entire duration of the animal’s lactation in the future.

How much should a goat be milked during the suckling period? Usually at this time, 1 milking is replaced by feeding the kid, so it is necessary to express milk manually only once a day, but this approach often leads to a decrease in productivity. The fact is that the kid is unable to completely suck out all the available milk in the udder, especially in a dairy goat, and the regular residue of the product leads to its burnout and less release in the future. To prevent the goat's productivity from falling, it is best to milk it from the very beginning, using three milkings. Also, the animal should be interested during the procedure by giving an udder massage before milking and treating the goat with mixed feed.

How much milk a goat produces depends on its age and stage of lactation. Most often, animals demonstrate maximum productivity indicators after 3-4 lambings and only in the second half of the lactation period. It happens that firstborns, with proper milking, produce maximum performance after the middle of the lactation period.

Product quality

It is important to know that a large amount of milk does not always indicate its quality. The fat content and nutritional value of the product are greatly influenced by the animal’s proper nutrition, comfortable living conditions and the owner’s attitude. Goats are very sensitive to the people around them, become strongly attached to their owner and feel his love and care. Often these animals allow only one specific person to come near them for milking.