10+ Dairy Goat Essential Supplies That You Need

It’s National Dairy Month!

Each June I try to bring you dairy related information, lists, and recipes as my way to celebrate to spread the love during National Dairy Month. This week, I am  bestowing upon you the gift of the Dairy Goat Essentials List 😉

For more information about National Dairy Month, visit The Dairy Alliance. They will provide you with the history of this month’s theme, state dairy fact sheets, dairy themed coloring pages, and more!

Be sure to support our dairy farmers this month by making a few extra ice cream & milk purchases and take your kiddos to visit a local dairy if you have one close.

What Dairy Goat Supplies Do You Need Before Milking?

Milking a goat takes more than just a bucket and patience. There are several items that you need to have on hand to ensure healthy goats and quality milk. This list contains the supplies that you will need for the milking process. It does not currently include nutritional items, shelter, or medications.

Dairy Goat Essential Supplies

1. Bag Balm or Udder Butter

This is important to keep your goat’s udder from drying and cracking. You can purchase a pre-made Bag Balm or Udder Butter OR you can make your own. I make my own bag balm with essential oils and it works wonderfully!

2. A Bucket or a Jar

This is probably the most important of the dairy goat essentials. You need a good bucket or your milk won’t ever make it from the barn to your kitchen. You will want to use a seamless Stainless Steel Pail or a glass jar to collect your goat’s milk. SEAMLESS is an important when you are choosing a milk bucket. If the bucket you milk into has seams, then milk and dirt can become trapped in the cracks and bacteria will grow. No one wants that :/

If you use a glass jar, please be careful. Glass can be a little risky because it can break if your goat begins to kick, but I have used jars before with out incident.

3. Teat Spray or Wipes 

Your goat’s teats will need to be washed before and after each and every milking session. This cleans stray hairs and dirt off of the teats and udder and it helps to remove potentially harmful bacteria. If your regularly skip this step, but will end up with more debris in your milk and your goat may get mastitis more easily.

You can make your own teat spray or wipes or you can purchase a pre-made Teat Spray solution from a local feed store or online.

 4. A Milk Filter

A milk filter is an important dairy goat supply to have. You will inevitably have some small debris in your milk at some point (it can be avoided most of the time, but not all of the time) so you will need to filter this out before consuming the milk. Some people use a filter that fits into their milk bucket. You can do that or filter the milk when you transfer from your bucket to a jar. I have used both a GoldTone Reusable Coffee Filter and a Stainless Steel Funnel with Filter for straining milk. Both work great, but I personally prefer the coffee filter.

5. A Stanchion

Once every couple of blue moons you might find a dairy goat that will stand to be milked without a stand, but for the goats that aren’t as cooperative you will definitely need a stanchion. We built our own stanchion with pallets and scrap wood, but you can purchase a simple and affordable Goat Stanchion as well if you prefer. Please note that the one featured in this link does not have sides. If you goats are kickers, I suggest adding sides to it.)

6. A Hanging Feeder

You will need a Hanging Feeder to attach to the stanchion during your milking sessions. Putting a little grain or some treats in this feeder will make milking much easier.

7. A Strip cup

Use a Strip Cup with Screen or a solid black cup (I sometimes use a small, black, rubber feed pan) to “strip” each teat before milking. Squirt a little bit of milk into the cup or pan and examine it closely for signs of mastitis. I didn’t add this to my dairy goat supplies list when I first started, but I sure wish I would have.

8. A Collar or A Halter

If your goats are in a large pasture, then it may be best to use a Goat Collar or a Goat Halter when you are bringing them to the barn for milking. Some goats will come when you call them, but more stubborn ones will need a little pull in the right direction.

9. A Lead Rope or A Leash

You can use a Lead Rope or Goat Leash to attach to the collar or halter that you are using. This makes the job of moving the goat from the pasture to the stanchion a little less physically exhausting and time consuming.

10. Some Yummy Treats

Treats are essentials for dairy goats, in my opinion. Give them a healthy treat when they cooperate with you. This will increase the likelihood that they will repeat good behaviors in the future. My goats LOVE when I offer them a few BiteMe herbal goat treats and I don’t feel guilty after feeding them! You can also make your own goat treats with this recipe.

11. Feed/Grain

You will need some grain for your goats to munch on while they are on the stanchion during milking. Having feed available keeps them occupied so they aren’t as likely to try to kick you and the bucket away from them. Hay may work for your goats as well, but mine always do better with feed.

12. Hobbles if Needed

This one isn’t necessary if your goats are calm on the stand. However, if your goat is prone to kicking on the stand you might need to invest in a set of Hobbles to help her “kick” the habit. 😉

Are there any items that you would add to this list of Dairy Goat Essentials?? 

>>More Goat Resources<<

• Keeping Small Herd Goat Records
• Natural Goat Care Solutions that You Need to Know About
• How to Drain and Abscess on a Goat
• How to Give Copper Bolus to Goats
• 15 Best Children’s Dairy Animal Books
• 30+ Dairy Unit Study Resources for Your Homeschool
• The Goat Record Book

 

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