Walk me through milking please

[Pearce Pastures]

At all? Not sure we are reading the same material. Not that they were the be all, end all but just some info from people with experience and training beyond mine on milkers Just shared them as some articles about the use of milking tools and thought they were pretty interesting, and did they do discuss pulsing and suction and why they are important to a sensitive system. I wish I knew of some other studies too and would love it if someone else could offer a good one up.

In turn there are 4 possible causes of teat end damage
Liner choice
Pulsation failure
Excessive vacuum
Overmilking.

f the constant vacuum were left onto the teat end for an extended period, blood and lymph would accumulate in the end of the teat, causing trauma to the teat. This would be like attaching a vacuum hose to the end of your finger. The area exposed to the hose would turn red with accumulated blood. To prevent teat-end trauma, This alternating vacuum-atmospheric pressure, referred to as pulsation, is important for maintaining teat end health.

 

[OneFineAcre]

At all? Not sure we are reading the same material. Not that they were the be all, end all but just some info from people with experience and training beyond mine on milkers Just shared them as some articles about the use of milking tools and thought they were pretty interesting, and did they do discuss pulsing and suction and why they are important to a sensitive system. I wish I knew of some other studies too and would love it if someone else could offer a good one up.

In turn there are 4 possible causes of teat end damage
Liner choice
Pulsation failure
Excessive vacuum
Overmilking.

f the constant vacuum were left onto the teat end for an extended period, blood and lymph would accumulate in the end of the teat, causing trauma to the teat. This would be like attaching a vacuum hose to the end of your finger. The area exposed to the hose would turn red with accumulated blood. To prevent teat-end trauma, This alternating vacuum-atmospheric pressure, referred to as pulsation, is important for maintaining teat end health.

We were reading the same material. I understand the concept. And I did appreciate you posting, it was interesting and useful information. But, it was still applying to pulsating machines. If the pulsation fails on a "machine" with a motor and the vacuum remains on for an extended period of time it would definitely not be good.

The other part, "if the constant vacuum were left onto the teat end for an extended period etc. etc." What is an extended period.
With the udderly ez, you put the teat in orifice and and as you start to pump it and the milk starts to flow, it will fill up a cup in 20 seconds or so, and as the flow starts to slow down the vacuum breaks. You are hand pumping and you can control how much vacuum you are applying, it's not a machine. We use the one cup container because it fits underneath better. Empty into a quart jar Switch sides and repeat, in about 20 seconds you will fill the cup, and you start to lose the vacuum, or you can tilt and force it to break. Empty into the jar. You massage the udder and then try the first side again and then the second. Depending upon how good a doe you have you may get another cup between the two sides. Overmilking, leaving the vacuum applied when no milk is flowing doesn't apply because you just break the vacuum. You have to hand milk out the last half cup or so. It works really well.

I can see where you could cause some damage if you don't do it right. Pumping to much and making the vacuum too tight, or over milking. And we are not intensely milking our girls anyway.

But, I just don't think they are inherently bad. I saw another old post on here where someone said, "you can't use those it will destroy the goats teats" Probably not for everyone. Believe me, we have invested a lot of time and money into our animals and love everyone of them. We would not do anything if we thought that it would harm them.

Maybe I'll make a video and post on youtube

 

[Oakroot]

Getting back on topic. Ask whom ever you purchase the goats from if they could give you a quick lesson on milking when you pick up your girls. Most goat owners I have found are thrilled to teach you a thing or two.

 

[ThreeBoysChicks]

Getting back on topic. Ask whom ever you purchase the goats from if they could give you a quick lesson on milking when you pick up your girls. Most goat owners I have found are thrilled to teach you a thing or two.

X2 - I had my Vet show me how the proper way to milk a goat. She has been caring for large Milk herds much of her career.

