How to milk a goat yourself

Goat milk is very healthy. In its composition, the product can be compared with breast milk. Based on numerous studies, our body absorbs goat milk by 97%. The healthiest milk is what we get ourselves from a goat. Every farmer wants to learn how to milk a goat without harm to her health. Milking a goat at home can be done in different ways. The most common way of milking is with a fist. It does not cause pain or harm to the animal.

farmer-online.com

Goat milking

To get the maximum amount of milk, the goat must be prepared for milking. Try to psychologically adjust and distract the animal. Some goats in the process of milking are violent. Be sure to keep clean and wash the udders, the hair on the nipples must be shaved off so that the milk remains clean. Before you start expressing, the nipples are wiped with a soft sponge dipped in iodine, and then wiped with a lint-free cloth.

The content of the article:

Preparing to milk a goat

How to properly milk a goat in order to get the maximum milk and at the same time, so that she remains healthy and happy? To properly milk a goat with your own hands, you do not need to be an experienced breeder. If you follow simple rules, then even for novice farmers this activity will be possible. Before milking, the goat is recommended to massage the udder. When you massage the udder, the blood circulation improves and there will be more milk. The female reacts positively to a light massage. How to properly massage the udder can be seen in the video.

It is better to milk in a separate room, where it is quiet and calm. In the process, it is important that the animal does not distract anything. So that the goat does not kick and calms down, you can give her favorite treats. Feeding perfectly occupies the animal. The udder of the female should be wiped with warm water. So that cracks do not appear between the papillae, problem areas should be cared for and lubricated with a greasy cream.

Do-it-yourself milking

There are common milking methods that farmers use:

  • pinch
  • fist
  • mixed type of milking

Pinch milking is used when the goat has small nipples. With the help of a fist, milk is expressed on good, developed nipples. The mixed method of milking is used when the main milk can be obtained with a fist, and the rest with the help of tweezers. Mostly fist milking is used.

Pinch milking

Forefinger and thumb squeeze the nipple at the base. If you squeeze the nipple several times, then milk appears. After the first pinch, the jet must be skipped because germs are present there. The rest of the milk is expressed until it runs out. After milking, massage the goat, wash the udder and wipe it dry.

fist milking

The easiest way. The nipple is covered with four fingers, except for the thumb. The simultaneous squeezing of the fingers will provoke a splash of milk. The last trickles are considered very oily. A sluggish and drooping udder is a clear sign that the milking process is over. After milking you need a massage. The nipples and the area around them should be lubricated with petroleum jelly.

Milk should be immediately removed in a cool place. The fact is, for some reason, goat’s milk absorbs odors into itself. Long exposure to open space without a refrigerator allows bacteria to enter the milk. If you follow these rules, then after the first milking you will get a high quality product with a slight sweetish taste.

How many times can a goat be milked

Only the farmer knows how many times a day to milk a goat, having studied the state of her health and vitality. You should be guided by its breed, age and diet. Usually milked infrequently, about 2 times a day. It is recommended to carry out milking after the same period of time, then the female will know what is expected of her and will give the maximum yield of the product. In summer, the animals graze in the meadows and consume a lot of fresh grass, so they have a crowded udder.

Even children are good at milking goats

At this time of the year, females give a lot of milk. You can milk it 3 times a day in summer. At other times of the year, you can milk a goat in the morning and in the evening. To increase milk yield, you need to learn how to properly feed the animal from the first months, when the female gives milk. Feeding should be milk-based food – turnips or tree branches. In the cold season, add hay to the diet. Milk yield is also increased by root crops.

Milking with special equipment

Some farms practice milking with a machine that you can make yourself. The milking machine eliminates the discomfort that occurs during manual milking and helps to get a clean product without bacteria and dirt. You can build equipment yourself at home.

We make a platform from a wide board, a grid will be installed on it. A feed container and a special lock are attached to the front of the machine. On the front frame we attach one transverse rail. We fix one end of the rail hingedly, and raise the other. The animal is wound up and the fixing rail is closed. If everything is done correctly, then the dairy goat will be, as it were, fixed in the machine. Such a machine is convenient to use for milking from any side. You can see how to make a milking machine in the video.

Please note that milking with a milking machine does not impair the milking process and the amount of milk dispensed.

After the first time of milking, you need to look at the well-being of the animal, perhaps something can be corrected in the machine for greater convenience. When using milking equipment, it is necessary to carefully milk the udder to the last drop.

Milking pregnant goats

A goat’s pregnancy lasts 5 months. You should start caring for her more carefully from the first months of pregnancy. 2 months before lambing, a pregnant goat is protected from a damp room and drafts. If during pregnancy the goat did not stop giving milk, then it is necessary to make a launch 1-2 months before lambing. Before lambing, the udder fills and swells, sometimes this causes inflammation if the animal is not milked. A swollen udder during pregnancy does not bring unpleasant sensations to the goat, therefore, if the conditions for growing and caring are observed, then the milking process must be carried out.

You can bookmark this page

Anna Evans

Author-editor

View all posts by Anna Evans →