| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| kristin sherrill |
Posted - Jun 22 2009 : 06:32:06 AM
Is it just the heat? I checked all the goats milk separately last night and this morning and of the 5 I checked last night only 2 were good. I will go taste the other 2 in a bit. But they all eat the same food. I think it's this awful heat.
Has anyone else noticed awful tasting milk lately?
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
| 21 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| kristin sherrill |
Posted - Jul 03 2009 : 3:40:59 PM
Chris, what kind are they? Mine are all Lamancha except one in Nubian.
There is still one doe with bad milk. But each day I test it and it's JUST about better. I still have no idea why. But they are already slowing down in production, too. I think that's hot weather and the fact they are in the back yard with not much browse. Just hay right now til I can get these kids moved. I have someone coming tomorrow to get 3 of them!!! Yeah!! I am so happy about that. That will leave 8 kids.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
| OregonGal |
Posted - Jul 03 2009 : 3:01:29 PM
I fenced in an area behind the chicken coop and barn, about 15 feet by 100 feet. I made a little shed for them (2 - I named them Lavender and Patchouli) which is 5 feet by 7 feet, just out of 2 x 4's and corregated metal I got from a friend. My fence is the welded wire 2 x 4 inch 48" high. The goats are babies so they are only half the height of the fence. The lady I got them from seems to think it is adequate, and they have not gotten out or haven't even really tried. I wanted to be able to have goats that I can tie out, and so far it is working out very well - they really look forward to coming out of the paddock. I always make sure they have cool water and shade when they are tied out. I've been using the metal spiral dog stakes. My dog has taken them in and they are not afraid of her (not sure if that's good or not, better to be afraid I think). So, so far so good. I'm so looking forward to the day when I have my own fresh milk, cheese and yogurt. Thanks for posting your tips - I'm making a file for them all. |
| peapicker |
Posted - Jun 24 2009 : 06:56:03 AM
Tnank you Kris..... when I go to town I'll pick up a copy of Hobby Farm. Happy to hear your milk is tasting better. Sure glad I checked this thread again.
Sharlet |
| kristin sherrill |
Posted - Jun 24 2009 : 06:47:34 AM
Sharlot, I just got Hobby Farm Magazine and there is a whole article on dairy goats. You might want to check it out. Talks about different breeds of goats.
I tested the milk again this morning. I officially took the boys away a few nights ago. They are still where they can see them so it is probably too close still. I'm working on putting the boys up front with all the chickens. Maybe tonight. It's tasting a little better.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
| peapicker |
Posted - Jun 23 2009 : 07:28:11 AM
Thank you for site Alee. Now I see why everyone says cream seperators are too pricey. Yikes!
I'm leaning toward Nubian for the fat content.
Sharlet |
| Alee |
Posted - Jun 23 2009 : 07:10:05 AM
Here is a great "basic" site:
http://www.goats4h.com/DairyGoats.html
I like the Oberhasli breed personally. They are sweet, playful, and inquisitive.
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.awarmheart.com
www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com
www.allergyjourneys.blogspot.com
Put your pin on the farmgirl map! www.farmgirlmap.blogspot.com |
| peapicker |
Posted - Jun 22 2009 : 11:00:53 PM
My next question for all of the goat experts......which ones are best for milking? I do live in Texas with long hot summers....will that make a difference? Does anyone have a book that they think really does a good job educating the newbie to it?
Hello Chris.... let me know your doing things when you get started? I would like to avoid all of the costly mistakes possible.
I never new the milk needed to be cooled down so fast.
Sharlet |
| OregonGal |
Posted - Jun 22 2009 : 8:46:50 PM
I am getting 2 kids on Wednesday morning. I decided I wanted babies just so I could learn how to care for goats
before I started having babies and milking - just kind of trying to ease into the goats. They are a toggenburg/alpine
cross, so they should be pretty good for milking. I have a book or two on goat keeping but I haven't a clue on how
to clip feet, or shearing them, etc, but I guess I am sure going to learn. I'm listening to you all, I'm listening. |
| Aunt Jenny |
Posted - Jun 22 2009 : 7:24:21 PM
There isn't a difference in how long Cows milk will keep (usually) compared to goat's milk, but cow's milk tastes better longer in my opinion. With goat milk (which we LOVED and drank for years) it just tasted fresher and more like cows milk when fresh. I agree with cooling it quickly too..makes a big difference. I used to sit quart jars of milk into 13x9 pans of crushed ice and water in the fridge.
Jenny in Utah
Proud Farmgirl sister #24
Inside me there is a skinny woman crying to get out...but I can usually shut her up with cookies
http://www.auntjennysworld.blogspot.com/ visit my little online shop at www.auntjenny.etsy.com |
| Alee |
Posted - Jun 22 2009 : 6:39:18 PM
I read a recipe online to use a semi frozen alchohol water mix- I guess the alcohol makes it get colder than just plain water and you can save your mixture if you have a big bucket that you can put in the freezer. I love fresh goats milk ice cold- mmm I am missing the milk from the ranch big time!
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.awarmheart.com
www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com
www.allergyjourneys.blogspot.com
Put your pin on the farmgirl map! www.farmgirlmap.blogspot.com |
| kristin sherrill |
Posted - Jun 22 2009 : 5:42:04 PM
Jenny, no it doens't taste salty. I have had to deal with mastitis before and this is nothing like that. I could tolerate this milk but not that!
And I like my milk better a few days after for some reason. It tastes better to me. I too have startes putting a pan of water in the fridge to cool the milk faster.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
| peapicker |
Posted - Jun 22 2009 : 5:16:58 PM
Jenny,
I noticed yu said yu liked to use the milk with in 24 hours. How long does it stay good in the fridge? Is there a difference between the goat and cow milk in perishable time. I'm still trying to make up my mind on how to achieve my milk/dairy needs here in the best way. If anyone has any suggestions I would love to hear them.
