How quick could I pay for this contraption??

TSYORK · #1 02/09/08, 02:25 PM

I do not have time to hand milk three to four dairy goats twice daily. I thought about buying a milking machine, where I could use the milk to feed two or three dairy calves with. I would raise the steers or heifers up to about 450-550 lbs then sale them. Do you think it's worth a try? I just don't have time milking, and I thought if I could get a return on my investment, then I would just buy the milking machine and feed my calfs with goats milk. I am wanting to market more to the organic line.

Thanks,

mlangfus · #2 02/09/08, 04:09 PM

Dont think its worth it for 3-4 goats. Would take you just as long to clean machine as to milk them by hand. Also most organic people are looking for organic certified products. We feed calfs off goat milk (milking 8 goats by hand) and they do great. Hope that helps. Mike

topside1 · #3 02/09/08, 04:22 PM

Welcome to the forum Mlangfus....What type calf do you raise?

francismilker · #4 02/09/08, 06:00 PM

It does take a lot of time to clean the milkers. But, I personally think it depends on how much you have to pay for the machine and vacuum supply. If you can get into it for $500 or less and be ready to milk, it's worth a try. If you have to buy a new system and pay new price for it, ($1395), then it's probably not worth it. I personally use a machine when I'm milking the four cows here. I'm just not interested in hand harvesting 200+ pounds of milk per day. Call me a sissy if you want to, but I'd rather spend 15 minutes cleaning than 15 minutes with my head buried into a cow's side in the squatting position! LOL!

TSYORK · #5 02/09/08, 06:26 PM

I'm with you francismilker!!!!

sammyd · #6 02/09/08, 06:38 PM

There's a reason the milking machine was invented.
I'm with Francismilker on this one too.

Spending a little time at auctions and digging around dealers bone yards can get you a cheap dependable system. Getting the goat units could be your biggest expense, I don't see too many of those being sold used. But the vacuum pump, balance tank, milker buckets, and vacuum pulsators can be had cheap if you keep an eye out.

Hey francis, get one of those strap on milking stools. For around 35 bucks it's the best thing I've ever done while milking cows. Never used it as a kid but the last time I milked 60 in stalls the owner had one and I would never milk without one. Why squat or kneel when you can sit?

Rickydink · #7 02/09/08, 06:45 PM

I never thought the time cleaning our Surge milker was long. These milkers keep the milk clean and can hold 4+ gallons. You could milk 3-4 goats and then transfer the milk into bottles before having to clean the milker. Our complete system was $650 and has worked flawlessly. Fast and easy, your time savings should pay for the cost over a single season.

I am too old, fat and lazy to spend the time hand milking and prefer to use the milker and its associated cleanup time (no more than 10 minutes).

mlangfus · #8 02/09/08, 06:53 PM

Glad to be on forum. We have many Nubian goats, and now have a 7 month old jersey/holstein heifer, an 11 mo old Holstein heifer, and a 13 mo old Jersey steer. Look to buy a Jersey Heifer, but having a hard time finding one.

Teacupliz · #9 02/09/08, 07:52 PM

I agree I hand milked about 10 goats for years- I started with a surge bucket and love the ease of milking with the machine. I have found to with the right soap clean up is a snap. Just do not buy the goat buckets from Hoegger they are low grade SS and you can clean all day and they still have milk stone in them.
Liz

mlangfus · #10 02/09/08, 09:03 PM

what is best milking machine to use ? Dont want to spend more than $1000. Milking goats and cows. Dont want to empty bucket in between every goat. Suggestions?