How to milk a goat/cow?

Question

I know how to do the obvious part (squeeze/pull the teat etc.) but I don't know what sanitation processes to go through. Does anyone know how to clean the udder and receptacle so the milk won't be contaminated. Also, how often should I milk?

Answer 1

Milking goats vs. cows is comparing apples to oranges on sanitiation.  Cows can be much dirtier (they tend to splash themselves with f***s) and the sanitiation process is more involved than with goats.  This is a major reason why I raise goats, not cows!  Plenty of milk and less p**p.

Some people use a teat dip when milking goats, but you can also simply wash the udder and teats with a mild, antibacterial soap and pat dry prior to milking.  I also use a bag balm or udder cream afterward, as it helps condition the skin, and some have a mild antibacterial property to them.  

For the milk, I use a stainless steel bucket to collect and strain it through a coffee filter into a glass milk container to remove any foreign material.  If you pastuerize, this would be the point that the milk goes into the pastuerizer.  Otherwise, it is important to refrigerate it immediately.

For cleaning equipment, there are many commercial products available at the feed store.  Check the Hobby Farm website as well for information on removing milk stone from buckets.

Goats are milked twice daily during peak production (usually for 3-5 months after kidding).  If their production is starting to drop off, once daily is enough.

If your animal is on medicated feed, has been recently wormed, given antibiotics or treated for coccidiosis, check the moratorium period on the medication - there's usually a 3-14 day period where the milk cannot be consumed.  You still have to milk to keep their production up, but you need to dump it.

Hope this helps - sorry, not a cow person.

Answer 2

well I don't know about the sanitation and stuff but I know you have to milk at least 1 time but I think 2 times a day....unless they have a baby on them as well other wise they could get full udders and I'm not sure but that might cause mastitis....

Answer 3

farm supply store sell "udder wash" soap for this - the iodine based is usually considered best or just dip in an iodine based teat dip (farm supply again) REMEMBER TO DRY. In a pinch use handwash from the drug/ grocery store. As for your bucket, clean it like a pot in your kitchen. Twice a day milking is traditional (as close to 12 hr as your can get) more is OK but once is not so good unless there is a youngster nursing as well.

PS there is a "trick" to that squeeze the teat bit - you have to squeeze the TOP of your hand first (at the top of teat) & sorta roll the squeeze down

Answer 4

Put some iodine in a spray bottle, spray it on the nipples, wait about 30 seconds, wipe it off with a paper towel. You should milk every 12 hours. Try to do it as close to the time as you can, otherwise they won't give as much milk, causing mastitis. When they get pregnant, slowly start milking them less and less until they are 90 days away from having a calf. Then dry them off (stop milking them at all), inject the medicine (from the vet) up into the nipple. Wait until they have their calf 90 days later, then you squirt some milk into your hand the first time, then 30 squirts 12 hours later, then 60 squirts 12 hours after that, then 90, then 120. Why you must do this is if you don't, it can cause milk fever. Then you can continue to milk normally.