Maggidans
Milker and
Accessories
and
A
Book by Maggie Leman
Eating Our
Curds and Whey,
Simple Cheesemaking
The Original
Maggidans Milker,
Milker with Optional
Half Gallon
Receptacle and
Inline filter, Pint
and Half Gallon
Receptacles
Using our Maggidans
Milker
Milk
nearly any breed of
livestock with ease!
There
is no collection jar
to empty, the milk
goes right into your
milk bucket, or
container!
Manufactured
with all food or
medical grade
components.
Collect
and save lifesaving
colostrum and milk
for orphaned
newborns.
Now
there is NO EXCUSE
not to enjoy your
own goat’s milk
treats.
$45.00
This
milker works best on
goats with normal
cylindrical teats
with no teat spurs,
extra teats,
fishtail teats,
etc. The teat
cup must be able to
firmly contact the
udder at the top of
the teat, very much
like a regular
milking machine
inflation. For
misshapen teats it
may be possible to
use a larger teat
cup to make it
work. The teat
cup that comes
standard with your
Maggidan's Milker is
sized for pygmies
and other miniature
goats. It may
work for other
goats, but for just
$2.00 we will
include a larger
teat cup. We
also carry a pump
repair kit and
replacement hose.
We
warranty our
Magidans Milker for
30 days after
purchase. If
you don't like it
for any reason we
will refund your
money less postage
when you return the
Maggidans Milker in
clean condition.
Helpful
Suggestions
Try
moistening the top
of the teat cup to
get a good seal
before putting the
teat cup on to get a
better seal.
Milk
a squirt or two out
by hand to signal
the doe to let down
her milk. You
might also massage
or gently bump the
udder like their kid
does to help milk
let down. If
they are nursing
their kids you might
hold the kid in
front of them.
I
find that once I
have the teat cup
firmly on the nipple
if I squeeze fairly
quickly but release
the handle more
slowly some does
will milk
better.
I
find that some does
milk better if you
gently pull downward
on the teat cup once
it is firmly on the
teat.
It
does take a good bit
of suction to get a
good flow of
milk. A
regular milking
machine will dang
near pull your
finger off. You will
not see the teat
move up and down in
the teat cup once
you have sufficient
vacuum to get milk
flow, so if you are
seeing the teat move
with each pump you
do not have enough
suction. The
teat cup should be
on tightly enough
that you have to
break the suction at
the top to get it
off, it won't come
off just because you
stop pumping.
If
you have a filter on
your Milker you
might try it without
the filter.
The filter can
change the vacuum
level and it may be
easier to learn to
use the Milker
without the filter
first.
There
should be at least
an inch of clearance
from the tip of the
teat to the bottom
of the teat cup for
milk to flow.
Does
with conical teats
(wide at the top)
may like the larger
teat cup. You
can get a 35 cc teat
cup (from your vet
and at many
feedstores, or give
us a call...) that
has a wider barrel
for milking
miniature goats with
conical teats.
If
you are milking both
miniature and
standard sized goats
it may be helpful to
buy an extra 22 inch
milk hose to attach
to your larger teat
cup. This
makes switching
between the small
and large teat cups
MUCH easier!
Troubleshooting
Tips
We
have had a few
people have a
problem with
suddenly losing
suction. This
is most often due to
a tiny hair or bit
of milkstone holding
the one of the pump
valves open.
For a quicky fix you
might try holding
the blue tipped
nozzle and the teat
cup under water and
pumping 5 to 10
times to clear the
problem. This
usually works.
If it doesn't then
further
investigation is
needed to figure out
exactly where the
problem lies.
Detach all of the
hoses. Remove
the blue luer nut
from the nozzle end
of the pump too,
exposing the
metal
tip. First put
you finger over the
nozzle (where the
milk comes out) and
squeeze the pump. If
you can't compress
it all the way then
the the piston valve
is working as it
should.
Squeeze the pump and
hold it, now put
your finger over the
rear inlet hole
(where the tubing
from the teat cup
fits) and release
the pump. It
should hold a
vacuum. If it
doesn't then the
nozzle valve is
stuck open.
Most often you will
find it is the
nozzle valve that is
malfunctioning.
Try
this, immerse the
entire pump under
warm soapy water
pump the handle
several times.
This will often
dislodge the
obstruction.
