essential equipment

greenhorn · #1 06/27/09, 09:06 PM

As I sit poised with debit card in hand, on the Hoegger's website, I need some sage advice to temper my spending. I'm in dire need of some "official" milking things and some other doo-dads, but would like to hear opinions of your essential equipment list. Don't say milking stand, because that's out of the budget for a few weeks at least (unless I get the gumption and help to build one...I'm holding out for the metal one!). I'm only milking 2 now, and my thighs are benefitting from the squatting.

So far, I've decided I must have the milk pail with the little half-moon opening, the X-30 disbudding iron (I will have someone show me how the 1st time!) and I need to find the CD&T shot their suppossed to get, but I may have to get it from PBS.

What are your faves? What do you all use for straining? What tests do I need to have done before I consider raw milk (pasturized my 1st quart tonight)? What has made your milking experience easier, from an efficiency and ergonomic standpoint?

Thanks so much and I can't wait to get the "go ahead" to proceed to checkout!

Togg Lovers · #2 06/27/09, 09:52 PM

The one item we are very glad we purchased was the udderly easy milker. Our hands aren't all cramped up after we are done and DH loved using it when it was cold because it didn't aggravate his arthritis. We use wipes for the udder before milking and Fight Back after milking. We bought the starter kit from Caprine Supply (theirs happened to be cheaper at the time) and we were pleased with it. The CDT vac. can be purchased at Tractor Supply or most other feed stores. Just ask for it. You def. want the kid box if you are going to disbud yourself. We like to keep LA200, Sulfamethazole (SP?) and a few other basic meds on hand all the time.

Bearfootfarm · #3 06/27/09, 10:14 PM

You'll save a LOT on shipping if you can find the vaccine locally.
Take a small cooler and an ice pack with you to keep it refrigerated

sammyd · #4 06/27/09, 10:17 PM

We use single use paper towels for prepping the udder. A good udder wash mixed an ounce to a gallon of water. When we dip we use an iodine type in a foaming teat dipper.
For straining we use a standard milk strainer the uses a 6 1/2" pad that we can get at various places close by. We strain right from our milker bucket into a SS bucket then pour into glass jars or small pitchers. Find a used one at a decent price, I can usually find them for under 60 bucks in good shape.
We had a small strainer basket with a handle from the housegoods section at a dept store and used the milk strainer pads in that, it worked well.
We use an old packing crate I picked up at work fro a stand. The wife nailed another piece of packing to it for a head hole but it doesn't close. If we encounter a goat that wants to leave early we tie her in with a leash hooked to her collar.

Sometimes for milking our son will use his strap on milking stool instead of kneeling or bending over and I have been known to use mine as well.
I can't see milking a goat without a stand of some sort. Your thighs may benefit but your knees won't..
http://script-host.com/self/drill/SANY0032.JPG Our free milking stand in use.

Bricheze · #5 06/27/09, 11:19 PM

I found these plans for building a milking stand (I am going to build one) thought they might be of use if you are considering, usually Fias Co Farm has good info/plans.

Link: http://fiascofarm.com/goats/milkstand.html

DQ · #6 06/28/09, 02:41 PM

Is this just for family milk? I would save the money for a good milk stand! maybe get some teat dip adn of course a good medicine and vaccine supply for your cabinet. antibacterial wipes work good for me (from wm) I use a good doubled heavy duty paper towel formed into a 'valley' rubberbanded over a 1/2 - 1 gallon glass jar to milk into. I don't like to have ickies soaking in the milk even for a few minutes. I can't imagine waiting to strain it till I got in the house (ewww.....). I just have never been able to talk myself into buying the fancy pails and wipes when regular old stuff works so well!

lettermom · #7 06/29/09, 08:46 AM

I don't know if it was just a 1 time thing and i am the only oone but i ordered a strip cup from there and it took over 3 months to get it... even then i had to call to find out what was going on every few weeks because no one ever let me know it was even going to be late. i had to ask

TwoAcresAndAGoat · #8 06/29/09, 09:03 AM

I use a 4 quart stainless steel bucket that I picked up at Tractor Supply in the Dog area. I use a large rubber band and stretch a piece of loose woven cloth over the top of the pail and milk one goat at a time into the pail (through the cloth). Then I pour that milk into a **"4 qt tote" milk can that has a hinged top to seal in the milk. I then starin it a second time in the kitchen through a tight woven cloth. Both cloths are washed and bleached between milkings.

**
http://hoeggergoatsupply.com/xcart/p...1&cat=0&page=1

Check out their dent and scratch section for discounted items.

I have a home made milking stand and use a plastic outdoor chair. I use disinfectant wipes to clean their udders. I use to mix up udder wash but with just a few goats it's not worth the trouble for me.

greenhorn · #9 07/01/09, 10:09 AM

Thanks everyone for the responses. I managed to postpone my order, bought the CD&T at Tractor Supply and am milking into a sterized large mouth Mason Jar with straining cloth rubberbanded over the top (cloths get washed and bleached after use).

This is enough for now, because (I forgot to mention) I'm only milking 1 side of 1 goat right now. Her kid prefers the left teat (as does she) for nursing, so I milk the right side each day. I'm getting 1.5 quarts a day from that side.

Once I start to milk in earnest (2 does, 4 teats!) I'll upgrade the system. Thanks for all the advice!