Freezing Milk...

[babsbag]

[QUOTE="OneFineAcre, post: 371603, member:

That's a lot of milk.

 

[Tea Chick]

About the freezing and then thawing milk thing, the milk does separate when it's frozen b/c the water in it freezes and all that science-y stuff. The milk bought at the supermarket kind of separates too, but it's been homogenized, so it "goes back together" better when you shake it (good as new as it were). Anyway, the pasteurized (but probably not homogenized) or raw milk wouldn't go back together with anything short of homogenization. I'm sure that, if I know how milk is homogenized, then everyone on this site does, but ... They shake the milk really hard to break up the fat globules into smaller parts so that it stays suspended better, b/c the fat globules are already smaller before it's frozen, the milk re-homogenizes better.

 

[mignavrod]

At home there is only my wife and I so we have to freeze milk; we are not at the level of selling yet, and although we do make cheese and share it with family, we are not selling anything yet. I am aware of the problems with selling raw goat milk here so I am kind of apprehensive; I will try CL and label it "not for human consumption". As far as the taste of the milk, I don't notice any difference so I am enjoying the milk even after the does are dry.

 

[OneFineAcre]

We actually can utilize all the milk, right now it is just a time thing. We can use 3 gallons per day easily. We are a big family.
Hoping I can get into a good schedule to utilize the milk for cheeses.

Your wife's cheese is awesome! Best chevre I have ever had.

We have friends that do a feeder pig here and there and we will give excess or milk I can't get to but NO pigs for me. The only piggy we have here is a guinea pig. LOL

Thanks all for the advice. Shame I can't freeze it. I need about another month before I can really get on the ball.

We are looking at the laws pertaining to sale of cheese.
I will be meeting with a few people that legally sell their cheese and hopefully can glean a few things.

@Southern by choice
Met some new people at the Mt. State Fair. They are new into goats, but not new into farming by any stretch. They sell eggs, produce, pasture raised pork, and free range chickens at the State Farmers Market. I don't know how this works, but they are actually licensed to slaughter chickens at their farm. But anyway, they are currently selling milk like us, strictly bootleg, but for $10 per gallon

So, they were telling us that you can actually get a license to sell milk and cheese for "Pet Consumption Only" and they plan on getting theirs There are guidelines, you have to get a nutritional analysis (like all pet food) and all of your containers have to be lableled with letters a certian size, etc, etc, etc. But, the threshold is much lower than for a class B dairy.

The Mt. State Fair was their first show, but I can tell you these ladies are pretty smart, and have a plan. I can tell by the animals they bought. They bought Saanens from Spinning Spider, they have some Nubain type recorded grades (Saanen x Nubian) and Nubian and Saanen bucks. They are planning on selling some dairy products.

 

[Southern by choice]

Our Rep for Alamance Co was one of the Reps that filed for this law.
As far as I know it was filed and then passed first reading but has not been passed as law yet. I believe the product would be required to be dyed also.
I think they also want to be able to do shares...but I am not sure.
It will be interesting to watch and see how this progresses.

Anyone that sells raw milk legally or illegally I hope has really good insurance.
The chicken processing laws I think are great for a small producer. We can do 1000 birds per year. Of course the safety and basics are still in order.

For anyone interested in knowing how to label in NC....

The current law as it stands for milk is
NC General Statute 130A-279:
Only milk that is Grade "A" pasteurized milk may be sold or dispensed directly to consumers for human consumption. Raw milk and raw milk products shall be sold or dispensed only to a permitted milk hauler or to a processing facility at which the processing of milk is permitted, graded, or regulated by a local, State, or federal agency. The Commission may adopt rules to provide exceptions for dispensing raw milk and raw milk products for nonhuman consumption. Any raw milk or raw milk product dispensed as animal feed shall include on its label the statement "NOT FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION" in letters at least one‑half inch in height. Any raw milk or raw milk product dispensed as animal feed shall also include on its label the statement "IT IS NOT LEGAL TO SELL RAW MILK FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION IN NORTH CAROLINA." "Sale" or "sold" shall mean any transaction that involves the transfer or dispensing of milk and milk products or the right to acquire milk and milk products through barter or contractual arrangement or in exchange for any other form of compensation including, but not limited to, the sale of shares or interest in a cow, goat, or other lactating animal or herd. (1983, c. 891, s. 2; 2004‑195, s. 6.2; 2008‑88, s. 2.)

