Four years ago, I introduced my first doe to my homestead dairy with Phoebe being the inaugural addition. Her kids had been weaned mere hours prior, leaving her udder impressively swollen by the time I brought her home. As a novice in goat husbandry and milking, I was hesitant to touch her newly engorged udder, given my lack of experience. Little did I know what lay ahead, as Phoebe had never been used for dairy purposes before, and I’d never milked or interacted with goats prior.
The first milking session was, understandably, a trial by fire. Despite the initial struggles, Phoebe has since become an exceptional milker, thanks to my perseverance and the subsequent training of does that followed. Today, I’m confident in my ability to train goats for stand milking, all thanks to Phoebe’s unwavering dedication and my own determination to overcome the challenges she presented.
How to Train Your Goat to Milk
To simplify the process of teaching a new dog the ways of the world, just like I did with Phoebe, consider incorporating these helpful tips into your routine. First, start by establishing a consistent daily schedule that includes dedicated time for training and socialization. This will help your pup feel secure and develop good habits from the get-go.
Start with the Right Milk Stand Additions
Milking stands are designed to simplify the milking process while promoting good goat behavior. The elevated design and head enclosures help keep goats comfortable and secure during milking. Additionally, these stands often feature a space for a feed bucket to occupy the doe while you milk. While basic milk stands can be effective, I recommend using a stand with side rails and a hobble for training purposes.
The side rails serve as a barrier against goats that try to trick you by jumping on the stand, only to swerve off just before you secure them. By containing their movement, you can prevent repeated attempts at escape and ensure a smoother milking experience. The head enclosure and side rails also help overcome common challenges during milking. Some goats will lay down on the stand to protect their udders, while others will try to buck or resist being milked.
The side rails can be used in conjunction with training ropes to elevate the doe’s udder and prevent unwanted movements. The hobble plays a crucial role in preventing accidental milk spills or hoof-related mishaps during milking. This is because does instinctively kick their kids off their teats after they’ve suckled for a bit, and may also attempt to repel unrelated or rejected kids using their hind legs.
By using a hobble, you can override these natural instincts and maintain control over the milking process. While pre-made hobbles are available for full-size goats, finding one that works for mini-goats can be challenging. I opted to create my own hobble by tying a rope around the foot and leg of my stand, securing it with storage straps and a carabiner. This allows me to easily store the hobble between milkings and adjust its tightness based on the goat’s training level.
Ultimately, using a milking stand with side rails and a hobble can help you establish good milking habits, train your goats more effectively, and enjoy a smoother overall experience.
Establish Physical Trust
When approaching milking with a standard milk stand, it’s crucial to establish trust and familiarity with your goat beforehand. The stand itself may resemble a medieval torture device, but goats are more likely to understand their vulnerability when their heads are locked into place. Before immobilizing your goat’s neck and collecting milk, take time to develop a positive physical relationship with your doe. This can be achieved by giving her a whole-body massage.
Start by standing beside your goat, ensuring they don’t feel trapped. Massage the area where the neck meets the shoulders (the withers) and work your way along the spine towards the tail. Most goats will arch or snake their necks and display their ‘smile’ when you exert deep pressure along the spine – they genuinely enjoy this! Scratch one side of your goat’s body, including the hindquarters and undersides, then move to the other side and repeat.
If your goat isn’t in milk, massage her udder; handling it before her instincts to guard her milk emerge makes touching it easier on the stand. If your doe is already in milk, massage around the udder but avoid direct contact until she’s on the stand. If you need to establish trust quickly, be prepared to repeat this exercise multiple times before attempting to milk.
Alternatively, perform this daily for a few weeks leading up to your does’ due date to ensure they’re in excellent condition during pregnancy.
Introduce Your Goat to the Milk Stand Gradually
I’ve found that introducing goats to a stand is most effective when I feed them from behind the stand for several days, allowing them to associate the stand with food. To facilitate this process, I installed a 2×2 foot frame at the base of my stand, which enables me to hang a feeder pail.
This setup allows me to place the feed bucket on the stand and then slowly transition it into its final position by pushing the stand into a corner while ensuring the goat can’t access the food without climbing onto the stand. I monitor the situation closely, making sure my goat doesn’t eat without being on the stand. Typically, after a few minutes of persistence, they’ll give up trying to eat from the ground and opt to feed from the stand instead.
If my goat isn’t volunteering to climb onto the stand, I gently coax them by guiding their neck and hind end with one hand each. As a last resort, I may need to employ a gentle ‘teeter-totter’ motion, lifting their front legs followed by their hind legs to help them onto the platform. It’s essential to allow them to eat from the bucket on the stand for several days before securing their neck in place.
While they’re eating, I take the opportunity to pet and massage my goats, taking care not to interrupt their meal. Some goats may momentarily stop eating to enjoy the attention, at which point I pause the pampering until they resume eating, then continue with gentle touch. The ultimate goal is for my goat to become comfortable being touched while eating on the stand.
Once they’re accustomed to this arrangement, I can lock their neck enclosure and initiate gentle udder handling, all while maintaining proper behavior through the use of side rails and hobbling, as outlined in Tip #1.
Learn How to Milk Before You Try to Train Your New Dairy Goat
For those new to milking goats, it’s essential to gain hands-on experience under the guidance of an experienced dairy goat keeper before attempting to train your own. Alternatively, immerse yourself in YouTube tutorials and mentally rehearse the process, ‘milk’ imaginary goats as if they were real. Pay attention to proper technique: push up and then squeeze the udder, never pulling down (the nuances will become apparent once you begin milking).
Be More Stubborn than Your Goat
When time is of the essence and you need to train a new dairy goat in a hurry, it’s crucial to recognize that goats respond best to a strong will. You may have witnessed goats engaging in hours-long headbutting matches to establish dominance within their herd – a testament to the importance of determination over brute strength.
Even if you’re struggling to train your doe and are on the verge of throwing in the towel (a sentiment I’m familiar with from my own experience), it’s essential not to give up. In fact, when time is of the essence, you must be more resolute than your goat. The sooner your doe realizes that she can’t outlast or outsmart you, the sooner she’ll submit to training and let you milk without issue.
While goats may initially test your resolve after they’ve been trained, just as they do with each other within their social hierarchy, it’s vital to address misbehavior swiftly to maintain order and keep milkers in line.
Milking Appreciation
As I step into the milk room, it’s not uncommon for me to be greeted by my well-trained goat friends, each one eager to perform their daily routine. With a gentle call and a nod, they’ll hop onto the stand, settle in comfortably, and wait for the next stage of their milking process to begin. As I wash their udders, prepare the equipment, and get settled into the milking rhythm, it’s not hard to feel a deep sense of connection and gratitude towards these clever creatures.
The trust we’ve built is palpable, and I’m reminded that strong relationships with my animals are essential to our harmonious coexistence on the homestead. With every stream of milk flowing effortlessly from their teats, I’m filled with a profound appreciation for the beauty and simplicity of this daily ritual.
