Goat milk is slowly becoming a more popular choice for those looking for an alternative to cow milk. Goat milk is not only nutritious, but it also has a number of health benefits. Goat milk is a good source of protein, calcium, and other essential nutrients. It is also lower in cholesterol and fat than cow milk. Goat milk is also easier to digest than cow milk, making it a good choice for those with lactose intolerance.
Goat milk also contains fewer allergenic proteins than cow milk, making it a good choice for those with milk allergies. Goat milk is also a good source of conjugated linoleic acid, which has been shown to have a number of health benefits. These benefits include reducing the risk of cancer, obesity, and diabetes. Additionally, conjugated linoleic acid has been shown to improve heart health and reduce inflammation.
However, milking goats can be a challenge, especially if your goat is quite uncooperative. I know this from experience, as my brother-in-law owns a homestead with goats. He’s told me that it can be difficult to get them to stay still long enough to milk them properly.
One summer, my kids spent their vacation with their uncle on his farm. They loved helping out with the animals, but one task they always dreaded was milking the goats. They would spend hours wrestling with the goats, trying to keep them still long enough to get the milk. This may sound like fun, but it’s actually a recipe for a back injury.
Then, my husband had enough. He couldn’t stand all the wrestling and grappling that was going on. He went online and looked for a goat milking stand. After an extensive search, he found a milking stand that cost $60. He was surprised that something that looked so fragile and weak could be so expensive. Being the DIY-er that he is, he decided to create his own milking stand based on the concept of the one he found.
He was able to create a strong and sturdy milking stand using spare pallets and other materials that were lying around the garage. The entire project only cost him less than $5 and he was able to finish it in a couple of hours. He was very pleased with the final product.
Materials:
- 2 wood pallets
- Screws
Tools:
- Drill
- Ruler
- Pencil
- Any wood-cutting tool
Steps to make your own goat milking stand:
Cutting the base of the pallet from the whole one is the first step in creating your own DIY pallet goat milking stand. Make sure to cut along a straight line, avoiding the bracing pallet beam. This will ensure that your stand is sturdy and level. then flip the pallet and cut the back bracing. It will be used as the base of the platform.
When cutting your pallets, make sure to wear the necessary safety equipment. This includes gloves, a dust mask, and safety goggles. Also, be sure to use a sharp blade to avoid injury. Using the extra pallet cutting, fill in the gaps in the base of your goat milking stand. Then attach the legs and the siding on the platform.
The height of your platform depends on the user of the milking stand. Finally, a simple barrel latch and pallet board lock into place, keeping your goat secure. This is a crucial part of the milking process, as it ensures that the goat cannot move around and potentially kick over the milk pail.
Click on any image to start the lightbox display. Use your Esc key to close the lightbox.
Watch this video so you can build your own goat milking stand today.
