Sunday, May 4, 2008

Milking Goats

Yes, this is me at the business end of a goat....
This past week was one of a personal enrichment experience. I learned how to milk a goat and to hold the legs while another person is doing the same so they won't lose the milk or get a rear hoof to the lip. Putting corn in the feeding tray of the stanchion helped to calm them until it was finished and keep them from trying to take off mid milking.

A neighbor lady of ours has gone through cancer surgery and her Dr. has started her on an 8 week course of chemotherapy - every two weeks. This past week her husband was out of town for his job. The oldest daughter who can be no more than 12 or 13 said she has been milking goats for 5-6 years. She has been the "Master Milker" while her mother is recuperating and father is out of town. Another neighbor lady, that lives across the road from me, and I went twice a day, Monday morning thru Friday morning. I ended my assistance on Thursday evening, and the other lady ended on Friday morning, since the man of the farm was to be back by the evening milking.

Friday morning we were off to Countryside Kennel at Madison,SD., to visit with our soon to be English Springer Spaniel puppy, "Sadie".

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8 comments:

  1. WindyridgeMay 5, 2008 at 6:48 AM

    Good for you! I have never actually milked a goat but have got the sheep started sometimes with new lambs, mostly just to reassure myself that there was milk and the teat wasn't plugged. I have neighbors that have huge herds of milk goats.

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  2. CDGardensMay 5, 2008 at 7:41 AM

    windyridge- Goat milking has been something I have considered doing here at home. That is what Hubby drinks,he is lactose intolerant,cow's milk. Buying the milk in the store, costs $2.58 plus a $1.00 deposit on the glass bottle for a quart.

    We have meat goat herds in Iowa,one not far from us, and small goat micro-dairies...

    The committment is something I am considering at the moment.Winter time,
    twice a day, outside in the below zero temperatures. ;)

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  3. AnonymousMay 5, 2008 at 9:09 AM

    Well, that had a to be a new experience. I think it is great you're helping the neighbors out.

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  4. CDGardensMay 5, 2008 at 9:33 AM

    kristine- It was a fun time of learning and laughs to make the day start and end on a positive note. Enjoyed all the company - even the goats. ;) They had two little kids. SO Cute!

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  5. SimplyOutdoorsMay 5, 2008 at 11:47 AM

    That would be an experience. Good to see that you're helping the neighbors out. You don't hear about that much in today's society.

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  6. CDGardensMay 5, 2008 at 11:52 AM

    simplyoutdoors - Last year we started a little group of ladies here on this country block. So all of us would get to know one another better. Not just by waving at someone in the yard. Time to get back to the good old days of knowing the neighbor...

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  7. WindyridgeMay 5, 2008 at 1:52 PM

    Only $2.58? Here in milk country it's almost $4.00 a gallon!

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  8. CDGardensMay 5, 2008 at 2:08 PM

    windyridge- I only wish it was $4.00 a gallon. At $2.58 a quart I would pay $10.32 a gallon, not including the $4.00 for deposit on the glass bottles. It is only sold locally in quarts at a retail store where we buy groceries.

    That is why having a neighbor willing to share
    is a blessing.

    ReplyDelete

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