How to Milk a Goat by Hand
Sanitize everything that you will be using., Prepare a grain bucket., Lead your goat to the milking stand., Shave the udder., Wash down the udder and teats., Use a pre-dip on the teats., Use single-use paper towels to wash/dry teats., Inspect the...
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Sanitize everything that you will be using.
All equipment and utensils should be thoroughly washed in water between 100-120 degrees Fahrenheit (37.8-48.9 degrees Celsius), using an alkaline-based or chlorinated cleaner.
This is to prevent the growth and spread of bacteria.
It is best to sanitize equipment 30 minutes or fewer before use., Use one pound or less of grain in the feed bucket, as any more grain may cause bloating., Put a little feed in place and she will put her head through the stanchion.
Once she does that, clip it closed.The stanchion should be comfortably loose, but not so loose as to allow her to slip her head back through once closed.
If you get your goat used to the routine, it will easily come up and jump onto the stanchion., This will prevent dirt and grit from falling into the milk, which is crucial to keeping the milk clean and safe., Using a sterilized cloth and warm water, wring out the cloth so it's not soaking wet and wipe down the teats thoroughly.
Using warm water is important because it relaxes the goat and helps with milk letdown.You should also gently massage the teats and udder while wiping them clean.
Udder massage induces the release of oxytocin, which triggers milk letdown in lactating farm animals., Pre-dip products kill bacteria without drying out the teats, and should be left on for a minimum of 30 seconds.
Some farmers prefer pre-dip instead of washing because the pre-dip does not create a warm, wet environment like washing does, which is conducive to bacterial growth., And be sure to wash your hands thoroughly before milking each goat.
This step is important to minimize the risk of spreading mastitis bacteria from infected goats to healthy goats.It may be helpful to wear disposable gloves while milking each goat to further reduce the risk of infection. , Look for redness, swelling, heat, and signs of pain, as well as abnormal milk secretions during milking., This is to capitalize on your goat's optimal milk let-down time. , Position the milking pail so that it is centered in line with the direction of spray from the goat's teats. , Dip the teat in an iodine solution if you have not already used a pre-dip.
Then squeeze out the goat's first milk stream, which is the most likely stream to contain bacteria.
Then wipe with a clean, disposable paper towel, and begin milking as normal.Use a strip cup to collect the first milk stream.
Your strip cup should have a black screen across the top to collect any irregular flakes or clots so that you can detect these irregularities quickly., Keep your grip firm but not too tight.
Just apply enough pressure to trap the milk inside the teat., Remember to keep your grip tight on the base of the teat, or else instead of going into the bucket, the milk will slip right back up into the udder, which may cause infection.Don't pull on the teat! This will hurt the goat, and it may damage the teat., Every goat is different.
Different goats will have different sized and shaped teats, so if your hands are bigger than the teats you may have to learn to use fewer fingers.,, Alternate, with one teat being squeezed while the other teat refills.
With practice, you will find an efficient rhythm. , The teats will be flaccid, with almost a "deflated" appearance.
Massage the udder to release the remaining milk.
You should get another 4-8 ounces, but do not try to wring out every last drop., This can help prevent bacterial growth after the milking process has finished., Milk should be refrigerated down to 40 degrees Fahrenheit (4.4 degrees Celsius) or cooler within two hours of milking., This will keep bacteria from infecting the teats after the milking process.,, Be sure that your goat has enough water, as goats can become dehydrated during the milking process.Make sure that your goat is getting enough nutrients.
Remember, a high-producing goat will need plenty of hay throughout the day and around one pound of grain for each three pounds of milk she's producing.Ensuring that your goats have adequate food and water is always important, but it is especially crucial during milking periods.
Meeting these needs will keep your goats happy and healthy. -
Step 2: Prepare a grain bucket.
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Step 3: Lead your goat to the milking stand.
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Step 4: Shave the udder.
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Step 5: Wash down the udder and teats.
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Step 6: Use a pre-dip on the teats.
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Step 7: Use single-use paper towels to wash/dry teats.
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Step 8: Inspect the teats for mastitis.
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Step 9: Begin milking within 60-120 seconds of teat preparation.
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Step 10: Place the bucket on the stand.
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Step 11: and wipe.
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Step 12: Wrap your thumb and forefinger around the base of the teat.
