First Time Milking Question

[millefleur]

So I just milked my nigerian goat for the first time. She put up a huge fight but I ended up getting about 5 oz of milk. I probably would have gotten more but one of her babies got out and got to her first.

After I milked I went inside and strained it through one of those wire mesh coffee filters and then dumped it into a mason jar and stuck it in the freezer. I am hoping to use this milk to help feed my bottle baby.

One thing that I realized I forgot to do is squirt the first couple squirts on the ground. I forgot all about it. All I did was wipe her down with a clorox wipe and started milking. My question is, will this be ok since I am just using the milk for the bottle baby? I can understand it probably wouldn't be ok if I was going to drink it.

Also how long will the milk last if I leave it in the freezer? What about if I leave it in the refrigerator?

 

[Goat Whisperer]

It should be fine. After all, when kids nurse they don't strip the teat . I wouldn't be concerned about it.

Don't know about freezing, but I don't like keeping milk in the fridge for more then a week.

 

[newbiekat]

It should be fine. After all, when kids nurse they don't strip the teat . I wouldn't be concerned about it.

I second that.

As for freezing, I usually keep it for a year. I usually keep my colostrum in the freezer for next year's babies in case something happens. If I don't need it the next year I pitch it and save again for the following year.

 

[Southern by choice]

Our milk gets used up very quickly, so I am not sure what to tell you. I think unpasteurized milk can last in the fridge for 5 days and pasteurized 2 wks.
We use our raw milk within 3 days if we actually have milk left... we use a lot of milk between family and 2 bottle baby kikos. Anything after the 3 days we give to our friends pigs.

 

[frustratedearthmother]

I guess I am the exception... I routinely drink raw milk up to 10 days (and occasionally more) old. We keep it very clean and very cold and don't notice any deterioration in flavor. I milk into a stainless steel pail, through a fine nylon mesh strainer, then pour it through a coffee filter straight into a glass jar. Next, it goes into the separate 'milk fridge' set at 34 degrees. It keeps beautifully, and the longer it sits the more cream rises to the top. I've gotta admit to sneaking some of the cream off of the top for my coffee....daily, lol!

I use a baby wipe to clean the doe. I know some other folks who use Clorox wipes, but I've gotta wonder how good they are for the skin? Would love to hear other opinions about them.

I've also kept milk in the freezer for quite some time and have used it for bottle babies, but for drinking I'm not happy with the consistency of thawed milk.

Like the others mentioned - I wouldn't worry about not discarding the first couple squirts if the milk is for bottle babies. In fact, I might even forgive myself for forgetting and drink it if it were for me. But, I'm a risk taker, lol!