Now remove the clear
barrel and
thoroughly flush it
in case the
obstruction has been
sucked back into the
barrel just waiting
to block the valve
again. If this
doesn't do the
trick, remove the
clear barrel and
look down inside it
toward the nozzle
end. You will
see 3 tiny holes,
insert a toothpick
through one of the
holes and "work
the valve"
while flushing to
dislodge the
obstruction.
Sometimes you can
even see the hair
stuck in the
valve. If you
still have a problem
PLEASE call us, we
will do everything
we can to get you
back in operation.
Occasionally
the inline filter
makes it difficult
to maintain adequate
vacuum for goats
that are slow to
milk. If you
are having problems
milking certain
goats try removing
your inline
filter. This
allows for a faster
build up of vacuum
and for a higher
vacuum to be
maintained.
This may be
necessary for those
goats that have slow
let down or a
restricted flow as
well as those goats
that milk very well
with a strong flow.
Cleaning
Tips
Soaking
in vinegar solution
(half white vinegar
and half warm water)
should help remove
milk stone.
Using
a foaming denture
cleaning tablet may
help clean the tiny
valves found in the
piston and barrel
and prevent the
build up of milk
stone.
Leave
the barrel off to
dry well after
cleaning each day to
prevent odor build
up.
Eating
Our Curds And Whey
Simple Cheesemaking
A
Book By Maggie Leman
$9.00
Ready to venture
into cheesemaking?
It's simple, fun and
delicious! I
wrote this booklet
to go with a simple
cheesemaking course
I sometimes
teach. It
focuses on simple to
make cheeses like
yogurt and yogurt
cheese, queso blanco,
cottage cheese,
chevre, ricotta and
feta. It also
includes over 30
recipes using your
homemade dairy
delights!
Order it today for
just $9.00.
Table of
Contents
MAY
I INTRODUCE MYSELF?
CHEESEMAKING
EQUIPMENT
List of Equipment
Preparing Your
Utensils
DIFFERENT KINDS OF
CHEESE
CHEESEMAKING
INGREDIENTS
Milk
Cultures
Rennet
Acid Coagulation
QUESO BLANCO
NATURAL COTTAGE
CHEESE
YOGURT CHEESE
CHEVRE, FROMAGE
BLANC, OR LACTIC
CHEESE
YOGURT
FETA CHEESE
RICOTTA
MAKING CHEESE IN
MAGGIE’S KITCHEN
VANILLA YOGURT
FRESH FRUIT YOGURT
FRUIT JAM YOGURT
FROZEN YOGURT
TROPICAL FRUIT POPS
DILL CUCUMBERS AND
YOGURT
SPINACH AND FETA
CHEESE DIP
GNOCCHI
MAGGIE’S CREAMY
CHEESE SAUCE
WARM POTATO AND GOAT
CHEESE SALAD
PASTA WITH HERBED
GOAT CHEESE AND
ASPARAGUS
STRAWBERRY CAPRI PIE
SMOKED SALMON AND
GOAT CHEESE OMELETTE
STIR FRIED QUESO
BLANCO
JOE CASTRO’S
KENTUCKY SPOON BREAD
WITH GOAT CHEESE AND
COUNTRY HAM
PASTA WITH SHRIMP
AND SPINACH
CHILLED CURRY
CHICKEN
FROMAGE BLANC APPLE
BUTTER CHEESECAKE
GILBERT’S FAVORITE
RECIPE
FETTUCCINE CASSEROLE
GOAT CHEESE TORTA
GOURMET LUNCH
QUICK AND ELEGANT
GOAT CHEESE BLINIS
CHEVRE DESSERT
BAKED CHEVRE
MEDITERRANEAN FETA
CHEESE DIP
GRAVLAX
SPINACH AND FETA
QUICHE
RESOURCES
US
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Okay, my
friend's doe
kidded yesterday
and last week
when I showed
them my milking
machine they
laughed when I
told them I paid
45.00 for
that.
Skeptics!
Or maybe they
haven't spent
much time
wrestling does
for an hour to
get 8 oz of milk
only to have
them put their
hoof in it on
the
last squirt!
But I am
writing to tell
you they are
believers now
after a doe that
kidded with
triplets lost
two of the
babies and
needed to be
relieved of
some colostrum.
