Dairy goat-production tips

Does are relatively docile animals and, as such, should be treated gently as any agitation may cause disruption in milk flow.

Equipment to properly milk and care for the milking dairy goat include milk bucket, milking stand, scale, two-per cent iodine solution (mixed in water for sanitising udder), strip cups (to examine milk for mastitis), filter or strainer, teat dip, soap and bleach for sanitising milking parlour, sanitising towel (for drying udder) and a stool.

NB: Handler should be attired in clean coveralls and boots!

Steps in milking

Before milking, all the necessary equipment should be properly assembled, washed with soap and bleach and then air-dried.

Place some feed in a bucket or feed container attached to the milking stand.

Bring the goat to the milking location and put her on the milking stand.

Wash and dry hands properly and cover with gloves.

Wash goat's udder with water and iodine solution and dry with a clean towel.

A strip cup should be used to examine the milk.

If the milk appears free from blood, lumps and curds, place the milk pail under the goat.

Grasp the teat with thumb and index finger together to trap the milk in the teat.

Gently but firmly, apply pressure to the teat with the second finger forcing the milk further down.

Do the same with the third finger, then the little finger.

Massage and gently pump the udder while milking and the doe will let down more milk.

Do NOT drag, pull or jerk down on the teat.

Use a steady pressure and loosen finger grip before squeezing again (this allows the milk back down into the teat for the next squirt).

It should take about five minutes to milk the doe.

The udder will feel noticeably empty and no more milk can be expressed from the orifice (teat end) when finished.

When all milk is out of the udder, dip each teat in a teat cup with iodine solution in it. This practice prevents bacteria from entering the teats and udder which could cause future problems such as mastitis, metritis and agalactia (MMA) syndrome.

Try to milk doe(s) twice daily.

After each milking, the milk weight should be recorded as this can indicate the health and value of the doe over a period.