Inexpensive Goat Milker Saves Aching Hands

Inexpensive Goat Milker Saves Aching Hands LIVESTOCK Sheep/Goats 32-3-43 Jack Grimmett built a mini goat milker for less than $10 from off-the-shelf parts. The Ft. Towson, Okla., man says the main component is a hand-operated fuel transfer pump available at most discount stores. "The pump comes with all the hoses needed," Grimmett says. He connected the discharge end to the lid of a 1 1/2-gal. bleach jug, which holds the milk. Another hose connects to a 60cc syringe placed on the goat's teat to draw the milk. "The hardest thing is to find the long- neck syringe. You need that size because it's the perfect size for goat teats and the hose fits it," Grimmett says. Simply push and pull the transfer pump handle to milk the goat. It takes most goats a week to 10 days to get used to it. But he's had some goats adapt right away. While it saves some milking time, the best thing about the milker is that it's a way for older people with arthritic hands to keep milking goats. Grimmett has heard of several older people who sold their goats because they couldn't hand milk them. Another advantage is very clean milk. The bleach lid has just a couple of air holes and Grimmett says he puts a split plastic cup over the top so no trash gets into the jug. The more expensive commercial hand milkers have small containers that need frequent emptying, he says. After milking, everything is thoroughly washed with soap. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Jack Grimmett, HC 63, P.O. Box 2520, Ft. Towson, Okla. 74735 (ph 580 873-2472).

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