hand-milking & cleanliness

[Hibou]

For those who are hand-milking, and especially for those who consume their milk raw, I'm wondering about keeping the milk clean. Do you use any special measures to keep debris out of the milk pail? Thanks.

[Erinz]

I feel like I shouldn't offer anything since I don't milk yet, but I've spent some time with a friend who does and she brings a clean rag out to brush off the bags and teats, then puts a fresh piece of cheesecloth or clean thin kitchen cloth in between the strainer and pail, and then drinks it from there. She does wash her hands first too, and does do the first few squirts on each side out of the pail onto the ground (which makes me sigh but I get it). When she sells it raw she does a second straining, but it's just for any random loose debris which is generally taken care of by the dry brushing of the clean rag. She does try to keep the hair around the nipple trimmed back.

HTH.

[farmer mama]

To keep things clean I brush my goats first (especially their bellies), then I clean my goats' udders and teats with warm, soapy water and dry them. I also squirt three times from each side on the ground before milking into the pail. I milk on a clean milking stand as well. The kind of pail and strainer I use helps keep things clean as well, as the lid keeps things from falling in the pail and I use the strainer before I bottle in case anything slips in. If I am going to be selling my milk I sterilize my equipment with boiling water. HTHs

[karika]

I grew up on a farm milking goats. We took a bottle of diluted bleach water and paper towels out with us. Clean the udder and teats with solution wet paper towels. Squirt first few pulls on ground to make sure bleach is clear. If animal moves be prepared to snatch up bucket to prevent debris from getting in. I did this for years and never had issues with debris getting in milk, even though my mother did not keep a clean operation in general.

[Hibou]

Thanks all!