Going from two milkings down to one

[Seth]

We have a nubian/alpine doe (kidded this spring). We are currently getting about a quart from her in the morning and a quart in the evenings. How do you transition to only milking her in the morning?

Thanks!

 

[Southern by choice]

When we go to one milking a day we just simple eliminate the pm milking. It also makes it easier IMO to dry a doe off after doing 1xday for awhile as production will go down with the transition for 2xday.

 

[Seth]

Thanks, SbC! If the doe is giving a lot of milk, do you have to do anything different?

 

[Southern by choice]

It really depends. If she was a 2gallon a day milker that will be a problem. Then you would want to milk out in the pm but not all the way. Leave some. Gradually you will be able to reduce the milk output and go to once a day.
If your girl is doing 1qt am/pm it should not be an issue BUT if you are concerned and think she may not do well than you could do the same- milk out about 2 cups in the pm.
Reduce feed and alfalfa hay.
For some it is easier to take off the morning milking and only do pm. That way the feed and quality hay is am and milked pm.

We have found pm milking at once a day gave us great output and was easier. For the ones we have eliminated the pm milking and milked am only our production was not as good on the once a day.

Not sure why but my guess is that at night they really aren't eating. They are sleeping whereas all day they are eating and turning that into milk. LOL Could also be that our pm milking times are much more consistent than our am milking.