First taste of goat's milk--supposed to be creamy?

[vermillionoaks]

I don't remember the medical term. It was something the doctors tested for at the hospital. They called it milk fever. It it caused by a bacteria in raw milk that can be passed on to humans. It scared us that we had not tested for it before drinking her raw milk.

Looked it up. Its called Brucellosis. Causes a fever that lasts for weeks, months, or even years if left untreated.

 

[quiltnchik]

I don't remember the medical term. It was something the doctors tested for at the hospital. They called it milk fever. It it caused by a bacteria in raw milk that can be passed on to humans. It scared us that we had not tested for it before drinking her raw milk.

Looked it up. Its called Brucellosis. Causes a fever that lasts for weeks, months, or even years if left untreated.

Did you have your doe tested? I've never had any problems, and my 11-month-old grandson drinks the milk from my girls.

 

[vermillionoaks]

No we didn't have her tested yet. She is not showing any symptoms, my son did not have it, and we are going to pasteurize her milk until spring when we will have our annual blood work done on all of our goats. They ruled it out as an option for my son but after being in the hospital with my 3 yr old and hearing him say "I don't think I'll ever get better." because every time we think its gone it comes back and then just pulling straws with the docs that came up. Well it was really hard as a parent to feel like I might have failed him by not researching better before hand. Like I said, I do plan on sitting down with the vet and doing a pretty big blood test for raw milk-related diseases as well as our normal CAE and CL. But I am currently pregnant and would not feel comfortable drinking raw milk before then anyway. I know those diseases are extremely rare but I just feel better taking those precautions. I know I am not the norm but I understand when people want to pasteurize the milk when they are just starting out. I wasn't raised in the country. I don't have the immune system most country folk do. Nor did I have any experience with animals other than cats and dogs. I'm ok taking an informed risk, I just struggle jumping in without knowing the major consequences.

 

[that's*satyrical]

It is very, very rare in the US. There are usually only 100-200 cases per year. If you practice keeping your animals living surroundings clean & a clean milking area and/or live in one of the states below your chances are even less. In other words I wouldn't sweat it.

78.43 - Validated brucellosis-free States.

Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virgin Islands, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming.

 

[SkyWarrior]

No we didn't have her tested yet. She is not showing any symptoms, my son did not have it, and we are going to pasteurize her milk until spring when we will have our annual blood work done on all of our goats. They ruled it out as an option for my son but after being in the hospital with my 3 yr old and hearing him say "I don't think I'll ever get better." because every time we think its gone it comes back and then just pulling straws with the docs that came up. Well it was really hard as a parent to feel like I might have failed him by not researching better before hand. Like I said, I do plan on sitting down with the vet and doing a pretty big blood test for raw milk-related diseases as well as our normal CAE and CL. But I am currently pregnant and would not feel comfortable drinking raw milk before then anyway. I know those diseases are extremely rare but I just feel better taking those precautions. I know I am not the norm but I understand when people want to pasteurize the milk when they are just starting out. I wasn't raised in the country. I don't have the immune system most country folk do. Nor did I have any experience with animals other than cats and dogs. I'm ok taking an informed risk, I just struggle jumping in without knowing the major consequences.

I feel similarly to where I think pasteurization is necessary for me. I feel that those who drink raw are perfectly in their right to do so, but at this time I should not. My handling of the milk isn't as good as should be even though I clean everything. Annie, the first freshened goat, isn't perfect and will jump around. Eventually she'll settle down and maybe I'll get a clean bucket from her sometime.

 

[quiltnchik]

My handling of the milk isn't as good as should be even though I clean everything. Annie, the first freshened goat, isn't perfect and will jump around. Eventually she'll settle down and maybe I'll get a clean bucket from her sometime.

Never, ever, EVER use milk that has had a foot put in it; that's a great way to introduce E. coli to your milk (think about all the poo caked up in their feet). It's very easy to keep the animals clean (I use 2 baby wipes before milking and spray with a Nolvasan mixture afterward), and to use hobbles to keep them still while milking. Everyone has to do what makes them comfortable, but keep in mind that pasteurized milk is dead, while raw milk contains beneficial bacteria that helps our bodies in so many ways. People who drink raw milk have far fewer illnesses (colds, allergies, reflux, etc.), and are just much more healthy in general. As for being "country folk," I had never had goat milk in my life, much less RAW goat milk, until last year. I've done my research and have absolutely no problems giving it to anyone in my family. A night without a tall glass of cold raw goat milk is a bad night IMHO.

http://www.raw-milk-facts.com/

http://realmilk.com/

Also remember that pasteurization was started because of the terrible conditions that dairy cows were kept in back in the 1920s (and I'm sure some still are today). If you have your own animals (cows and/or goats) and know that they're healthy, how they're living, what they're eating and how the milk is being handled at all stages, that milk is perfectly safe to drink raw. One of my FAVORITE breakfast "meals" is to throw 2 cups of raw goat milk, 2 raw eggs, some sugar and a bit of nutmeg in the blender, and blend up a huge glass of fresh eggnog - there's just nothing better! (Yes - I said raw eggs. I know where my chickens live and what they eat, so I feel perfectly safe eating their eggs raw. I would NEVER eat store bought eggs raw, ever!)

 

[SkyWarrior]

Never, ever, EVER use milk that has had a foot put in it; that's a great way to introduce E. coli to your milk (think about all the poo caked up in their feet). It's very easy to keep the animals clean (I use 2 baby wipes before milking and spray with a Nolvasan mixture afterward), and to use hobbles to keep them still while milking.

Nope, haven't used milk with a foot in it, even though E. coli is killed with pasteurization. I spent about a week learning to milk on her with her doing that (the chickens loved the milk!). Still, she's antsy and I need to purchase some hobbles. My DH needs to finish the stanchion. We still end up with hair and occasionally some straw in the milk.

I've read both sides of the arguments for and against pasteurization. Pasteur was looking for a way to eliminate tuberculosis in milk (as well as other harmful bacteria). Pasteurization was the result.

My thought is that we can agree to disagree. I think it's a choice each person should make on their own. Maybe I might try raw when things are a little better settled down, but at the moment, I don't think drinking raw milk is right for me.

 

[Pearce Pastures]

No one should be pressuring you to take a risk you are not comfortable taking, and there is a risk. Raw milk can have risks and can me good too but it is a personal choice. I won't give raw milk to my young children because though it wouldn't kill them, I do not want to take a chance on getting them sick, even if the chances are low, even though I am very careful about cleanliness. I on the other hand do drink it raw from time to time but I would never deceptively force that onto someone else and the rest of my family prefers it pasteurized. No biggie. I just like that they like goat milk.

Enjoy your milk!! It is so fun and satisfying to have you very own supply in your backyard.


http://yourlife.usatoday.com/fitnes...k-causes-most-illnesses-from-dairy/53196680/1
http://www.realrawmilkfacts.com/

 

[that's*satyrical]

No pressure. To each their own. Just saying the risk is about as high as getting hit by lightning. Especially if you are getting the milk from your own animals & practicing cleanliness.

 

[Pearce Pastures]

Had a chicken get hit by lightening in my front yard Sad but was too funny at the same time.
Just wanted to add I just meant to be supportive of her choice and I did not mean for my post to sound snippy or judgey or anything.