Show me your Milking System

Good morning,

Would anybody be willing to share their milking setups for their animals?

I'm looking for stanchions, stools, or whatever works for your homestead. From goats to bovine, I'm looking to draw some inspiration from other folk's systems.

I'd like to find out what you like about it, what you might consider changing, and anything else you mind want to share about it.

Thanks!

Here are some photos of our very primitive setup.

Portable milking stand we picked up second hand from someone 12 years ago. It's mostly stuck together with star posts, wire, and baling twine now, and the legs are half-buried in dirt that's washed down onto it over the years, but it works!

The headgate is basically 2 non-moving poles, with a top one to connect them, and then in between those there's a pole that pivots around, and is secured to the top with a loop. It's the perfect width for sheep and goats. I can measure it if you'd like.

Close to the milking stand we have several 55 gallon drums that we keep their milking time treats in. One of these functions as a flat surface for straining milk.

It's outdoors, sheltered slightly by some trees, but if it's pouring down with rain then it's not very pleasant to milk in, but we still manage. Eventually I'd like an undercover area.

I have a bucket with a lid that I think is 7 litres/7quarts. We also have a stainless steel jam funnel, and a piece of organic cotton cheesecloth.

Inside the house every night I boil water, and use that to sterilise the bucket, jars and cheesecloth. The next morning, it's all ready and waiting for me, and I just carry the stuff outside, milk, and pour through the cheesecloth and funnel, into the jars.

I use different jars depending on how much milk is coming in. We love the 3L/3 quart jars for when there's lots of milk, but 2L/half gallon ones are good when there isn't so much.

I prefer the plastic storage lids for jar lids. In the past we've used standard metal canning lids, but they get rusty and yuck before long, whereas the plastic ones have lasted longer.