Milk a Goat by Hand

Have you ever wanted to milk a goat? Goat milk is a popular alternative to cow milk because it is easier to digest, and due to its slightly higher fat content, goat milk is becoming increasingly popular for making cheese.[1] But milking a goat is not as easy as it looks, and it's not the same as milking a cow. However, with a little patience, perseverance, and a willing and lactating participant, you can become the expert goat milker you've always wanted to be!


Steps

Preparing the Milking Station

  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.[2]
  2. Prepare a grain bucket. Use one pound or less of grain in the feed bucket, as any more grain may cause bloating.[3]
  3. Lead your goat to the milking stand. Put a little feed in place and she will put her head through the stanchion. Once she does that, clip it closed.[4]
    • 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.[5]

Preparing the Goat

  1. Shave the udder. This will prevent dirt and grit from falling into the milk, which is crucial to keeping the milk clean and safe.[6]
  2. Wash down the udder and teats. 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.[7]
    • 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.[8]
  3. Use a pre-dip on the teats. Pre-dip products kill bacteria without drying out the teats, and should be left on for a minimum of 30 seconds.[9]
    • 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.[10]
  4. Use single-use paper towels to wash/dry teats. 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.[11] It may be helpful to wear disposable gloves while milking each goat to further reduce the risk of infection.
  5. Inspect the teats for mastitis. Look for redness, swelling, heat, and signs of pain, as well as abnormal milk secretions during milking.[12]
  6. Begin milking within 60-120 seconds of teat preparation. This is to capitalize on your goat's optimal milk let-down time.[13]

Milking the Goat

  1. Place the bucket on the stand. Position the milking pail so that it is centered in line with the direction of spray from the goat's teats.
  2. Dip, strip, and wipe. 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.[14]
    • 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.[15]
  3. Wrap your thumb and forefinger around the base of the teat. Keep your grip firm but not too tight. Just apply enough pressure to trap the milk inside the teat.[16]
  4. Squeeze with your middle finger, then your ring finger, and then your pinky, in one smooth, successive motion, top-down, from udder to 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.[17]
    • Don't pull on the teat! This will hurt the goat, and it may damage the teat.[18]
  5. Understand what works best for your goat. 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.[19]
  6. Relax your grip on the base of the teat to allow milk to refill the teat.
  7. Repeat steps 6-8, with one hand on each teat. Alternate, with one teat being squeezed while the other teat refills. With practice, you will find an efficient rhythm.
  8. Stop when you see that there isn't much milk left. 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.[20]
  9. Massage the teats after milking. This can help prevent bacterial growth after the milking process has finished.[21]
  10. Take the bucket away, and put it somewhere that it won't get knocked over by a curious or oblivious goat. Milk should be refrigerated down to 40 degrees Fahrenheit (4.4 degrees Celsius) or cooler within two hours of milking.[22]
  11. Use a teat dip (iodine solution) after you are done milking. This will keep bacteria from infecting the teats after the milking process.[23]
  12. Grab the goat's collar (or attach a leash) and unclip the stanchion.
  13. Lead your goat back to her pen.
    • Be sure that your goat has enough water, as goats can become dehydrated during the milking process.[24]
    • 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.[25] 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.

Tips

  • It is important to wash the udder off before you start milking. This will remove dirt and skin that can flake off the udder into the bucket of milk. The warm water also relaxes the udder and releases the milk.
  • A goat has one udder and two teats. The teats are what you squeeze to get the milk out of. Many people mistakenly refer to the teats as "udders." An animal with more than one udder is an extraordinary animal indeed.
  • If the milk gets low, try massaging the udder for thirty seconds. You will get quite a lot more milk out.
  • There are also commercial teat sprays, dips, and balms available to help prevent mastitis. Many sprays are preferred to dips to prevent cross-contamination between does.
  • Make sure the goat has enough grain to keep her entertained while you milk her. If she runs out, only goats with the calmest temperaments will wait patiently for you to finish. But do not give excess grain to a goat. She will get scours (goat diarrhea). You do not want that. It is very helpful to place a few large rocks in the grain bucket so that the goat must make an effort to get at the last few pieces of grain.
  • Don't rely on just your hand strength. A half twist to the teat up near the udder will help seal off the top. Do not pull or twist the teat. It causes pain to the goat, and problems for you.

Warnings

  • As with all animals, never, ever yell at, hit, or otherwise abuse the goat, especially while she's being milked. The key is to make milking a positive experience, one that she will welcome, not dread. A nervous goat is a force to be reckoned with.
  • Most, but not all, goats kick, and can kick very hard. Don't bring your face too close to the bucket, or you could risk serious injury or death.
  • If the milk has clots, blood, or a 'stringy' appearance, your doe could have mastitis, a bacterial infection within the udder. This can be confirmed using a California Mastitis Test (CMT), which is available from various supply companies. A veterinarian can recommend a treatment based on what is causing the infection.

Things You'll Need

  • One or more female goats
  • Milking stand
  • Feeder
  • Grain
  • Metal bucket
  • Collar/lead
  • Washing water in which the washing cloth has been boiled. Dilute with equal parts cold water before using. You could also use one of the several brand of sanitary wipes.
  • Post milking dip, balm, or spray to prevent infection.

Related Articles

Sources and Citations

  1. ↑ http://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/emergingissues/downloads/goatreport090805.pdf
  2. ↑ https://pubs.ext.vt.edu/404/404-400/404-400.html
  3. ↑ http://www.roysfarm.com/how-to-milk-a-goat-by-hand/
  4. ↑ http://www.goldenbrookfarm.com/milking-tips.htm
  5. ↑ https://attra.ncat.org/intern_handbook/milking.html
  6. ↑ http://www.mountaineersbooks.org/Assets/ClientPages/zz_CityGoats_MilkingGoats.aspx
  7. ↑ http://www.dairygoatjournal.com/goats/getting_your_first_dairy_goat/
  8. ↑ http://ansci.illinois.edu/static/ansc438/Mastitis/milkprocess.html
  9. ↑ http://www.nmconline.org/articles/teatdip.htm
  10. ↑ http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/livestock/goat/facts/03-061.htm
  11. ↑ http://www.fao.org/docrep/004/t0218e/t0218e04.htm
  12. ↑ http://mysrf.org/pdf/pdf_dairy/goat_handbook/dg5.pdf
  13. ↑ https://nmconline.org/milkprd.htm
  14. ↑ http://www.dairygoatjournal.com/88-1/techniques_and_equipment_for_milking_dairy_goats/
  15. ↑ http://ansci.illinois.edu/static/ansc438/Mastitis/detection.html
  16. ↑ http://www.dairygoatjournal.com/81-4/rosalie_sinn/
  17. ↑ http://www.roysfarm.com/how-to-milk-a-goat/
  18. ↑ http://www.mafc.com/blog/milk-goat/
  19. ↑ http://www.motherearthnews.com/homesteading-and-livestock/goats-udders-hand-milking.aspx
  20. ↑ http://www.dairygoatjournal.com/84-2/janet_hurst/
  21. ↑ http://www.dairygoatjournal.com/85-2/nancy_nickel/
  22. ↑ http://www.farmingmagazine.com/dairy/good-goats-milk/
  23. ↑ http://fdga.org/milk-goat.pdf
  24. ↑ http://animalsmart.org/species/goats/what-do-dairy-goats-eat-
  25. ↑ http://www.ansc.purdue.edu/goat/factsheet/health-nutrition.htm

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