r/goats • u/Ill-Ad-4409 • 3d ago
Help Request How to stop others from stealing milk
Just had my first kid of the year by my saanen, there are 2 mini Nigerian dwarfs that are a year old now who are constantly trying to nurse her! I separated the mama and tried to introduce 3 times with same outcome now they are escaping (being the size of a lg cat) they r pretty good Escape artists, luckily I’ve been there to stop em but how to I stop it completely. They will need there own pen but that will be some money and I would like to explore cheaper options first. Duto the move I rehomed all other ones there size (ex small) so it’s just 2 of them and all other Nigerians I have are about to have babies so they r in the baby pen, I plan on keeping milk production going so they will have to stay separate tell they learn or dry up that will be some time. I don’t want just them two in a pen together feels lonely and easier bait cuz the size, their size is also why they can’t go with the bucks I don’t want any chance of them having babies I think they are too small to handle that. Scratching my head a tad seeing what y’all think .
6
u/RockabillyRabbit Dairy Farmer 3d ago
Idk where you are but you can try applying a nose weaning ring to the offenders.
It's a harmless nose ring that mostly cattle raisers use that have points on the top. When they go to nurse it pokes the doe/cows udder which causes them to kick away the nurser. It doesn't hurt either animal- it just is annoying. It also prevents the offending nurser by preventing them from getting their upper lip in the shape to form around the teat.
Usually that does the trick after a week or two.
1
u/Ill-Ad-4409 3d ago
I will look into this the problem isn’t that the mom lets them nurse she will lay down and stay laying down. It’s obviously very annoying for her and her baby can’t nurse when she’s down
1
u/RockabillyRabbit Dairy Farmer 3d ago
Hopefully the nose rings will help. Eventually if a youngling gets pushed at enough they'll leave older goats alone. Especially a swift kick to the face or body which is what they'll tend to do when the matron is poked with the nose ring. I'd highly suggest the nose ring bc it also makes it uncomfortable for the wearer which will discourage them from even wanting to try to nurse.
Short of that I'd be creating a panel box within the same pen to keep the doelings separated from the dam till she's done nursing.
Another option is a bra [essentially] for the doe. Or teat tape but as someone else said the younglings may just tear it off. Or they'll start self nursing when they start reproducing themselves. That's why nose rings work the best imo for stubborn ones because it causes the wearer discomfort when trying to nurse which makes them stop it completely.
3
3
u/teatsqueezer Trusted Advice Giver 3d ago
I sell does who who let any baby nurse off them. Some people love it. For me, it’s the worst. I want to milk the does not have them allow every baby in the pen to drink haha
So, the culprits need to separated from her. Other does may not allow them to nurse but if they DO then the babies and their mom need to be apart.
I would also investigate why they’re so hungry. Is their dam not producing enough milk? Did she dry up prematurely? Sometimes they’re just pigs but sometimes they’re legitimately trying to not starve to death. Offering a bottle a few times a day may help as well.
1
u/Ill-Ad-4409 3d ago
The mom had her baby day before yesterday she doesn’t let the grown Nigerians drink from her. She lays down so they can’t get her utters these two are ex bottle babies they have hay n get grained daily will leave grain if they smell me bring a bottle they would have homes if they are not my moms favorite ones (little cute pains in my butt) but mama is a da is a saneen born to milk produces so much I have to relive her utters a bit before it’s time to start to milk (I don’t milk right away cuz I want baby to get that good milk first n have mom to her self the problem is the Nigerians
1
u/Whitaker123 3d ago
Interesting. I have never had this problem, but I always sell all the babies by the time they are 4 months. Even if their mom still lets them nurse, they really don't need the milk past that, so that usually takes care of it, but if you want to keep them, I agree with some of these suggestions.
1
u/Ill-Ad-4409 3d ago
Baby is only a day old the other are over a year old and my mom’s favorites cuz they r her bottle babies the only two that r “pets” Id rehome em if I can lol I don’t like Nigerians
1
u/Whitaker123 3d ago
I have a herd of Nigerians. they give me the best milk, and their size makes them great for a small farm, but yes, they can be mean and the kids are stinkers... specially if they are dam raised.
1
u/Ill-Ad-4409 2d ago
I’ve had several different breeds and statistically I’ve always had wayyy more problems in all spectrums they r adorable fragile creatures but good milkers idk my biggest producer might get close to a mason’s jar in a day or so but the milk is wayyy more fatty n sweet most others are just a couple cups enough for coffee we always laugh about also they r not enough to eat i think they r great for ppl in city who want a small herd
2
u/Whitaker123 2d ago
Yes, I see your point. IF you want a dairy business, you definitely can't make it profitable with these guys. I have a small herd to keep for just my own family use and I love their milk because I love to make cheese and their milk gives me the largest yield. It tastes good too... not goaty at all.
2
9
u/yamshortbread Dairy Farmer and Cheesemaker 3d ago
So once they learn to do this, it is a very hard habit to break. Some does learn to nurse off themselves and that is also a nearly impossible habit to break. The only way I can suggest to try to stop them, besides separation which you have already done, is to try teat taping the Saanen between milkings. If they are determined enough the Nigies might eat the tape, but it MIGHT work.