The biggest issue IMO is most people really have no clue about
E-Coli, Campylobacter, Listeria, Salmonella, Brucella.
How many are really aware that they cannot see this bacteria?
How many actually educate themselves on the entire issue?
How many understand contracting E-coli can cause stroke, renal failure, dialysis, kidney transplant....
Anyone heard of Guillain-Barré syndrome?
Range of cost to treat E-coli infection Before having to get a kidney transplant $50,000 - $100,000. Transplant $500,000.
Most cases are CHILDREN.
Guillain- Barre (GBS) up to $1,000,000

I am NOT anti raw at all, I just believe often people hear how great raw milk is for you and they don't educate themselves first and IMO that is not making an informed decision.
People should be able to choose raw if they want to but they should understand the whole picture. Especially if giving to children. Many great parents thought they were doing the right thing, wanted to raise their kids on the healthiest food possible. Many of these parents believed with all their heart RAW IS BEST!
Then they watch their baby dying. Same stories over and over, they really never knew the "whole" story and the pro's and con's.
It isn't about scaring people or any anti tactics it is about informing people.

Anyone that is selling milk especially illegally should realize that even if they are labeling properly and doing the right things but they KNOW the purchaser is utilizing the milk for human consumption, the seller can still be held liable.
All it takes is that little invisible bacteria to infect someones 4 year old... friends etc will draw the line when medical bills start coming in and their child is near dead. If anyone thinks their friend won't rat them out when they have a kid so sick and may die.... They will be screaming mad and screaming names. BIG Liability! There is a reason there are so few grade A dairies in NC. Grade B's pay a fortune in insurance and they are testing constantly.

I will not go into the whole discussion but I have NCDAg people that come to my farm so we can do testing...one is at state level and the other a federal program... we were talking about goats and got onto the subject of raw milk... North Carolinians SHOULD know that the powers that be (LOL) are very aware of the "bootleg" sales.... long story short ... I'd be very careful.

Just something to think about...
We had a doe (Kiko) she was hugely engorged before kidding... beautiful udder and teats... we REALLY wanted to milk this goat as an experiment. Kiko's have very high butterfat and are usually good producers...we wanted to see if they really are a good dual purpose goat...
She kidded twins all went well. Next day she was running a HIGH fever. It could be one of 3 things...
1)pneumonia
2)retained placenta
3)mastitis

Knew it wasn't 1 or 2, did a test and neg for 3... Started on antibiotics...even milked the doe out to look for mastitis.
Milk was neg, looked beautiful too!
Kept her on meds... vet came out following day... then the milk wasn't coming out then turned bloody...
Long story short... Bluebag Mastitis- we put her down after a week of treatment. Sent her to Rollins, necropsy showed the bacteria that caused the bluebag was E-Coli!

The Ecoli had probably gotten in through the teat days before. If that first batch of milk would have been consumed unpasteurized what then? Of course we knew this was a sick goat so no drinking yet E-coli is found in the environment and doesn't necessarily make goats sick.
A few years ago at the state Fair several people got ill from the petting zoo... goats, sheep, other farm animals. One child did die.

I think the new law could be really good, I don't think it will pass though. Laws like this are put up year after year... I think 10 years in a row now, never passes.

I know it is kinda a bummer of a post but I do care about what happens to those in and out of this community and I know that no-one would ever want their milk to cause an issue for another person.
Be smart! Be careful! Educate yourselves first!
Then... drink it raw, or drink it pasteurized...

 

[OneFineAcre]

Our Rep for Alamance Co was one of the Reps that filed for this law.
As far as I know it was filed and then passed first reading but has not been passed as law yet. I believe the product would be required to be dyed also.
I think they also want to be able to do shares...but I am not sure.
It will be interesting to watch and see how this progresses.

Anyone that sells raw milk legally or illegally I hope has really good insurance.
The chicken processing laws I think are great for a small producer. We can do 1000 birds per year. Of course the safety and basics are still in order.

For anyone interested in knowing how to label in NC....

The current law as it stands for milk is
NC General Statute 130A-279:
Only milk that is Grade "A" pasteurized milk may be sold or dispensed directly to consumers for human consumption. Raw milk and raw milk products shall be sold or dispensed only to a permitted milk hauler or to a processing facility at which the processing of milk is permitted, graded, or regulated by a local, State, or federal agency. The Commission may adopt rules to provide exceptions for dispensing raw milk and raw milk products for nonhuman consumption. Any raw milk or raw milk product dispensed as animal feed shall include on its label the statement "NOT FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION" in letters at least one‑half inch in height. Any raw milk or raw milk product dispensed as animal feed shall also include on its label the statement "IT IS NOT LEGAL TO SELL RAW MILK FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION IN NORTH CAROLINA." "Sale" or "sold" shall mean any transaction that involves the transfer or dispensing of milk and milk products or the right to acquire milk and milk products through barter or contractual arrangement or in exchange for any other form of compensation including, but not limited to, the sale of shares or interest in a cow, goat, or other lactating animal or herd. (1983, c. 891, s. 2; 2004‑195, s. 6.2; 2008‑88, s. 2.)