The doe reclined
leisurely as I
put the syringe
up to
the teat
and noticed
slightly when
the suction
began, but laid
down through the
whole process
while the milk
remained clean
and flowing into
our awaiting
receptacle where
we effortlessly
collected 14 oz.
of colostrum in
less than 10
minutes. I
was so thrilled
and they were so
amazed as how
well it
worked. I
just had to
write you
and offer to
attest to the
amazingly simple
and effective
use of the hand
milker.
Thank you Dan
for designing it
and thanks for
bringing it to
the meeting
since I have
little to no
time to surf the
web for such
items.
I want to buy
stock in your
new company!
From Sharon
Levasseur:
I
got my milker
today and it
seems to work
very well. I
have a doe
milking
through with
really tiny
teats. I did
not even have
to change ends
as the small
one worked
fine on her
and I think
this was even
faster than my
milking
machine! You
have a great
idea here and
I am happy you
invented it! I
will be
showing it off
to all my goat
friends!
From
Theresa
Robbins:
Oh man I
finally got to
use the milker
and I LOVE IT!
I milked out 8
oz out of my
pygmy doe on
one side.
Happily she
had twins but
by 2 days old
we figured out
one wasnt
doing well and
sadly found he
had a cleft
palate. We had
him put down
and this doe
has tons of
milk and only
one baby to
drink it all
so I decided
to milk her on
the one side
that the
doeling won't
use hoping as
she grows she
decides she
likes both
sides. Thank
you Maggie you
are a life
saver oh no a
hand saver.
LOL
-----
From Lynn
Kachmarchik:
just wanted
everyone to
know, that i
received my
milker from
maggie and i
got to try it
yesterday. it
works
wonderful!!
there is
another
similar milker
on the web-but
it is more
complicated
and
pricey-$200!!the
only plus was
it had a
closed
container for
the milk to be
drawn into.
maggie, i am
very pleased.
i have full
size dairy
goats-lamancha
and togenberg,
and the large
cup worked
great. this
will make it
sooo much
easier to go
out and milk
every day and
to get help
from my kids
and when i
want to go on
vacation, to
know that my
girls will get
milked out and
properly. the
video was
extra helpful
for us that
are visual.
thanks!!
Instruction
Sheet from
Maggidans Milker:
The
Maggidans Milker
makes it simple for
anyone to milk
nearly any type of
livestock.It is a great
way to collect
colostrum for
emergency feeding or
for freezing for
later use.
High
quality food grade
and medical grade
parts were used in
the construction of
this device.Using this
Milker is probably
more sanitary than
handmilking.However, no
claim of safety for
human or animal
consumption is made
for the milk
obtained by using
this milker.We recommend
pasteurizing milk.Please use
your own discretion.
The
20 cc teat cup
should easily fit
any Pygmy or
Nigerian Dwarf
goats, some sheep
and some regular
meat or dairy goats.A larger teat
cup is available and
can be easily
substituted for
milking sheep, dairy
goats, llamas or
horses.Remove the
plunger from the
barrel of the 50 cc
syringe.Remove the
small teat cup and
the plastic fitting
from the hose and
press the hose
directly onto the 50
cc barrel.The teat
should not
completely fill the
teat cup; it must be
at least 1 inch from
the bottom to keep
from blocking the
teat orifice.If the teat
cup is too narrow it
can cut off the milk
flow, use a teat cup
of adequate size.Overpumping
and creating too
much vacuum can
potentially harm
your doe.
To
Use Your Milker:
Wash
and dry the udder
and teats.If the doe is
nursing kids it is
sometimes helpful to
hold one of the kids
in front of her
where she can nuzzle
it to help her relax
and let her milk
down.See the How
to Handmilk
instructions on the
back of this sheet.Hand milk one
or two squirts out.This clears
the natural plug at
the end of the teat.Examine for
stringiness, blood
or clumps that may
indicate mastitis.Any method of
milking takes
practice.Your results
and the goat’s
comfort with the
procedure will get
better every day.
Figure
1Figure 2Figure 3Figure 4
We
use the pump set at
the highest setting,
12.5 cc.You may find
that using a shorter
stroke and being
able to pump more
often more
comfortable for you
and your doe.If you are
not using a
Maggidans Milk
Receptacle you will
need a food grade
container to hold
the milk.I recommend a
container with a
lid.Hold the teat
cup onto the teat
firmly pressing
upward and pump once
or twice to
establish vacuum and
start the flow of
milk. The teat will
be drawn into the
cup, the top of the
cup should be
against the udder
and there should be
at least 1 inch
clearance at the
bottom of the cup.It is better
to use a cup that is
slightly too big
than one that is too
small.The
teat cup will stay
on by itself once
vacuum is made. See
Figure 1.
