Guest Milkers - you could be one too!

One of the things we love most when friends come over is to take them down to let them milk our dairy goat, Ginger. I don't think anyone has ever refused the offer to give milking a try. Ginger is a great sport about it all; as long as she has grain in her dish, she's cool with just about anything.

Here we have Asa's good friend from school. She enjoyed the experience very much.

Here is cousin Nick. A natural. He got a good stream going pretty quickly.

On the left is cousin Jo; somehow we had four people milking the 'ol gal at one time.

Aunt Tammy - also a natural.
Asa takes his turn on Ginger's left, while Tammy works on the right.

Then next day, Ginger was very tender from all the different hands practicing on her. She did a lot of jig dancing and fussing at me when I went to milk her. She's just about back to her tough self again.

how to know when you're done milking

When I first began milking my goat back in April, I wondered if I would know when to stop milking her. How would I know when her udder was empty? Back then I just stopped when it seemed like I did it long enough, or when the milk stream started to slow down. After becoming more experienced I did figure out that when it's empty, you really know it; no doubts. The next freshening, I will be able to get more milk from my goat because now I know how to really "milk her out". The more milk you demand of her, the more she will produce, so milking out all the way keeps her producing the most her body is capable of.

This is Ginger before I milked her this morning (her feet are purple from an antibacterial spray I applied to her because of a skin condition).

Notice how her teats are full and pointing forward.

So then I milked her for about ten minutes or so, and I know that we are finished when I can no longer squeeze out milk. We get to the point where when I squeeze, barely any milk comes out, and the teat basically stays "deflated" - at this point I can't help but say: "Awwww, poor Ginger". This sight always makes me feel so sorry for her!

The upper udder is still round and full, but the lower udder and teats are clearly depleted.

The skin is wrinkled and the udder all shriveled and the teats just hang down and flap in the wind. The girl has given all she can. She's done her duty! Thank you Ginger.