The biggest issue IMO is most people really have no clue about
E-Coli, Campylobacter, Listeria, Salmonella, Brucella.
How many are really aware that they cannot see this bacteria?
How many actually educate themselves on the entire issue?
How many understand contracting E-coli can cause stroke, renal failure, dialysis, kidney transplant....
Anyone heard of Guillain-Barré syndrome?
Range of cost to treat E-coli infection Before having to get a kidney transplant $50,000 - $100,000. Transplant $500,000.
Most cases are CHILDREN.
Guillain- Barre (GBS) up to $1,000,000

I am NOT anti raw at all, I just believe often people hear how great raw milk is for you and they don't educate themselves first and IMO that is not making an informed decision.
People should be able to choose raw if they want to but they should understand the whole picture. Especially if giving to children. Many great parents thought they were doing the right thing, wanted to raise their kids on the healthiest food possible. Many of these parents believed with all their heart RAW IS BEST!
Then they watch their baby dying. Same stories over and over, they really never knew the "whole" story and the pro's and con's.
It isn't about scaring people or any anti tactics it is about informing people.

Anyone that is selling milk especially illegally should realize that even if they are labeling properly and doing the right things but they KNOW the purchaser is utilizing the milk for human consumption, the seller can still be held liable.
All it takes is that little invisible bacteria to infect someones 4 year old... friends etc will draw the line when medical bills start coming in and their child is near dead. If anyone thinks their friend won't rat them out when they have a kid so sick and may die.... They will be screaming mad and screaming names. BIG Liability! There is a reason there are so few grade A dairies in NC. Grade B's pay a fortune in insurance and they are testing constantly.

I will not go into the whole discussion but I have NCDAg people that come to my farm so we can do testing...one is at state level and the other a federal program... we were talking about goats and got onto the subject of raw milk... North Carolinians SHOULD know that the powers that be (LOL) are very aware of the "bootleg" sales.... long story short ... I'd be very careful.

Just something to think about...
We had a doe (Kiko) she was hugely engorged before kidding... beautiful udder and teats... we REALLY wanted to milk this goat as an experiment. Kiko's have very high butterfat and are usually good producers...we wanted to see if they really are a good dual purpose goat...
She kidded twins all went well. Next day she was running a HIGH fever. It could be one of 3 things...
1)pneumonia
2)retained placenta
3)mastitis

Knew it wasn't 1 or 2, did a test and neg for 3... Started on antibiotics...even milked the doe out to look for mastitis.
Milk was neg, looked beautiful too!
Kept her on meds... vet came out following day... then the milk wasn't coming out then turned bloody...
Long story short... Bluebag Mastitis- we put her down after a week of treatment. Sent her to Rollins, necropsy showed the bacteria that caused the bluebag was E-Coli!

The Ecoli had probably gotten in through the teat days before. If that first batch of milk would have been consumed unpasteurized what then? Of course we knew this was a sick goat so no drinking yet E-coli is found in the environment and doesn't necessarily make goats sick.
A few years ago at the state Fair several people got ill from the petting zoo... goats, sheep, other farm animals. One child did die.

I think the new law could be really good, I don't think it will pass though. Laws like this are put up year after year... I think 10 years in a row now, never passes.

I know it is kinda a bummer of a post but I do care about what happens to those in and out of this community and I know that no-one would ever want their milk to cause an issue for another person.
Be smart! Be careful! Educate yourselves first!
Then... drink it raw, or drink it pasteurized...

Not a whole lot different than people who sell sides of beef. There is a slaughter house in Sims that is classified as "custom exempt" which means they are licensed to slaughter animals for you personally for your own personal consumption. There is no full time USDA meat inspector on site. They are not licensed to slaughter animals for re-sale. And every pack of meat is labeled "Not for Sale" But, people have been selling it for years.

 

[jodief100]

Back to the original post.... I make cheese from the frozen milk. Turns out fine. I read it can be frozen for 30 days so I don't exceed that. Would be an interesting experiment to try.

We drink milk that has been frozen. No biggie. Has a strange texture. Mom used to buy milk on sale and stock up the freezer so I am used to it.

I find, if you heat the milk up a little, the separated particles tend to reintegrate and wolia! Funny texture all gone. So I froze the milk raw and pasteurized the milk when I took it out to use. Works great.

 

[Southern by choice]

That is what I do now. Freeze first THEN pasteurize. Has made a difference,milk taste great.

 

[OneFineAcre]

Back to the original post.... I make cheese from the frozen milk. Turns out fine. I read it can be frozen for 30 days so I don't exceed that. Would be an interesting experiment to try.

We drink milk that has been frozen. No biggie. Has a strange texture. Mom used to buy milk on sale and stock up the freezer so I am used to it.

I find, if you heat the milk up a little, the separated particles tend to reintegrate and wolia! Funny texture all gone. So I froze the milk raw and pasteurized the milk when I took it out to use. Works great.

Maybe part of our problem is we did freeze some for over 30 days
We'll try heating it too.

 

[Pearce Pastures]

We usually use up all of our milk but I have frozen some. I had the strange texture too and only used it in pancakes and baking items. Never did cheese with it though. We pasteurize before cooling it/ freezing it. Might try reheating it next time to see if that helps the frozen milk to be more smooth.