Pump
and release SLOWLY
to maintain the flow
of milk until it
stops.You can bump
or gently massage
the udder downward
to encourage milk
letdown until the
udder is emptied,
removing the teat
cup temporarily may
help too.Do not over
milk. There is no
need to strip the
udder, especially if
the doe is nursing
kids.If you wish
to extract all of
the milk you will
have to finish by
hand stripping.Press upward
onto the udder with
your thumb where it
meets the teat cup
to break the vacuum
before removing it
from the teat.Do not pull
it off without doing
this.See Figure 2.Lastly, wipe
off the teats and
use a teat dip
unless the doe is
also nursing kids.
To
Clean Your Milker:
Fill
a 2 to 4 cup
container with
lukewarm water,
place the teat cup
opening into the
water and pump to
rinse out the Milker.See Figure 3.
To
wash, pump warm (not
hot) soapy water
through the Milker,
dish detergent works
well.Thorough
washing and rinsing
is necessary to keep
the tiny one-way
valve in the tip
working properly.
To
disinfect, add ½
teaspoon bleach to 4
cups of warm water
and pump that
through the Milker.More bleach
is not better; it
can harm the o-rings
and plastic.
Finally,
pump lukewarm water
through to rinse,
pumping to remove as
much water as
possible from the
Milker.Remove
the clear barrel and
set both pieces
aside to dry.Hanging in
from the handle
letting the tube and
teat cup hang
downward will
promote better
draining and drying.It is
recommended to
completely dissemble
and wash the milker
at least once a
week.See Figure 4.Do not try to
remove the metal
valve from the
plastic barrel of
the pump, it is
glued in.A drop of
vegetable oil can be
used to lubricate
the piston o-ring,
do not use mineral
oil!Allow to dry
thoroughly,
lubricate the piston
o-ring and
reassemble carefully
before storing your
milker.
Troubleshooting:
If
you suddenly lose
vacuum this is most
often due to a tiny
hair or bit of
milkstone holding
the one of the
valves open.
Hold both the teat
cup and the nozzle
end in soapy water
and pump the handle
several
times. Then
pull it out of the
water and pump to
see if normal
function has been
restored.If not try it
again. This will
often dislodge the
obstruction.
Now remove the clear
barrel and
thoroughly flush it
in case the
obstruction has been
sucked back into the
barrel just waiting
to block the valve
again. If this
doesn't do the
trick, remove the
clear barrel and
look down inside it
toward the nozzle
end. You will
see 3 tiny holes;
insert a toothpick
through one of the
holes and "work
the valve"
while flushing to
dislodge the
obstruction.
HOW
TO HAND MILK
From the Book
Starting Right With
Milk Goats by Helen
Walsh
1)
In
milking follow the
same routine at each
milking. Be gentle.
Strangers - and the
family dog tend to
make a doe
"hold up her
milk." Keep
them out of the barn
or milk room. After
milk pail and wash
pail are ready, be
sure your hands are
clean.
2)
Wash
the goat's udder in
chlorinated warm
water - from 120 -
130° F. The udder
should be washed just
before milking. Use
a separate washrag
for each goat.
3)
Have
a roll of paper
towels handy to
milking stand. Dry
the goat's udder and
your hands. Wet
hands can cause a
chapped udder –and
worse.
4)
Milk
can run out of the
teat into the pail
or back into the
udder. So first
close your thumb and
first finger so the
milk cannot run back
into the udder.
5)
Next
close your second
finger and the
milk should squirt
out. Discard the
first stream-it will
be high in bacteria.
6)
Close
the third finger.
Use a steady
pressure. Don't jerk
down.
7)Next
close your little
finger. . . squeeze
with whole hand.
8)
Now
release the teat and
let it fill up with
milk.Repeat the
process with the
other hand. . .
9).
When
the milk flow is
near to stopping,
nudge the bag to see
if the doe has let
down all her milk.
10)
The
final bit of milk
may be stripped out.
Take teat between
thumb and first
finger.
11)
Now
run down length of
teat. Milk high in
butter fat usually
comes at end of
milking. But
prolonged stripping
is bad for the teats
and udder.
12)
Strip
cup: the first milk
is milked into the
strip cup. If the
milk is
"lumpy" it
will not pass
through the
strainer.