Underfeeding especially during periods of high production, greatly reduces milk production potential for the lactation. Overfeeding can cause excess fat to be laid down in the udder and reproductive tract thus reducing breeding performance and milk production potential. Both extremes are obviously costly practices. Buy a grain mix formulated for a ruminant. Prevent Feed Waste Build hay mangers that prevent wasting of hay, especially the precious leaves from clovers and alfalfa.
Goats are notorious forage wasters.
Milk A milk market is better served if breeding practices in the herd encourage freshening the does over as wide a time span as possible. This is especially valuable during base building periods and as an aid to providing the customer with a year-round source of milk. The selling price of does and their offspring is enhanced if those animals are registered and parentage is documented, and if high milk records are documented through a DHIA testing program. If a commercial processor is available it is usually more economical to sell the milk to the plant or to employ that service to process and package under your label. Quality control in milk and milk products for the novice is a difficult art and science to master and cost of processing equipment is beyond imagination.