Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Step 2: Restrain your goat.
Before you milk a goat, restrain her in a stanchion or with a rope tie. It is always dangerous to
leave a goat tied and unsupervised because the goat can quickly get tangled up, chew through
the rope, or even strangle itself. However, a stanchion allows the milker to safely walk away
from the goat for several minutes. Stanchions often have a raised platform on which the goat
stands so the person milking does not have to bend over.
Training a goat to stand in the headgate is usually easy. Use a tasty treat or a little grain in a
bucket to lure her head into the head holder and fasten her in. Reward her with the treat.
Step 3: Wash the udder.
Brush the doe before milking to remove any loose hair or dirt that might fall into the milk
pail. Using warm, soapy water and a clean cloth, wash any debris, manure, or dirt from the
udder. After you have removed visible dirt, spray the udder and teats with a disinfectant. Dis-
pense your disinfectant from a spray bottle, rather than using a communal container; it is too
easy to pass bacteria between goats. You also may wish to wipe the flank clean along with the
udder.
Step 4: Wash your hands thoroughly.
Wash your hands before milking each individual goat so bacteria are not transferred from one
goat to another. Invest in a good hand lotion. Udder balm works wonders overnight on
chapped hands. You can also use disposable gloves when milking.
Step 5: Use teat dip.
Dip each teat in your teat dip and wipe away excess with a disposable paper towel. Excess dip
can taint the taste of the milk. The disinfecting properties take effect as soon as it touches
skin, and it has served its purpose. Wipe it away religiously. It is a good idea to put the teat
dip in disposable 3-ounce paper cups and use a new cup for each doe.
Step 6: Milk your goat.
Many goat owners enjoy the process of milking by hand. It is peaceful, quiet time with your
goat. Goats enjoy attention, and when accustomed to being handled, enjoy being milked. It is
easier to learn with an experienced doe rather than one unaccustomed to milking. Always
milk the goat on the same side. If your goat is accustomed to being milked from one side, it
may take time for her to get used to being milked from the other. Provide some feed or the
