[SayYesToGoats]

What do you guys like to use to clean your girls udders for milking? I used a home made spray and some times warm water to clean them but wanted to get your ideas. Also do you use fight bac after milking or teat dip. I used fight bac and love it however my store not longer sell it so I'm going to have to order it online. Do you clean all of the udder or just the teats? Are teat wipes worth it or just go with soft wash cloth or paper towels?

 

[Calistar]

For pre-milking, I use warm water with Dawn dish soap to wash the teats (not the whole udder) and then dry them with a clean cloth. Afterwards, wash and dry again and then I either spray with Fight-Bac or make my own with chlorhexidine and glycerin.

 

[Cedarwinds Farm]

I use warm, soapy water and a fresh set of cloths for each goat. I wash teats, udder, and belly, then dry. After milking, I spray a little iodine on the end of each teat. I started doing it this way about a year ago, and haven't had any mastitis issues since I started using this method. I also wash my hands thoroughly between each goat that I milk, so I'm not spreading bacteria that way.

 

[MadHouse]

I also clean the whole udder and the teats with warm soapy water, then dry well. Each doe gets a fresh cloth.
I never used to use teat dip, and never had mastitis, but started recently with a home made chlorhexidine/glycerin/tea tree EO dip. While we are in an extreme cold snap I am not dipping their teats, I fear it will freeze.

 

[CrazyDogLady]

For five years, I used a homemade EO and soap teat spray. Then I had two of my best does get gangrene mastitis, and did some research. The essential oils don't kill the usual suspects in mastitis. So, I use the iodine teat spray from Caprine Supply before, and FightBac after. I really think it's mostly bad luck though. I was milking 20 that year, same treatment for all, and only two had issues.

 

[Ridekool]

I just use warm water and the original Dawn dish soap and dry them with a clean cloth. I normally wipe down the whole udder but thoughly wash the teats. I make the udder balm posted on Weed 'em Reep.

 

[Lyreth]

Yep I also use washcloths dipped in warm dawn dishsoapy water. I only do the teats and not the whole udder, but I also use a machine so I am not so worried about bits from the udder dropping into my milk. If I want to stimulate a bit, I just massage the udder gently with my hand. I used to use iodine teat dip, but could not always find it reliably, and realized I did not have a problem with mastitis when I wasn't using it, so decided to cut that cost. I buy bulk packages of washcloths from the price club and use those for everything from teat cleaning to cleaning rags to dinner napkins. I don't generally buy papertowels at all anymore but unless you are buying really high quality papertowels,the few times I have used them it seemed like they shred and ball up without really cleaning the teats that well. But maybe its because I had super cheap papertowels lol.

 

[Cedarwinds Farm]

I cut up old t shirts to use as my milking rags. They are very soft. I wash them after each use.

 

[SayYesToGoats]

Thanks these are all great ideas. When using a teat dip do you wipe it off before milking or leave it on.

 

[SayYesToGoats]

Does the dish soap dry out their udders?

 

[Cedarwinds Farm]

I leave the teat dip on. Part of the reason I use iodine is that it helps seal up the teat orifice, to keep dirt and bacteria from getting in. So I don't want to wipe it off. I actually keep it in a spray bottle, so I just squirt a little on the end of each teat. That also reduces the likelihood of contamination you would have if you were using a dip cup for one goat after another. I have not noticed any more issues with chapped udders since I started using the dish soap and warm water than I saw before. I use Mrs. Meyer's soap, so it's not super harsh. If a doe has a dry udder, I will put on some udder balm after milking and before dipping her teats. If I see chronic issues with dry, chapped skin, it can usually be fixed with a mineral adjustment or by adding a little more fat to the doe's diet.

 

[Cedarwinds Farm]

Sorry! Just saw your quesrion was for those who dip pre-milking. Please ignore the irrelevant part of my response. 😆

 

[Kate Lace]

I don't milk my goats now, but I do milk our cows. What I use are some fragrance-free baby wipes. Then I put some vegetable oil on before milking. When I used to milk goats I did the same thing.

 

[Ridekool]

Does the dish soap dry out their udders?

Not that I've found. I use an udder balm afterwards though.

 

[SayYesToGoats]

Sorry! Just saw your quesrion was for those who dip pre-milking. Please ignore the irrelevant part of my response. 😆

That's fine lol

 

[Katrina Anon]

Speaking of machines, the one of my does likes both the soapy water and bleach water. If I turn my back I will catch her drinking water from either bucket!!

 

[MadHouse]

Hey, one of mine tries to sneak the soap water too! 😂

 

[SayYesToGoats]

oooh why would they drink that. lol 😲 😂

 

[MadHouse]

It was nice and warm!
I use goat milk soap in my wash water, so it’s not a harsh soap.

 

[Mom2bret]

Just started milking for the first time but I have been using fragrance free dye free cheap baby wipes to wash udder and afterwards I spray on Fight Bac.