Goats

farmallman · Feb 13, 2010

Neighbour of mine asked me for a hand during the next month with his milking goats and cow/calf operation. I said ya cuz i enjoy working with him and need the money... now i'm ok with cattle, but i've never dealt with goats before... Anyone on here have goats? anything I should watch out for?

chrisinsoky · Feb 13, 2010

yea watch your back cause the second you turn around the boars will but yea, dont be afraid to grab em by the horns and be the bigger one. and bring a a pop can to see if they really eat it

Loren in MN · Feb 13, 2010

I've had goats since 1983 and have never had any trouble. Love having them around. Milked 20 of them a few years back, raised pigs on the milk. Drop me a note if you have any questions.
Enjoy!

farmallman · Feb 13, 2010

Thanks. i remember having goats when i was about 5 (19 yrs ago) but i never had nothing to do with them. I enjoy working with animals so i don't see a problem, i just wasn't sure if there was anything not to do... lol

Tom in TN · Feb 13, 2010

farmallman,

Although I've never personally owned goats, I've handled them and milked them for a friend on many occasions. The ones I've dealt with have been a joy. They get excited when you come into the pen to feed them, but they can be controlled pretty easily just with your hands.

The milk stands that I've used always have a head catch on them, but usually, that's not even needed. Put some hay in front of them while you're milking and they'll probably stand pretty still.

I'm not trying to be a wise-guy here, I'm just asking since I don't know. Do you know how to milk a cow/goat by hand? If not, have your friend demonstrate it to you. Don't be shy about asking if you've never done it before.

Good luck and have fun.

Tom in TN

BTW - I desperately need a man to help me with vaccinations of my cows and calves. How about coming to Tennessee some time?

old · Feb 13, 2010

Most are not bad but you can have that one that will watch for you to turn your back and then nail you. We have goats and my parents had goats as did my grand father. I still remember one goat my parents had that just plain and simple did not like me. She would watch for me to turn my back on her and she would then come up on her back lags and try to nail me. It only took once for her to do that and I learned to turn my back with one eye looking behind me. Back then it was sort of fun playing with her that way. Oh by the way that was back in the late 70s and like I said most are not bad. Oh no another chapter for the book LOL

farmallman · Feb 13, 2010

haha. honestly, no. I have been more involved in pigs and chickens. I have been told how to milk a cow by hand but have never done it. Altho i have had to help sheep out back when we had them. goats can't be any different, can they?

But he also has a milking parlour... and from how it sounds he has a son that does the milking before school... but time will tell

I just know this will be learning experience for me and who knows, might be another chapter in my book

DownSouth · Feb 13, 2010

Milking goats is actually quit simple. I assume the owner has a milking stand and if so the goat will be willing to jump on for you as they get a bit of feed for their part of the deal. Not much to watch for other than if you get around a buck that can be displeased with your company, don't turn your back on him (I speak with experience) as he can and will put you on the ground.
I raise Boers which are meat goats, but can be milked. I had two kids born this morning and took a few pictures. This first one will give you an idea of the size of milk bag you will be working with.

As you can see, the few hour old kid isn't having any trouble so you shouldn't either!
Here is a picture of both kids when they were several hours old. The one on the left with the white face is a female, the other a male.

Good luck, watch your surroundings and have fun!

John A. · Feb 13, 2010

farmallman, You have got to watch out and don't get inbetween a waspy Nanny ans her kid, They will eat you up worse than a bad headed Brahman cow! They can clear a fence like the cow jumping over the moon too! They are meaner than a Rattlesnake in shead. they have a memory like an Elephant the remember every bad thing you ever did to them.LOL,LOL,LOL!!!
Farmallman I am jerking your chain here! a bucket of corn or sweet feed and most goat will follow you to the ends of the earth, they do not head hunt you like waspy Brahman cow will when on the prod! They are easly handled no need for screaming and shouting, Goat are very gentle and courious, loving animals. at least my mob of Spanish x Nannies are. Hope this helpls
Later,
John A.

TomH in PA · Feb 14, 2010

The only caution I'd give is don't carry any important paper in your hand or sticking out of your pocket around them. They'll grab it and chew it up faster than you can react.

SARG · Feb 14, 2010

(quoted from post at 20:44:32 02/13/10)
I raise Boers which are meat goats, but can be milked.

Now that would be fun to watch ...... Oh ..... that's B-O-E-R .... my mistake.

sammydwm · Feb 14, 2010

Most will have their bucks separate from the nannies now, it's not the season.....

Milking is pretty simple, even the 9 yr old could do it.

Goats

farmallman

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chrisinsoky

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Loren in MN

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farmallman

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Tom in TN

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old

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farmallman

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DownSouth

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John A.

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TomH in PA

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SARG

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sammydwm

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