Goats giving pitiful amount of milk.

[sydneyjd]

Hi everyone,
I have another delema on my hands.
My 3 milking goats,2 saanens,and my lamancha,are only giving altogether a gallon a day. They freshened 4 months ago,and the max I have seen out of them this year is a gallon and a half. Last year they gave way more than this,but even that is nothing compared to what they should be giving.
They have a pasture with nice grass/alfalfa,they have grassy alfalfa for hay,are getting 2 pounds of grain a day each.(I cannot give more,they get runny) They have a saltblock,and free choice minerals always there too.
I have tried everything i can think of with their ration,but they keep giving less and less.
Also,for some reason,they seem kinda picky about their hay,even though it is great and every other animal,even my baby goats,love it.
What am I doing wrong? I am at a loss of ideas,because i cannot think of anything else to try.
Any assistance would be appreciated,
Sydney J Dykstra

(they gave just under 2 quarts tonight.)

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If they don't start giving more soon,i am going to have to drop some goat milk consumes,and i would hate to do that.

[Reckless]

How many times to you milk them a day? How many times do you give them grain a day? Do you use teat dip? How old are they? And when did they last give birth? Do they nurse babies?

[sydneyjd]

I milk them twice a day. They each get a pound of grain a milking. I don't use teat dip,i use baby wipes.
I don't know how old they are. They gave birth 4 months ago. I weaned the babies 2 months ago.
Here is a pic of me with my babies that are 4 months. https://cloud.openmailbox.org/public.php...5c7cee3d09 Do they look small for their age?
Thanks All,
Sydney J Dykstra

[Emma]

What kind of grain? Just a standard 16%? Definitely up the grain. Go slow with it, but definitely up it. Standard rule of thumb I use is 2 pounds of grain for every three pounds of milk the produce. A gallon is a good average for what a home milker will produce, a gallon is roughly 8 pounds. You could also try alfalfa pellets. Calf manna is another option, high in protein, though expensive at about $30 for a 50 lb bag.

[sydneyjd]

Yes,i think it is 16%,but i will have to double check. Thanks for the tip.

[Taffy]

Do you have any experienced goat people in your area who could mentor you? It's amazing how much I have learned from others who have a lot of years of experience.

[sydneyjd]

Personally,i don't have a clue of who would be a good goat mentor for me. I know some other goat farmers,but some of them have enough trouble with their own herd.

[Nanno]

Once again... contact your local 4-H club(s). You don't have to join. Just get in touch with dairy goat folks through that organization. Go to a few shows (not to participate--to watch), and meet folks there. I've met a ton of people by going to a few shows and talking to folks. I'm too old to be in 4-H, but I've met quite a few "goat people" by getting in touch with the leaders and meeting the families that participate. Most everyone I've met is really glad to help me out, just as I'm really glad to help out other folks in my area if they ask for it.

[Taffy]

I'm with you, Nanno. 4-H Clubs and Cooperative Extension Services are great resources.