Where to get supplies

wmsff · #1 08/12/10, 10:49 AM

I have another ? Where to get the supplies. I was reading the Storeys guide to goats and there was all kinds of info about the equipment. I am planning on building my own milk stand and using a stainless steel bucket, but the other stuff the guide talks about as being almost mandatory, I am concerned about.

Again, wow were we ignorant when I was young! I was about 8 when my parents got the goats (they mostly were to feed the calves, but we also drank the milk). I recall my mom washing out an old sauce pan, and taking a washcloth to wash the goats teats. Then she milked one, washed the other goat, and milked her right into the same pan. She poured off what was for the calves and strained the rest into a rinsed plastic gallon milk jug and stuck it in the fridge. We never used a teat wash or dip, a strip cup, and the only strainer she used was a mesh strainer she used for pasta!

I'm probably getting a lot of "Oh my gosh" from you all.

I was looking on the net for milking supplies and finding several businesses selling kits for 1-2 goats (about $60) with bucket, strip cup and filters). Sounds like a lot of money, but I guess we were lucky as kids not to get ill from the lack of sanitation.

pygmybabies · #2 08/12/10, 11:01 AM

I posted just about 2 weeks ago when I got my first milker and everyone gave me some great tips on how to milk and what to use.

Here is what I am doing right now
I brush her on the milk stand then wash her teats with vinegar and water, may not be the best thing but i thought the bleach was too strong, my neigbor uses dishsop..tiny amt. I tried that at first but was afraid i wouldnt dry good ehough and get soap in my milk.
Then I dry her with a paper towel and then test the milk in a small cup.
Right now I am using the maggidans milker I just got, but before that just hanf milked into a pampered chef glass pitcher. I run through dishwasher then spray and wipe the glass and lid with alcohol and dry. After I am done I rinse her teats with the vinegar /water i have left then run it through my hand milker to clean out the milk.
I go inside put ice water in a bowl and place a mason jar in it, take a milk filter place it over the jar and then place a funnel (which i also santized with alchol) and poor milk through it. Place the lid on the jar put in fidge.
I have not perfected my system yet, as I have only had her for two weeks, but this is working so far and the only money i spent was the hand milker and the filters which were only $4.99 for 100 of them and they do work much faster than coffee filters. I would post that other thread but I dont know how to?
Wondering what others would say about the vinegar? The alcohol I know sanitizes so I am good there.
Good luck

Alice In TX/MO · #3 08/12/10, 11:31 AM

I like the basic milking kit from Caprine Supply.

https://www.caprinesupply.com/shop/?...6a95a6f1b4bf27

Yes, you can find stainless buckets cheaper and work around the other things, which most of us do to start with. This just is a nice package.

There's also Hamby:
http://hambydairysupply.com

and Hoegger:
http://www.hoeggergoatsupply.com/xcart/home.php

**mygoat** · #4 08/12/10, 11:37 AM

For milking, I use a stainless steel stock pot that I got at the local dollar store for around 3.50 I believe. The 8qts work great for a milk bucket for full size goats. I then zip tied a split-ring keychain to each handle and made a rope handle. Works great!

I do have the mini strainer from hoegger and the mini milk filters. I also LOVE the dairy soap/sanitizer/acid wash from Hoegger. Once I have more than a couple dairy goats I plan on getting a larger strainer and possibly a larger stock pot for a tote.

As for udder wash, I use the bleach/dish soap combination that Fias Co Farm has on their website. Speaking of Fias Co farm, I HIGHLY suggest them for goatkeeping information.

All other equipment comes from Jeffers - I LOVE Jeffers. For me, going over the 49.00 for free shipping ALWAYS happens... so it's very convenient. They're cheaper than TSC/local mill stores, so with the free shipping it's awesome. They do have stainless steel buckets in there as well, and they're priced very reasonably as well.

Alice In TX/MO · #5 08/12/10, 12:05 PM

I used the Fias Co Farm udder wash recipe until one goat had a case of staph dermatitis. Now I use a Chlorhexadine based wash/dip.

Also, I vaccinate for staph aureus with Lysigin.

wmsff · #6 08/13/10, 08:25 AM

Thanks all. I have a few livestock catalogs which have several of the items, much cheaper than in the kit, however not all at the same place. Of course, this will result in paying more in shipping.

Again, thanks all

Jay27 · #7 08/13/10, 08:49 AM

I don't wash the teats at all unless they are obviously dirty... and then, it is just with a damp rag. I milk into mason jars to keep bugs out and cats from spilling the milk while I am moving goats around. I filter using a dish cloth and a canning funnel and then store the milk in mason jars. I just don't see any reason to make it more complicated than that. That is how Gramma did it and it worked just fine for her. Everything is reusable and inexpensive. After years of doing it this way, we have yet to have a problem with any part of the process. Do what works for you... if you don't have problems don't let people convince you that you are doing it wrong just because you aren't doing it the same as they are. I don't know how many times I was told I would get sick and my goats would develop mastitis from not washing the teats... turns out my goats only got mastitis in the month I went against my better judgement and washed teats. I blame the chemicals in the teat dip.

wintrrwolf · #8 08/13/10, 09:47 AM

hmm ya I have to keep it as simple as possible since I milk right before going to work. Have a carry tote that holds on one side a mason jar with teet wash, 2 qt container for milk, maggidan milker. (used to use a weak iodine wash, trying the soap/bleach water mix, going back to the iodine Sugar has started kicking her udder while milking) I am weird I cup my hand behind the teet and pour some of the wash on down front of teets massage wash a sec, do it again, attach cup, milk away, rewash, I used to use a colander yes I use for other things but it is always cleaned/sanitized afterwords, coffee filters, into pampered chef glass bowl..BUT those filters that PB got are awsome so will be getting those.
I think there are others that sanitize so well might be because if they are selling some of their milk and IF someone got sick because of ones lack of sanitation well that would really suck...but for personal family use...I wash/sanitize everything that I use just for my own peace of mind.