Sharlet |
| Aunt Jenny |
Posted - Jun 22 2009 : 4:32:39 PM
I had goats for alot of years before getting Mona, my cow, and noticed that some goats do get bad tasting milk during heat..which is only a few days at most. I was lucky enough that my best does didn't. Actually hot weather never affected it that way at all though. Usually cleanliness with your milking equipment, what they eat, and bucks being nearby are the culprits. You know what though. I have known goats that just have worse tasting milk than others. For no apparent reason. It happens.
I agree about goat milk butter..if you don't have a seperator..too expensive for me too..it takes a long time and is a huge pain to get cream from goat milk. I liked to use ours fresh (within 24 hours) and very cold..so to put it in shallower pans and try to get cream really meant it sitting there longer....so I didn't. Usually goat milk is pretty rich anyhow..I used it in my hot herb tea, postum or cocoa just the way it was...plenty rich. Of course, I do love how easy it is to get cream from cow's milk.
Don't give up Kristin!! It gets easier! One more thing to check...does the milk taste salty? Could be early mastitis if it does...worth checking into.
Jenny in Utah
Proud Farmgirl sister #24
Inside me there is a skinny woman crying to get out...but I can usually shut her up with cookies
http://www.auntjennysworld.blogspot.com/ visit my little online shop at www.auntjenny.etsy.com |
| peapicker |
Posted - Jun 22 2009 : 3:02:35 PM
Well, gee.....thanks Kris and Alee
I was afraid of that. I still want goats though. I'll have to give the milk cow extra serious thought. I'm just not sure how much time I want to spend milking since I have never done it before. We'er already pretty tied down here with the cows, chickens, dogs and all that goes with country life.
In serious thought
Sharlet |
| kristin sherrill |
Posted - Jun 22 2009 : 2:26:30 PM
Ok, I was going to say no, I don't have a buck but yeah, I have about 5 little bucks right in there with them all the time now. Ewww! I did not even think about that. But a few of them are already practicing quite a bit lately. They're about close to 9-10 weeks old now. There is one in particular that is pretty big for his age and very masculin and stocky. But I would think he's way too young to breed yet. But the smell might be something else. So I guess it's time to separate those kids now.
And I am with Alee on the cream to make butter. There is just not enough without a separator to do anything with and they are way too expensive for me. I have made butter but that's back when I had a ton of milk. I have a friend who has a Jersey I get milk from sometimes to make butter.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
| Alee |
Posted - Jun 22 2009 : 2:15:58 PM
Sharlet- I don't own goats, but friends do and I have milked for then quite a bit. In my experience trying to get enough cream from goats milk to make butter is a pain in the hinny! And instead of using half and half in your coffee you could just try goats milk instead. Whole cows milk has about 150 calories in it, and whole goats milk has about 62 if that gives you any indication on the fat content differnce.
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.awarmheart.com
www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com
www.allergyjourneys.blogspot.com
Put your pin on the farmgirl map! www.farmgirlmap.blogspot.com |
| grace gerber |
Posted - Jun 22 2009 : 12:24:49 PM
Kris
Their homonoes will mess with the milk taste for sure. I have noticed my girls are in early heat cycle - Have not had it this early in 10 years no sure why?????
I would suggest that maybe that milk to go dogs and chickens and just wait a bit. You can also change the taste a bit by making them eat a bit of herbs and parsley - that will change the milk taste coming from the goats but only by a bit.
I am looking into why we are cycling early - heck maybe I will breed early this year and skip that blizzard babies...
Grace Gerber
Larkspur Funny Farm and Fiber Art Studio
Where the spirits are high and the fiber is deep
http://www.larkspurfunnyfarm.etsy.com
http://larkspurfunnyfarm.blogspot.com
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| peapicker |
Posted - Jun 22 2009 : 11:50:04 AM
Kristin and Alee,
Do you make butter out of your milk. This is probably a dumb questions, but..... do you make , or can you make good half and half out of it. I am addicted to coffee with half and half, but I don't like to drink the store bought with hormones in it and the organic is so expensive. We really are going to get goats soon and I know nothing about milking! It's so hot here too. I might wait just a couple of months because I have to do something about fencing. We have eighty acres fenced for cows here next to the house, but the goats will have no problem getting out and the creek would be nearly impossible to find them in. The coyotes are bad here too.
Thanks,
Sharlet |
| Alee |
Posted - Jun 22 2009 : 09:19:34 AM
Kristin- having goats be in their mating heat will make the goats milk taste pretty rank and go "off" a lot sooner. Do you have a billy at your place? That can make it even worse. Another thing to check is if they need a bath or their udders re-shaved. That has always fixed the problems that weren't hormonal for me.
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.awarmheart.com
www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com
www.allergyjourneys.blogspot.com
Put your pin on the farmgirl map! www.farmgirlmap.blogspot.com |
| kristin sherrill |
Posted - Jun 22 2009 : 09:11:56 AM
A friend of mine said it could be they are in heat. I said yes, they are in heat all day! But the real heat cycle. Becase the 2 I checked this morning one was good the other wasn't. So that's only 3 out of 7 that was good milk. I have noticed some of them acting like they are in heat. But I thought it'd be too hot for all that hanky panky going on.
Sharlot, I hope you do get goats. They are great to have. I love the milk. We still have all but 2 of the kids still here. I need them gone soon.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
| peapicker |
Posted - Jun 22 2009 : 08:00:31 AM
Kris,
I wish I knew something about goat milk but I don't. I am looking into getting a few goats myself, so I am watching this tread to learn the answers. Hope someone comes to the rescue soon.
Sharlet |
