How to Increase Milk Supply for Alpine Goats

Increasing the milk supply of Alpine goats requires a solid understanding of lactating goats' nutrition needs, as well as their milk cycle. Like other dairy-goat breeds, your Alpine goats' milk production typically increases in volume during the first four weeks after they give birth, notes Gail Damerow, author of "Your Goats." This milk volume increases dramatically if you take the time to empty their udder frequently. To encourage and sustain this increase in milk production, you'll also need to provide your does with adequate water and nutrition throughout their lactation cycle, which typically lasts approximately 9 to 10 months.

Things You'll Need

  • Dairy-goat grain concentrate
  • High-quality legume hay
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Instructions

    • 1

      Milk your Alpine goats more frequently. As with other lactating animals, their milk production is based on demand. If you milk your does once daily, start milking them two times per day. If you milk them two times daily, start milking them three times. Space the milking sessions out over equal intervals to allow enough time for the udders to fill up; for example, if you plan to milk three times per day, milk your goats every 8 hours.

    • 2

      Feed your lactating Alpine does more grain to fuel their increased milk production. As a rule, a lactating dairy goat should consume a base of 1 pound of grain daily plus an extra ½ pound for every pound of milk that she produces; for example, if an Alpine doe produces 4 pounds of milk daily, then she needs minimally 3 pounds of grain concentrate each day. Make sure the grain you give is formulated specifically for milking goats, which require higher protein levels in their grain that kids, yearling does and male goats.

    • 3

      Give your does high-quality hay. Although dairy goats will consume most types of hay, they can typically produce more milk by consuming high-quality legume hay like alfalfa, which contains more protein and other nutrients than lower-quality, less-expensive grass hay like brome and timothy.

    • 4

      Monitor your goats' water intake. In many cases, lactating dairy does fail to increase milk production because they are not drinking enough water. Keep a full bucket of fresh water available at all times. During the winter, consider providing a water- bucket deicer, which keeps the water from freezing in between your visits to the barn. If you're on a limited budget, simply make one or two extra trips to your goat barn with buckets of warm water for your does to drink.