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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Goat Milker

💰 $ - $

AgricultureDairyAnimal Husbandry

🎯 Role Definition

The Goat Milker is responsible for performing daily milking operations on a dairy goat farm with attention to animal welfare, milk quality and food safety standards. This hands-on role includes operating and maintaining milking equipment, monitoring herd health, detecting and responding to mastitis and other issues, ensuring clean and compliant milk handling from parlor to bulk tank, and maintaining accurate production and health records. The ideal candidate brings practical dairy goat experience, strong attention to detail, physical endurance, and a commitment to biosecurity and hygienic milking practices.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Farm Hand / General Farm Worker
  • Dairy Assistant / Parlor Assistant
  • Animal Caretaker / Goat Herder

Advancement To:

  • Head Milker / Parlor Lead
  • Herd Manager / Goat Dairy Manager
  • Dairy Operations Supervisor / Farm Manager

Lateral Moves:

  • Dairy Technician (milk testing, quality control)
  • Animal Health Technician / Veterinary Assistant

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Perform routine milking of dairy goats using pipeline or parlor milking systems, following established milking schedules and protocols to maximize milk yield and animal comfort while minimizing stress.
  • Prepare goats for milking through thorough pre-milking routines — including udder cleaning, teat disinfection, pre-dip/post-dip application and stripping — to ensure optimal milk hygiene and reduce somatic cell counts.
  • Operate, monitor and adjust milking machines, vacuum pumps and pulsators to maintain correct vacuum levels and machine function; perform daily checks to detect leaks, blockages or irregularities that may affect milk quality.
  • Collect individual and bulk milk samples for routine testing (e.g., somatic cell count, bacteria counts, antibiotic residue screening) and record results or deliver samples to the lab per HACCP/GMP requirements.
  • Detect, document and respond to signs of mastitis, injury or illness in goats; administer basic treatments under farm protocols, escalate complex health concerns to the herd manager or veterinarian, and maintain accurate treatment records.
  • Remove milk into bulk tanks and manage cooling cycles to ensure milk is chilled to regulatory temperatures promptly, preserving quality and preventing spoilage.
  • Maintain strict milking parlor sanitation including cleaning and sanitizing milking stalls, filters, pipelines and bulk tank surfaces daily; follow established cleaning-in-place (CIP) and sanitation checklists to meet dairy safety standards.
  • Keep accurate milk production, health and treatment records using paper logs or farm management software; enter daily yields, animal IDs, medication records and breeding notes to support traceability and compliance.
  • Implement and follow biosecurity measures: control visitor access, sanitize equipment between groups, isolate sick animals and follow quarantine protocols to prevent disease spread across the herd.
  • Assist with kidding season activities including monitoring dams pre- and post-kidding, providing newborn care and colostrum management to maximize kid survival and early health outcomes.
  • Coordinate with the quality assurance team and external milk processors to meet on-farm quality targets, facilitate regulatory audits, and ensure milk meets buyer specifications for pasteurization and processing.
  • Conduct routine maintenance and minor repairs on milking equipment, hoses, filters and meters; schedule and document service calls for larger equipment repairs to minimize parlor downtime.
  • Follow and enforce farm health and safety policies, use appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), and maintain a safe work environment for staff and animals in the milking area.
  • Manage line-up and handling of goats into the parlor using low-stress animal handling techniques, sorting animals by lactation stage or treatment status to optimize milking efficiency and animal welfare.
  • Identify and report reproductive status and estrus behavior during daily routines, assist with artificial insemination or breeding activities when trained, and maintain breeding records to support herd genetic goals.
  • Monitor feed and water availability in the parlor holding areas and report deficiencies to the herd or feed manager to maintain animal comfort and production.
  • Perform hoof inspection and basic hoof trimming assessments during handling, flagging animals needing specialist hoof care and arranging hoof trimming schedules to prevent lameness.
  • Participate in herd health programs including vaccinations, parasite control and scheduled wellness checks as directed by the herd manager or veterinarian.
  • Train and mentor new milking staff on milking protocols, animal handling, hygiene practices and farm software to ensure consistent quality and safety standards.
  • Maintain inventory of milking supplies and sanitation chemicals (teat dips, liners, filters, record sheets) and reorder as necessary to avoid stockouts that could interrupt milking operations.
  • Ensure compliance with local dairy regulations, dairy processor contracts and food safety programs (HACCP, GMP, FSMA where applicable), preparing for and assisting with routine inspections and audits.
  • Monitor and log environmental conditions in the parlor and milk rooms (temperature, humidity, cleaning cycles) that affect milk quality and equipment performance.
  • Support seasonal and operational tasks such as moving animals to pasture, assisting with feed deliveries, fence repairs around the parlor area, and coordinating with other farm departments during high-demand periods.
  • Implement continuous improvement suggestions to increase parlor throughput, reduce waste, and improve milking comfort — documenting outcomes and participating in staff meetings for process refinement.
  • Safely handle biohazardous waste and medication disposal according to farm policies and environmental regulations to maintain a compliant operation.

