The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Goats => Topic started by: colliewoman on March 31, 2012, 02:23:06 pm
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Hi guys!
It is rapidly approaching that time when I should hopefully be up to my ears in fresh goats milk, so perhaps I should start gathering the needed equipment.
What do you guys all use?
My milk will be for home use only if that makes a difference? Do in need a stainless steel pail or will a new plastic food grade bucket be ok?
I have, thanks to my fabulous husband now got a milking stand.
I have udder cream for afterwards, but what do you guys use to wipe the udder down with?
Where do you store your milk?
How do you chill it for storage?
Assume I am a complete newbie to the pleasures of milking goats, I can extract the stuff but then what? (I have milked them, just never been envolved with what happens to it afterwards!
All advice greatfully accepted :-*
Thankies!
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I use an old ( 70 years approx ) alfa laval system with a stainless bucket , a bit over the top for just a couple of goats but I have problems hand milking due to an industrial injury . the unit was standing unused outside for a couple of years by the previous owners, so I begged it off them and replaced the electric motor , works fine.
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we (well, my husband - she won't let me!) milk into a squat jug, she isn't tall enough for a bucket & tends to knock it.
I hold the big pan & so the jug can be reguarly emptied into it.
Its then sieved (tea strainer) into a flattish pan that is left in the fridge over night so the cream rises & can by taken off for butter.
The milk is then pasteurised on the stove, seived again into glass bottles (ex-wine / cider, with screw lids) and put straight into the fridge. Its ready to drink the next day.
I use milton & the dishwasher for cleaning, and regularly replace the funnels & sieves.
We use a strip cup to check for mastitis, and have udder cream & wipes ... though this goat hates both!
If making cheese, or yogurt etc, just leave out some the steps in pasteurising etc.
We do also use it "raw" from the fridge, or leave the cream on if feeling lazy! Our first goat, we never made butter, but this one we found that the whole neck of the bottle was solid with cream! :yum:
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I use an Udderly Ez (http://udderlyez.com/goat_milkers.php), which is a little hand pump that milks directly into a bottle.
It's very easy to use, means someone can relief milk occasionally and the most important thing for me, since I'm milking before going to work, is that there's no filtering the milk, since the bottle is sealed. I just put it straight into the fridge and use it raw.
I can't sing its praises enough. I was pretty impressed already. Then my nephew dropped the pump on our stone floor and broke one of the jaws. I was quite prepared to buy a new one, its that good. But get this - you can order parts to mend them! Now I am truly sold :thumbsup:
I rinse the bottle and top tube with warm soapy water each day - that's the other good thing about this make, no difficult to clean, long thin tubes. Once a week I wash it all in Capriclense or Milton.
(http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k70/jaykayg/bc5dcb84.jpg)
Edited to say pic isn't that clear as thera's white wood behind it - the 'thing' is just the pump in the woman's hand, the tube above the bottle and the bottle. You get inserts for different sized teats to make it fit well.
(http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k70/jaykayg/5b9c8da3.jpg)
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Oh I want me one of those :love: :love:
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Oh wow Jaykay!! I want one too! I might have to save up for a bit though :)
Well I milk into a plastic bucket on a milking stand.
We don't pasteurise (unless I'm trying cheese making) but instead it is filtered immediately into a sterilised milk bottle and put into the fridge.
Of course some goes into soap so I weigh 9 oz into butter tubs and freeze it immediately.
I wash udders with cloth and warm water that I take up in a lidded tub but have also been known to use udder wipes that I've bought from Supplies for Smallholders or Ascott.
Udder cream sometimes - countrywide sell in a yellow tub.
teat dip after milking.
You might want to think about strip cup to test first few squirts.
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There have been reported issues with the Udderly Ez....... apparently used long term it can cause damage to the teat canal as the pressure applied can vary. Also it does not replicate the manner a kid sucks which a standard milking machine does.... assuming the pulsation rate is correct.
Most of these reports have come from America .... but I suppose it is a case of there is no smoke without fire.
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Maybe. I've been using it for three years, no apparent problems. I fact, I think it's far gentler on the teats than hands to be honest. It's gentler on the hands too - easier to use when my arthritis is bad.
Yes, I use Ascott's wipes and strip out the first squirt, to check.
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I think the pressure applied by my hands varies, certainly from left to right as my right is stronger. Having seen how these kids 'latch on' I'm just glad I was a human mum not a goat one!!
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I made this for emergencies but generally I use a stainless steel bucket and strain the milk through a sterilised muslin before chilling it in the freezer for a couple of hours ( I find it loses the 'goaty' taste completely if you do this). Just remember to take it out before it starts to freeze ;)
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Udderly EZ Goat/Nigerian Milker (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bVpx0wi43sk#)
this was on youtube ref the eze milker
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We have been very extravagant and bought a milking machine - I love it, and with bad carpal tunnel syndrome in both hands I can only milk out one goat by hand..., and it allows me to even go away from home once in a while....
I strip out by hand after machine milking, one teat at a time into a plastic jug, however my 8 year old is quite good at doing it two-handed into a bigger bucket! My GG's are often a bit fidgety when milked out.
