The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Goats => Topic started by: macgro7 on May 21, 2018, 02:23:35 am

Title: What type of milking system?
Post by: macgro7 on May 21, 2018, 02:23:35 am

What type of milking system do you think is the best/most efficient for around 20-25 goats?
Would twin cluster milking machine be enough?
Was thinking of something like this locking yoke below and a portable milking machine. How long do you think you would take milking this way?
https://www.farmfituk.com/agritubel-yokes/35-163-goat-self-locking-yokes#/70-type-2000mm_panel_for_goats/46-headspaces-5_headspaces (https://www.farmfituk.com/agritubel-yokes/35-163-goat-self-locking-yokes#/70-type-2000mm_panel_for_goats/46-headspaces-5_headspaces)

Title: Re: What type of milking system?
Post by: macgro7 on May 23, 2018, 11:36:17 am

Any ideas??  :(

Title: Re: What type of milking system?
Post by: Dogwalker on May 24, 2018, 06:19:10 am

The lack of replies probably means none of us have experience of milking more than a few goats individually by hand.
Sorry can't help.

Title: Re: What type of milking system?
Post by: macgro7 on May 24, 2018, 06:31:26 am

Ok that's must be it.

Thanks

Title: Re: What type of milking system?
Post by: Anke on May 24, 2018, 06:36:08 am

You would need to get on touch with small-scale dairies… but I don't think a mobile cluster unit will be enough if you talk 20 to 25 goats...

Title: Re: What type of milking system?
Post by: macgro7 on May 24, 2018, 09:04:27 am

That's what I'm thinking. With a double cluster it would take you an hour and half to milk that many goats I assume...

Does anyone actually use a milking machine or just there own hands?

I'll ask the farm where I got my goats from as they milk around that many I believe (And use the milk to make soap! 10 acre smallholding and full time business btw!)
The problem is I don't know of any other small scale goat/sheep dairies.
There are some micro dairies milking cows but that's very different...

Title: Re: What type of milking system?
Post by: Buttermilk on May 24, 2018, 01:46:14 pm

I would machine milk if I was going to go back into goats.

The teats stay nice and do not grow like when hand milked.
The milk is kept away from the air and airborn contamination.
It is easier to get relief milkers so that you can have a day away now and again as well.

The downside is the washing up and ensuring that the units are kept clean.