Livestock Milking Nigerian Dwarf Goats

[Freeholder]

It will be a few months, but looking for ideas, since I no longer have the good goat-milking pail I used for over thirty years. I've seen suggestions to milk one-handed into a jar, but I prefer to milk two-handed, if possible. I'm considering a ss tea kettle; I found one on Amazon that appears to be seamless at the bottom, though there would still be a seam where the spout attaches. I'd prefer not to have the spout, of course, if I could find a container about that size and shape with a bail and a lid. I know some of you guys milk Nigies, or have in the past -- what did you use?

Also, because of my bad back, I'm thinking of building a tall milking stand so I can milk standing up. It would have a ramp that folds up out of the way when not in use. Any thoughts?

The 2 year old doe has freshened once, and looks like she will be fairly easy to milk. Too soon to tell about the six month old doe. And the buck kid is out of a long line of * milkers.

Kathleen

 

[West]

I thought you got out of raising goats?

In our AO, the pygmies and dwarfs and even crossed, are bringing over a hundred a head now. We still just breed and sell at auction. Should learn how to milk them, before the SHTF.

Hats off to you.

 

[Freeholder]

I thought you got out of raising goats?

In our AO, the pygmies and dwarfs and even crossed, are bringing over a hundred a head now. We still just breed and sell at auction. Should learn how to milk them, before the SHTF.

Hats off to you.

I had sold all of my bigger goats, but then started using the TENS unit for my back, and am taking thyroid medicine. Between the two, I'm feeling a lot better. Was really regretting having sold ALL of my goats! Especially the way things are going. I'm really liking the Nigerian Dwarfs so far, just don't want to kill my back when I start milking them. And even bottle buck kids are $150 or more here.

Kathleen

 

[West]

Ours are now mostly cross dwarfs/pygmies. They will climb. Our human kids built tree forts for our goat kids. Kinda a platform to platform and up into the tree. A milking stand would most certainly work, especially if there's a feeding bucket at the top.

Best of luck.

 

[Freeholder]

Ours are now mostly cross dwarfs/pygmies. They will climb. Our human kids built tree forts for our goat kids. Kinda a platform to platform and up into the tree. A milking stand would most certainly work, especially if there's a feeding bucket at the top.

Best of luck.

The tree platforms for the goats sounds like fun! Maybe if my grandson comes to visit sometime - he's almost 17 and likes to build things.

Kathleen

 

[West]

Ours used the free wooden pallets we get in industrial areas.

 

[Babs]

I would really discourage you from using a tea kettle. The nooks, crannies and seams are very difficult to get clean. When I first began my dairy farm, I simply used a stainless steel stock pot. With Nigerians, you might need to use a shorter pot.
I used to put my milking pot, inside of a larger pot filled with ice water so that the milk got cooled as I was milking.

 

[Freeholder]

I would really discourage you from using a tea kettle. The nooks, crannies and seams are very difficult to get clean. When I first began my dairy farm, I simply used a stainless steel stock pot. With Nigerians, you might need to use a shorter pot.
I used to put my milking pot, inside of a larger pot filled with ice water so that the milk got cooled as I was milking.

I know the seams would be a problem, that's why I was looking for a (mostly) seamless one. What I like about the teapot idea is that they are usually wide at the bottom - would be harder to knock over, or for a goat to put a hoof inside. Still looking at things, though.

Kathleen

 

[WalknTrot]

I'd for sure go with stainless steel for efficiency of cleaning. A smaller SS bucket, or maybe one of the larger (maybe 2 qt-gallon sized) SS dog bowls? The idea from someone above of a Goodwill SS cooking pot works, too.

And ugh...no way would I ever milk goats without a good high stand.

 

[Marseydoats]

Tractor Supply carries several sizes of stainless steel buckets. Maybe they would have something that would work for you.

 

[ktrapper]

I have been considering raising registered Nigerians as a means of some homestead income, meat and milk and weed control for what the cows and horses don’t eat.

We used to raise Nubians when we lived in AL and milked them.

I like the idea of milking into a jar if for anything to keep the goat from stepping in it.

I used to have a Toggenburg (spelling) that was a good producer. She would wait until you were about done then get anxious and almost every time land a foot in the milk.

 

[Babs]

I like the idea of milking into a jar if for anything to keep the goat from stepping in it.

I used to have a Toggenburg (spelling) that was a good producer. She would wait until you were about done then get anxious and almost every time land a foot in the milk.

Gotta keep an eye on them hooves! Gotta be quick!! I got to the point where I could just tell when a doe would shift her body weight in a certain way, that the hoof was going up. Would catch it in mid kick.

 

[Freeholder]

Lol! I got pretty good at catching those hooves before they landed in the milk pail, too. The 2-year-old doe I have now is one of the nervous sort, so I expect milking time to be interesting until she gets used to it. The younger doe is her half-sister, but isn't as nervous, so hopefully will be a little easier. When I got the little buck, the lady made a comment about all the Nigerians around here being related; my two does moved here from Texas with their owners last fall. So apparently I've got a different line there, which is good.

Kathleen

 

[Marie]

I just used an old 2 qt stainless steel pan but we've always had loop ropes coming through the stand to secure those back feet saves dumping milk