I use white food-grade lidded plastic buckets for everyday carrying from the shed to the house, it gets then filtered into milk jugs (using the standard milk filter in a cone shaped sieve) and put into fridge straight away. I do not pasteurise.
All buckets etc are washed in very hot water, and if I think they need it a soak in MIlton. The machine is first rinsed with hot water/Ecover, then with Capriclnse solution and finally with plain cold water, in the morning I usually omit the Capriclense step.
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My girl stands on a low milking bench with a bucket of food in front of her (nothing to hold her head. She stays there good as gold) while I wipe her udder and teats with a teat wipe (~Teissens) then hand milk into a stainless steel milking bucket with no handle (it fell off some time ago). I then strain the milk through a muslin in a sieve over a plastic jug and transfer it to a re used milk bottle, which will have been in soak with hot water and washing up liquid. I don't pasteurise.
The busket, sieve and jug are washed out with very hot water and washing up liquid then rinsed, or go in the dishwasher. The muslins are soaked for several hours in hot water with washing up liquid then rinsed and hung up to dry.
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Thankies all! Very useful info as usual :thumbsup:
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" ( I find it loses the 'goaty' taste completely if you do this) ".
Skirza, There won't be a goaty taste if you get a cobalt suplement like Cob+ , a 5ml dose once a month will prevent that taste.
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I use a white plastic (3Ltr?) food grade bucket, bought some filter papers from local agri supplies I think it was about £8 per 100, make a cone shape into the top of a wide neck jar, (or jug if jars are in use), strain, jar put into cold water to chill, then into fridge. because I only have up to about 2 litres of milk for ourselves I wash the filters and re-use for a few days. bucket and jars are washed in hot soapy water, stick my nose in everyday to check smell, leave upside down to drain.
The wide neck jar I can get my hand in to wash out thoroughly.
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Well I found a milking machine repair man locally(!!!!!?) yep one or two do exist! and plucked up courage to drag my extremely heavy Fullwood Mini milker out of the barn and tookm it to him to be serviced,he was very suprised(tried to sell me a new one for over a £1000)but thinks he can do it.
Then I handed over(with one hand)my Smallholder milking machine and asked if he could get the simple bits for that...he's given it to "the man" as a project.It works on the same principle as yours Skirza ecept powered by electricity so I don't end up with strained wrist.
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I tried the Udderly EZ thingy but I was rather worried by the fact that it applies a constant and unregulated pressure on the teat, instead of a regulated and pulsed pressure which simulates nature. I used it twice and never again then sold it on on ebay a while later.
Milking machine pressure and pulsation rates and ratios have been studied in depth (http://www.journals.elsevierhealth.com/periodicals/rumin/article/PII092144889190025L/abstract) and so a simple device like the Udderly is no comparison for a regulated device with pulsation. It is easy to see how it can cause real problems if not used with real caution.
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I use an ancient SS jug with an equally ancient cone milk filter with mesh that we bought at a farm roup. I strain the milk with a sieve lined with muslin and then refrigerate.
We have recently been given an old milking machine which my husband is in the process of restoring. Not sure if I will ever use it unless I get more goats.
I don't pasteurise the milk unless I'm making yoghurt or some sort of hard cheese.
My favourite piece of equipment is my milk separator which means I can easily have skimmed milk and cream if I want it.
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I made this for emergencies but generally I use a stainless steel bucket and strain the milk through a sterilised muslin before chilling it in the freezer for a couple of hours ( I find it loses the 'goaty' taste completely if you do this). Just remember to take it out before it starts to freeze ;)
Hi Skirza if you are out here (or anybody?)- just wondering where you get the hand pump? I have some jars and suitable fittings, but like the idea of the gauge to regulate pressure, and having the jar seperate. I suppose keeping the tube clean is the main problem?
I don't know how all that hair and dust still manages to get in the milk bucket! Having the milk bucket upturned by the kitchen sink is also getting a bit annoying. (Nowhere for seperate dairy storage)
I'm thinking about the 'Udderly ez' but it does look a bit clumsy to use, and I suppose I'd like to see a supplier of it locally, or from a smallholder supply, complete for goats.
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Well, I've used the UdderlyEz for three years now and not a single problem with my goats' udders.
It's easy to use, it's easy for a relief milker to use, it doesn't get kicked over, it's easy to clean.... and you can get parts for it when you drop it on a flag floor ::)). No filtering the milk needed, just put the bottle into the fridge or freezer. Gotta say I'm impressed, I won't milk any other way now.
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Well, I've used the UdderlyEz for three years now and not a single problem with my goats' udders.
It's easy to use, it's easy for a relief milker to use, it doesn't get kicked over, it's easy to clean.... and you can get parts for it when you drop it on a flag floor ::) ). No filtering the milk needed, just put the bottle into the fridge or freezer. Gotta say I'm impressed, I won't milk any other way now.
I've read your posts JK, which is why I was thinking about one, but I'd prefer to see the pressure gauge, worried about overdoing it!
