The Impact of Milking Frequency on the Productive Lifespan of Goats
The productive lifespan of goats largely depends on the intensity of milking. In conditions of excessively high milk yields, animals are often culled earlier, although goats can typically live up to 14 years.
This is reported by AgroReview
Optimal Conditions for Goat Longevity
Tatyana Karpenko, the owner of the farm “Sadoc+”, emphasizes the importance of maintaining a balance between the amount of milk produced and the welfare of the animals. She shared her experience of encountering even 16-year-old goats that continued to produce high yields and gave birth to healthy kids. In her opinion, the conditions of care and the quality of feeding are crucial. Excessive milking, for example, 5 liters a day, can lead to the exhaustion of the goat and a reduction in the productive period.
“At this age, she is a productive animal,” she believes. “I have seen a 16-year-old goat: she had nice kids and demonstrated high yields. Everything depends on the conditions of care and feeding. If you milk 5 liters a day, then, of course, the animal will become exhausted.”
The Right Approach to Weaning and Raising Kids
Tatyana Karpenko advises adhering to the “golden mean” in milking. During the milking period after kidding, if a goat is milked 5-8 times a day, it is possible to achieve an increase in milk production, as the animal perceives this as a necessity to feed a larger number of offspring. However, at the “Sadoc+” farm, they avoid excessive yields, stopping at 3.5-4 liters of milk at the peak of lactation, to prevent exhausting the animal. Kids are weaned on the 10th day, believing that this time is sufficient for effective milking of the mother.
If kids stay with their mother for a longer period, they may injure the udder, as the older kids are already capable of consuming milk well through a teat. Later, they may refuse this method of feeding.
Currently, the farm feeds the kids with natural milk, but next year they plan to switch to using a milk replacer called “Goat Mom.” This device automatically prepares the solution and maintains its necessary temperature, allowing the kids to feed at their convenience.