 

[madcow]

Also, keep in mind hand milking mechanics are subject to the doe's teat anatomy. I have pygmy does and they have very small teats. I can only hand milk them with 2 fingers because of their small teat size. I must trap the milk below my thumb and forefinger and gently squeeze out the milk trapped in the teat. Not enough area for even a third digit to squeeze the teat. I see you have pygmies and NDs and, as you probably arlready know, they have the smallest teats. You can certainly use a larger teat cup made for full-sided goat and it works fine, because it just captures more of the udder along with the teat when attached. That's the way it works with my pgymies. I only bring my pump suction up to between 10 and 15 PSI (it has a gauge), trying to stay closer to 12 PSI and that will usually get the milk flowing and keep it flowing. I will then allow the pressure to drop to 10 PSI once things get started. It keeps a constant pressure. I don't keep the pump on the teat for longer than 60 seconds and my does' teats have experienced no ill effects because of this amount of pressure. You can tell if it's too much pressure, because the doe will start to kick at the tubing and the pump cup like she's uncomfortable. At that point I would let the suction off and start again with somewaht less pressure the next session.

Suction milking machines have been used for many, many years in the farming industry. I would think that they would not have been used that long without some animal rights groups getting involved to change the practice of using inhumane machines on animals. Any machine used on anmials will injure it if used improperly. The teats are made to handle a certain degree of suction from a kid nursing and I would think that would vary from kid to kid and from nursing situation to nursing situation, depending on the hunger of the kid at that time. If the kid is sucking too much the mother will kick it away. So if the doe seems uncomfortable during milking by machine it's time to adjust the equipment or stop milking. She will tell you if something isn't right at the point it causes discomfort. Don't you think? So it will take you carefully observing her while milking and being mindful of what she is feeling at all times when milking by machine. Consider that if you were hand milking and she seemed uncomfortable you would most likely stop and investigate for a problem. Same situation with machine milking. You just need to use common sense with machines. It just makes the job easier, but not mindless.

 

[ThreeBoysChicks]

MADCOW - Great point. I have large hands, which is one of the reasons why I went with Nubians instead of the very cute / adorable / lovalble Nigerian Dwarfs.

 

[OneFineAcre]

Also, keep in mind hand milking mechanics are subject to the doe's teat anatomy. I have pygmy does and they have very small teats. I can only hand milk them with 2 fingers because of their small teat size. I must trap the milk below my thumb and forefinger and gently squeeze out the milk trapped in the teat. Not enough area for even a third digit to squeeze the teat. I see you have pygmies and NDs and, as you probably arlready know, they have the smallest teats. You can certainly use a larger teat cup made for full-sided goat and it works fine, because it just captures more of the udder along with the teat when attached. That's the way it works with my pgymies. I only bring my pump suction up to between 10 and 15 PSI (it has a gauge), trying to stay closer to 12 PSI and that will usually get the milk flowing and keep it flowing. I will then allow the pressure to drop to 10 PSI once things get started. It keeps a constant pressure. I don't keep the pump on the teat for longer than 60 seconds and my does' teats have experienced no ill effects because of this amount of pressure. You can tell if it's too much pressure, because the doe will start to kick at the tubing and the pump cup like she's uncomfortable. At that point I would let the suction off and start again with somewaht less pressure the next session.

Suction milking machines have been used for many, many years in the farming industry. I would think that they would not have been used that long without some animal rights groups getting involved to change the practice of using inhumane machines on animals. Any machine used on anmials will injure it if used improperly. The teats are made to handle a certain degree of suction from a kid nursing and I would think that would vary from kid to kid and from nursing situation to nursing situation, depending on the hunger of the kid at that time. If the kid is sucking too much the mother will kick it away. So if the doe seems uncomfortable during milking by machine it's time to adjust the equipment or stop milking. She will tell you if something isn't right at the point it causes discomfort. Don't you think? So it will take you carefully observing her while milking and being mindful of what she is feeling at all times when milking by machine. Consider that if you were hand milking and she seemed uncomfortable you would most likely stop and investigate for a problem. Same situation with machine milking. You just need to use common sense with machines. It just makes the job easier, but not mindless.

Seems you and I are in 100% agreement.

 

[SillyChicken]

check out www.fiascofarms.com. Awesome website , has about everything you'll ever need to know - including what you'll need to milk and a tutorial on how

LOL, I went on the link you provided....... and oops! Wrong one, but they have a link on their farm page for http://www.fiascofarm.com/goats/index.htm - which is the site you intended. They must have gotten a lot of goat inquiries!