Hand Milking Equipment and Supplies
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You finally got the dairy goats you have dreamed of, bred them in the fall, and are now ready to take the next step — hand milking them.
I started my herd with two Nigerian Dwarf does in the summer. During their pregnancies, I trained the does to the milk stand and got them used to having their teats handled in preparation for hand milking.
Equipment
Milk Stand. A milk stand is an essential piece of equipment for hand milking. It also has a dual purpose — not only can it be used to restrain a goat while milking, but it’s also indispensable for other tasks such as trimming hooves, clipping, or giving injections.
Goat supply stores, such as Caprine Supply, sell steel milk stand bases and headpieces (also called stanchions). These can be expensive but will last a lifetime. I received one as a retirement gift more than 20 years ago. For those who are handy, there are instructions online for wooden milk stands. PVC is another option, which has the added benefit of being lightweight.
Feed Bowl. Milk stands are typically designed to hold a feed bowl to put grain in. Whatever fits — metal or plastic — will do.
Bucket. The ideal bucket is stainless steel. Unlike plastics, it doesn’t harbor bacteria, absorb odors, or leach BPA into the milk, and it’s safe to put in a dishwasher. It will last virtually forever.
The size you need will depend on whether you are hand milking standard or miniature goats. The best milk buckets come with a lid that has a hole in the top so you can milk directly into the bucket with the lid, reducing the chance of hair or debris getting into the milk.
Strip cup. A strip cup is a dark-colored cup. The first squirt or two of the foremilk is milked into the cup so you can identify any ropiness, blood, or clots that may indicate mastitis. I haven’t purchased one, and simply milked into the paper towel I dried the udder with and observe the texture of the milk. If any abnormalities show up, I perform a mastitis test. If the milk test shows signs of inflammation, I keep it out of the supply.
Strainer. Strainers designed for milking come in various sizes, including mini and four-quart sizes. Like a bucket, a stainless steel strainer is best.
Milk Storage Containers. Most who are hand milking use half-gallon or quart canning jars for milk storage. Milk takes longer to cool in gallon jars, making them less useful. Milk can be strained into these containers right after milking. They can be refrigerated and washed in a dishwasher to ensure they’re sanitized. Plastic lids are preferable to metal because they don’t rust.
Those with a larger budget and more milk may want to invest in a stainless steel tote. It allows you to easily carry more milk to a refrigerator or ice bath, rather than juggling several jars.
Refrigerator. For those of us with electricity in our barns, a refrigerator or mini fridge is a great way to cool the milk immediately. When my daughter was in a sorority more than 20 years ago, they allowed families to take things left behind when previous students moved out. I got a mini fridge that is still working to this day.
Supplies
There are a lot of choices when it comes to supplies. Some will choose to purchase only commercial products, while those of us on a budget are more likely to figure out what alternatives we can use instead.
Udder Washing Supplies. Goat udders need to be washed before hand milking to avoid contamination. I have seen goat owners use everything from baby wipes to iodine-based concentrates purchased from a farm or milking supply store. There are a variety of udder wash recipes online. Avoid harsh detergents.
A clean towel must be used for each washing and drying of a goat udder. Washing towels with sanitizer can be purchased from a dairy supply store. I cut up old towels and use one with my udder wash for each goat, then dry with a paper towel. I put the udder wash and warm water in an old plastic Folger’s coffee can.
Milk Filters. Fresh milk must be strained to eliminate hair and other debris. Some people use coffee filters or cheesecloth to strain milk. I think this is more expensive than buying milk filters. I have a mini strainer and purchased the large-size milk filters and cut them to fit the opening of the mini strainer. A box of 100 lasts months, and it’s less expensive than buying the filters designed for mini strainers.
Post-milking Treatment. After milking, the sphincter on a goat’s teat doesn’t close for 30 minutes. Teat dips help prevent mastitis during this time. I also give my goats alfalfa after my milking routine so they don’t lay down and contaminate the udder. Like other goat milking supplies, commercial post-milking treatments can be purchased. These range from dips to sprays, such as the popular Fight-Bac. For do-it-yourselfers, there are recipes online using everything from bleach, iodine, essential oils, and alcohol (NEVER full strength).
Mastitis Tests. The California Mastitis Test (CMT) is the most commonly used mastitis test. A small amount of first milk is squirted into two of the four quarters (for cows, which have four teats) of a plastic paddle, and a chemical is added. If the milk contains a lot of white cells (indicating infection), the CMT solution will gel. The CMT is inexpensive and well worth having to identify mastitis.
Udder Balm. Milking can be harsh on the udder and teats, leading to dryness, cracks, and infection. Applying udder balm after milking will help prevent this. Many udder balms and lotions are sold commercially and by goat keepers who make their own. There are a lot of recipes on the internet. The recipe I use is on this page.
Those who plan to milk their goats can begin to acquire the necessary supplies and equipment either during the five-month pregnancy period or even when it’s just an idea. This will help spread out the expenses, and you will be ready to go when that day finally arrives.
CHERYL K. SMITH has raised mini dairy goats in the Coast Range of Oregon since 1998. She owns Karmadillo Press and is the author of Raising Goats for Dummies, Goat Health Care, Goat Midwifery, and Shed Boy, the first in a series of cozy mysteries set on a goat farm. www.GoatHealthCare.com
Originally published in the Winter 2024 issue of Goat Journal.