Secondary Functions

  • Assist with general barn and pasture upkeep, including bedding replacement, gutter and lane cleaning, and maintenance of animal holding areas to ensure smooth parlor flow.
  • Help coordinate logistics for milk pick-up and transportation; liaise with drivers and dairy processors to confirm schedules and temperature control requirements.
  • Support record consolidation for month-end production reporting, seasonal comparisons and KPI tracking to inform herd management decisions.
  • Participate in staff training sessions on animal welfare, milk quality best practices and emergency procedures to maintain a skilled, safety-conscious team.
  • Aid in on-farm traceability initiatives by tagging animals, updating herd lists, and supporting digital record migration or software rollouts.
  • Contribute to community outreach or farm tours when requested, representing the farm professionally and explaining milking operations and animal care practices.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Proficient operation of dairy goat milking equipment (parlor, pipeline, bucket milking systems) and understanding of machine vacuum/pulsation settings.
  • Milk hygiene and quality control expertise including pre- and post-milking teat sanitation, bulk tank cooling, and sample collection for somatic cell and bacterial testing.
  • Knowledge of mastitis detection, basic on-farm treatment protocols, and antibiotic withdrawal compliance.
  • Familiarity with food safety and regulatory frameworks relevant to dairy (HACCP, GMP, pasteurization standards, local dairy regulations).
  • Experience with cleaning-in-place (CIP) procedures, milk room sanitation, and proper chemical handling/storage procedures.
  • Basic mechanical skills for routine equipment maintenance, troubleshooting leaks, replacing liners, and coordinating repairs.
  • Competence with herd and milk production record keeping using paper logs and common farm management software (e.g., DairyComp, FarmWorks, Herdwise, or similar).
  • Animal handling and low-stress livestock movement techniques customized for goats.
  • Basic veterinary support tasks: administering routine medications, vaccinations, colostrum management and recognizing emergency conditions.
  • Milk testing sample handling and chain-of-custody procedures to ensure valid results and compliance with buyers.
  • Ability to operate small farm machinery safely (ATV, skid steer, forklift where applicable) and perform safe heavy lifting related to feed and equipment.

Soft Skills

  • Strong attention to detail and quality focus to maintain high milk quality and meet regulatory standards.
  • Excellent observational skills to quickly detect behavioral or health changes in animals.
  • Time management and organizational skills to run efficient milking shifts and meet strict schedules.
  • Good communication and teamwork skills to coordinate with herd managers, QA staff and other farm workers.
  • Physical stamina and resilience for repetitive, physically demanding work in variable weather and barn conditions.
  • Problem-solving mindset to isolate milking issues, identify root causes and suggest practical improvements.
  • Reliability and punctuality — consistent attendance for scheduled milking times is critical to herd health and production.
  • Commitment to animal welfare and ethical farm practices.
  • Adaptability to seasonal peaks (kidding season) and changing operational priorities.
  • Willingness to learn and follow documented protocols, and to train others in safe milking practices.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • High school diploma or equivalent preferred; strong practical experience on dairy farms accepted.

Preferred Education:

  • Certificate or diploma in animal science, dairy technology, agriculture or related vocational training.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Animal Science
  • Dairy Technology / Dairy Science
  • Agriculture / Farm Management
  • Veterinary Assistant / Animal Husbandry

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 1–5 years of hands-on experience in dairy goat milking or similar dairy animal milking roles.

Preferred:

  • 2+ years of milking experience specifically with dairy goats and familiarity with commercial milking parlors.
  • Prior experience with milk quality programs, HACCP/GMP compliance, and coordination with dairy processors.
  • Demonstrated record of safe equipment operation and basic mechanical maintenance.
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