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Step 13: Squeeze with your middle finger
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Step 14: then your ring finger
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Step 15: and then your pinky
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Step 16: in one smooth
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Step 17: successive motion
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Step 18: top-down
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Step 19: from udder to teat.
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Step 20: Understand what works best for your goat.
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Step 21: Relax your grip on the base of the teat to allow milk to refill the teat.
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Step 22: Repeat steps 6-8
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Step 23: with one hand on each teat.
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Step 24: Stop when you see that there isn't much milk left.
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Step 25: Massage the teats after milking.
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Step 26: Take the bucket away
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Step 27: and put it somewhere that it won't get knocked over by a curious or oblivious goat.
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Step 28: Use a teat dip (iodine solution) after you are done milking.
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Step 29: Grab the goat's collar (or attach a leash) and unclip the stanchion.
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Step 30: Lead your goat back to her pen.
Detailed Guide
All equipment and utensils should be thoroughly washed in water between 100-120 degrees Fahrenheit (37.8-48.9 degrees Celsius), using an alkaline-based or chlorinated cleaner.
This is to prevent the growth and spread of bacteria.
It is best to sanitize equipment 30 minutes or fewer before use., Use one pound or less of grain in the feed bucket, as any more grain may cause bloating., Put a little feed in place and she will put her head through the stanchion.
Once she does that, clip it closed.The stanchion should be comfortably loose, but not so loose as to allow her to slip her head back through once closed.
If you get your goat used to the routine, it will easily come up and jump onto the stanchion., This will prevent dirt and grit from falling into the milk, which is crucial to keeping the milk clean and safe., Using a sterilized cloth and warm water, wring out the cloth so it's not soaking wet and wipe down the teats thoroughly.
Using warm water is important because it relaxes the goat and helps with milk letdown.You should also gently massage the teats and udder while wiping them clean.
Udder massage induces the release of oxytocin, which triggers milk letdown in lactating farm animals., Pre-dip products kill bacteria without drying out the teats, and should be left on for a minimum of 30 seconds.
Some farmers prefer pre-dip instead of washing because the pre-dip does not create a warm, wet environment like washing does, which is conducive to bacterial growth., And be sure to wash your hands thoroughly before milking each goat.
This step is important to minimize the risk of spreading mastitis bacteria from infected goats to healthy goats.It may be helpful to wear disposable gloves while milking each goat to further reduce the risk of infection. , Look for redness, swelling, heat, and signs of pain, as well as abnormal milk secretions during milking., This is to capitalize on your goat's optimal milk let-down time. , Position the milking pail so that it is centered in line with the direction of spray from the goat's teats. , Dip the teat in an iodine solution if you have not already used a pre-dip.
Then squeeze out the goat's first milk stream, which is the most likely stream to contain bacteria.
Then wipe with a clean, disposable paper towel, and begin milking as normal.Use a strip cup to collect the first milk stream.
Your strip cup should have a black screen across the top to collect any irregular flakes or clots so that you can detect these irregularities quickly., Keep your grip firm but not too tight.
Just apply enough pressure to trap the milk inside the teat., Remember to keep your grip tight on the base of the teat, or else instead of going into the bucket, the milk will slip right back up into the udder, which may cause infection.Don't pull on the teat! This will hurt the goat, and it may damage the teat., Every goat is different.
Different goats will have different sized and shaped teats, so if your hands are bigger than the teats you may have to learn to use fewer fingers.,, Alternate, with one teat being squeezed while the other teat refills.
With practice, you will find an efficient rhythm. , The teats will be flaccid, with almost a "deflated" appearance.
Massage the udder to release the remaining milk.
You should get another 4-8 ounces, but do not try to wring out every last drop., This can help prevent bacterial growth after the milking process has finished., Milk should be refrigerated down to 40 degrees Fahrenheit (4.4 degrees Celsius) or cooler within two hours of milking., This will keep bacteria from infecting the teats after the milking process.,, Be sure that your goat has enough water, as goats can become dehydrated during the milking process.Make sure that your goat is getting enough nutrients.
Remember, a high-producing goat will need plenty of hay throughout the day and around one pound of grain for each three pounds of milk she's producing.Ensuring that your goats have adequate food and water is always important, but it is especially crucial during milking periods.
Meeting these needs will keep your goats happy and healthy.
About the Author
Claire Ferguson
Experienced content creator specializing in home improvement guides and tutorials.
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