Also did you buy it AS a goat milker or did you then have to send off for more bits to fit the goat + bigger bottles?
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pressure pump can be purchased from here :thumbsup:
http://www.minivac.co.uk/product.asp (http://www.minivac.co.uk/product.asp)
The rest of my emergency milker is made up from a pickled onion jar and some wine making stuff (tubes and bungs) the other end is a 60ml syringe
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Big heavy milking machine serviced (he said he's had several to do recently)but horrendous bill and does seem a lot of work for a few pints.
I don't think he tried servicing the Harvester milker so I'm still trying to sort it out myself.Still stuck for the bits that go in the top of the churn that you put the tubes into and still trying to work out how to fit the one part (heck there are only two parts to work!)I could really do with another churn but can't find one.
Really can't work out why people other than Jon Norris haven't developed a small miking machine over here but we aren't very inventive over here are we whereas over in the States they still have small farmers who milk their goats rather than keep them as pets
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The States seem much more set up for smallholders or small farmers than we are, numbers I suppose.
PHB, you're not so far from me, very welcome to come along and see the U-Ez being used if you want.
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Hi
I was wondering if anyone has tried the Henry milker? I have seen the EZ milker, but the Henry is slightly cheaper. I am thinking about getting a couple of milking goats, I have had pygmy goats in the past and really took to them.
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We purchased a milking machine from a show friend who was giving up, it was like new. It now sits in the garage and does not get used ::) We hand milk into stainless steel buckets, wiping the teats first with teat wipes once finished stripping out we teat dip in an iodine solution in a teat dip
Strain the milk through muslin and we do not pasteurise
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We purchased a milking machine from a show friend who was giving up, it was like new. It now sits in the garage and does not get used ::) We hand milk into stainless steel buckets, wiping the teats first with teat wipes once finished stripping out we teat dip in an iodine solution in a teat dip
Strain the milk through muslin and we do not pasteurise
What mix is your teat dip? I need to find a teat dip
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Sokel - pressumably it's easy to hand milk then if you've set aside the machine - or at least just as much hassle as the machine but you don't have all the washing up?
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here's our Daisy demonstrating our hand/vacuum pump milker. She has pretty large teats which I found tricky to milk by hand. She finds it less stressful and is happy to let anyone milk her, handy for when the children decide they want to have a go. Had the pump etc sent over from the States and with import duty etc & postage it worked out at about £100
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I had no luck with that design so I hope you do better.I found the tubes were too easily kicked away and it meant you had to start trying to get the vacuum right all over again
I prefere the UdderlyEZ thingy as I found it easier to use and if you have a fiesty goat you can persevere with holding the "gun" in place or easily whisk it off,it doesn't take many pumps and there are no tubes to get kicke :) d off
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Sokel - pressumably it's easy to hand milk then if you've set aside the machine - or at least just as much hassle as the machine but you don't have all the washing up?
TBH I prefer the hands on at milking, just feel its when you really get to bond with the goats as its just you and her.
When they are all in full milk we are going to have to use the machine though :-\ as no way can I hand milk 6 milkers morning and night with my arthritis
It actualy takes longer with the machine with all the cleaning involved afterwards
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I enjoy the hand milking and well. Fortunately, my arthriticky hands are standing up quite well to hand milking. I did thick I'd have to go over to aome sort of machine.
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I bought the UdderlyEz thing last year had a shock at extra tax to pay, then couldnt seem to get it to work on the goat (I could get the suction OK, no milk coming thru). goat started hiding round the corner rather than her usual hop up onto the milkin bench.
Machine now back in it's box.
At the price i ended up paying I've had to promise to try it again this next year :-(
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sell it in Marketplace, after Jaykay's write up I'm sure there will be others willing to experiment. ;)
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I'll buy it penninehillbilly if you have no luck,I was going to buy a spare.
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sorry jinglejoys, wasn't ignoring you, I havn't had time for the comp for a while, I suppose I should give it another try this year, otherwise I'll never hear the last of it from OH ::) .
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When you say you have trouble getting the milk to come through despite the suction,do you hand milk the first couple of squirts first to check everything is o.k and so that the first milk doesn't end up in the bottle?Some goats like to hold their milk back so its better to check they are relaxed whatever method you use.
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When you say you have trouble getting the milk to come through despite the suction,do you hand milk the first couple of squirts first to check everything is o.k and so that the first milk doesn't end up in the bottle?Some goats like to hold their milk back so its better to check they are relaxed whatever method you use.
yes, got the milk running first, but she does have largish teats, which is why I tried this, emailed the company first and they said it would be OK.
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Had to come back to this.
As in another post a goatling has kidded, but has very small teats, tried the UdderlyEZ and it works brilliantly, must have just been Nutty's big fat teats which gave me the problems.
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:excited: brill.. I think they are great
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Then maybe you should try the cow sized cups in it if she has large teats?
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the chap via email assured me goat should be OK, suggested I didn't use the insert, maybe I should have sent him a picture of her! Thinking of just leaving kids on her this year, she seemed to develop small lump in the teat and was difficult to milk out that side.