Goat milking machine: types and sizes, drawings and how to do it yourself

The maintenance of livestock in general, and goats in particular, is accompanied by hard constant work - distributing food several times a day, cleaning wool, cleaning the premises from manure. One of the devices to make farming easier is the fixed goat milking machine. The animal at the moment of milking is securely held by the head and neck fixation mechanism. If desired, legs are fixed with ropes or straps. The milk will be whole, and the hostess will not get tired.

What is the machine for

Goats, especially young ones, often behave actively during milking: they step from one foot to the other, beat with their hooves, spin around.In this case, the bucket may tip over, and valuable milk will be lost. The main thing for which the machine is needed is the reliable fixation of dairy goats during the milking process. In addition, the machine helps to solve a number of other tasks:

prevent sudden movements during hoof trimming, hair trimming, animal treatment and washing;
makes it possible to connect a milking machine when mechanizing work on the farm;
helps reduce milking labor costs and milking time.

Making a goat milking machine is easy, there are different models and designs. You can use improvised materials and tools, which, for sure, are stored in any household.

Good and bad sides

Experienced goat breeders may feel that the crate is an unnecessary thing on the farm and when using it for milking, there are more negative points, such as stressing the animal and wasting time driving the goat into the crate.However, for novice housewives, this is really a relief in milking, especially when there is not one, but several goats on the farm. In addition, it has been proven that when milking in the machine, when the animal is motionless, the udder is emptied more completely, there are no stagnation and the development of diseases of the dairy and reproductive areas.

Basic equipment requirements

The main element of the machine is a cage or stall. It is made to the size of a goat or slightly larger. Attached to the stall is a head holder equipped with a feeder, into which the animal's favorite food, such as barley, is poured. The latch should securely hold the neck, preventing the cattle from quickly removing its head. The bottom of the stall - flooring or stand - must be strong enough to have a ladder or ladder for lifting.

Separately think over the locking mechanism of the holding device. It is required to ensure tight closing of doors or connection of rails without backlash.

Review of popular models

Goat rigs vary slightly. The adaptation is simple, here are the modifications common in farmsteads:

The simplest wooden stand (pedestal) without a ladder and side retaining bars with fixing rails for the neck. This option is suitable for adult calm goats. Otherwise, there is a danger that the animal will slip off the stand, and because the neck is fixed, suffocation may occur.
Wooden stand with cage, neck rails and ladder. This is the most suitable option for beginner housewives. If desired, you can tie the goat additionally by the legs.
Wooden stand with a ladder and neck restraint in the form of doors with a shutter. Since goats do not like to move backwards and it is difficult for them to turn around in the pen, opening doors allow the animal to come forward after milking.
Wooden stand with single sided grate. One of the sides of the machine, usually the right side, remains without a fence. The milkmaid can sit next to the goat, on the same level.
Metal frame welded structure with wooden stand.

In all models, you can use improvised materials - bars, trimming boards, planks, furniture doors, beds of iron beds.

Recommendations for selection

The size of the cage depends on the breed and size of the animal. On average, a meter long wooden stand and cage height are sufficient. If the goats are very large, with a large head and horns, the length of the frame is increased to 1 meter 20 centimeters and the cage is made the same height. Sliding rails are sufficient as a locking mechanism. For medium-sized goats that do not have horns, a cage height of 1 meter and a device that holds the neck in the form of folding doors is preferable.

At the same time, the hole for the neck and head is made oval, with a diameter of 10-11 centimeters in width, and 39-40 centimeters in length.

The height of the stand above the ground for large goats is 20-30 centimeters, for small goats - 30-40 centimeters. The optimal cage width is 55 centimeters. Metal structures are the most durable, do not loosen.

How to make a DIY milking machine

In order to carefully consider the design of the machine, visualize and, if necessary, make changes, it is recommended that you first draw a drawing or use the ready-made one offered below.

Machine assembly steps:

Knock down the frame of the stall from bars or risers, as shown in the drawing. When assembling a frame from bars, you will need to cut the ends to achieve one level. When assembling the frame from the rails, additional sawing is not required.
Knock the boards of the stand together using two or three transverse planks or battens. Do the same with the ladder boards, only the crossbars will act as steps from above.
Attach the stand to the frame, the ladder to the stand.
Proceed to assemble the holding device and its locking mechanism; attach a container feeder or a shelf for it.

Performance nuances

Depending on the selected model in the assembly, there may be differences regarding the following:

mounting the stand can be done by knocking it down with the frame, on special support rails or bolted to the metal frame;
retaining mechanism can be part of a ground-supported frame or attached directly to the stand;
one of the rails of the holding mechanism can be movable in a vertical or horizontal plane;
if the stand of the machine is not high above the ground, the ladder can be omitted;
if the animal is very mobile, the ladder can be attached to the hinged stand, and the machine can be closed by raising the ladder and closing it on the latch;
the edges of the stand can be left free or the slats can be nailed to protect the legs from slipping with a gap of 4-5 centimeters between the "floor" and the slat;
the hole for milking in the wall of the cage for right-handers is made from the right side of the goat, for left-handers - from the left;
if you plan to use the machine outdoors, it can be painted with paint resistant to external influences, or treated with wood-protective properties, cover the floor of the stand with flooring;
It is better to make the feeder container removable so that you can wash it inside.

So, milking a goat will be much easier using a machine that is easy to do with your own hands. Treat animals kindly, they will definitely respond with mutual affection and high milk yields!