Some exceptional does produce seven or eight quarts of milk a day when they're fresh. Other does have nice personalities or spots, but the best they can milk is less than three quarts a day in peak production. Obviously, milk production varies.

There's lots of misinformation and old wives' tales about machine milking. _x000D_ _x000D_ If you've got just a few goats, you probably won't save much time, but milking by machine, even a few goats, is easier than hand milking. With more goats it's both more time efficient and physically less exhausting.

A contagious eye infection, can be caused by bacteria, viruses, or chlamydia among other things. May spread through the whole herd. Severe cases may cause temporary blindness, so be sure affected animals eat regularly. Treat affected goats with an antibiotic such as Terramycin eye ointment. The label of this antibiotic recommends treating not only affected goats but all goats at least once at the first sign of pinkeye in a herd.

There are a number of diseases that can be passed on to kids when they drink raw goat milk. A common one is Caprine Arthritis Encephalitis (CAE), which was identified by research workers at Washington State University. The virus causes arthritis in goats of all ages. It occasionally causes paralysis in kids. In fact, more than 80% of goats tested for CAE in the United States are positive, although many don't show symptoms. There are a few laboratories that run CAE tests. Contact your veterinarian for more information.

A "good dairy goat" is not just a doe with a pretty udder or one that milks 4,000 pounds a year. A "good dairy goat" must have a combination of positive qualities, all of which allow her to produce lots of milk, have numerous kids, and live a long productive life. Many traits go together to make a "good" goat, and if you learn to recognize these traits, you'll be able to improve your breeding program and purchase better goats.

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Kids from unvaccinated dams: Vaccinate the day they're born and then at 4, 8, and 12 weeks. Give annual booster shots. Kids from vaccinated dams: Colostrum should provide early protection. Vaccinate kids at 4-6 weeks and again 4 weeks later. Give does annual booster shot 4-6 weeks before kidding date to pass immunity to kids. Vaccinate bucks at beginning of grazing and breeding seasons.

Worm each doe the day she freshens. Birth hormones stir dormant worms into new activity. This is the best time to kill those worms. Then worm the does again in two weeks. _x000D_ _x000D_ Worm all the animals in the fall when they are brought in from pasture. Worm them again in two weeks, just as you do in the spring.

We have tried many tattoo outfits. The three we sell are our pick as the best to use with dairy goats. Here's why:_x000D_ They're made by Stone. Stone equipment is top quality and lasts a long time. _x000D_ _x000D_ The digits are tab-into-slot design. You can't insert a digit upside down, and there's less chance of dropping one when you're changing the digits. They lock firmly into place; you don't need blanks for empty spaces. Needles are nickel-plated precision-made for uniform penetration.

Trim hooves several times a year. To do it, use a sharp knife (pocket knife, utility knife, etc.) or shears. Tie the goat firmly to a post or secure in a milking stand; pick up the foot. Clean dirt out of the hoof with the point of the tool. Cut back the soft inner part to shape the hoof, just a slice at a time. Stop when the hoof bottom looks pink. You can use a hoof plane to flatten and finish the hoof. Look at a newborn kid's hoof to see what your goat's hoof should look like. Hooves are much easier to trim when they are wet. Try trimming hooves after the goat has been walking in snow, mud, or morning dew.