I want to make cheese....

[mydakota]

I make mozzarella cheese during the times of the year when my girls are giving more than we can drink. FWIW, I wouldn't be put off milking by the fact that your girls are not "dairy" goats. I milk my Boer girls along with my Saanen. They don't give as much volume, but their milk tastes just as good. I have one Boer girl who does herself proud on the milkstand. I get about 1 1/2 quarts from Elci and she milks for 9 months. Not too shabby for a "meat" girl. Of course I get more from my Saanen, but Elci is definitely worth the time it takes to milk her. I don't get near as much from Buttercup (the other Boer I milk), but she is a FF, so time will tell. Elci is raising triplets, who are all in great shape, and she is in great shape herself. She is just a super goat! I am fond of her, can you tell? Individuals will vary. Some Boers may not be worth the time it takes to milk them, but some definitely are, and I bet it is the same with the Myotonics. And the cheese is delicious!

 

[peachick]

ok you guys inspired me. i went out to try to milk two does with huge udders. Their kids are 2 and 3 months old.

First of all. Patience is not my strength! lol
Trying to getting a firm grasp of a nipples on long coated goats that are dancing all over the place was a challenge.

I know I can get more milk if I seperate the babies from the moms before I try this again. I was able to get 1/4 cup in about 20 minutes... aprox 10 minutes per mom. Knowing they will get better at this and so will I. My concern is dirt and hair falling into the milk.

How do you keep the milk clean while milking????

 

[mydakota]

Well, I dairy clip all mine, which helps with the hair. I also brush their bellies and wash their udders before I milk, which also helps. But even so, I still strain their milk through milk filters before we use it. That pretty much takes care of it. I have never found a goat hair in a glass of milk.

 

[peachick]

Hubby and teen age son and I go out to a nice restaurant tonight and I start talking about the goats...... ( they cant walk away from me here LOL )

I mention wanting to make cheese. Hubby is instantly interested ahah (of course, its about food)
Then I say.... Other than washing udders and clipping hair I dont know how to keep stuff out of the milk while Im milking.

My shy quiet son said.... you could stretch a pair of nylons over the top of the pan while you are milking.

OMG Brilliant idea! Brilliant!

I'll still wash udders, but at least I dont have to worry about the hair.

 

[peachick]

i used my sons idea and used a brand new knee high stocking to cover the 2 cup measuring cup. Due to the dancing and kicking (not by me) a good amout of milk was spilled, but the girls were patient with me, and let me figure this out.... tomorrow we will get more!

Love the stocking idea!... you can see it did a great job of keeping the hair out of the milk.


DSC_0004 by S!GNATURE, on Flickr

this is who I am milking.. Mother and daughter.......


DSC_0015 by S!GNATURE, on Flickr

 

[Georgiamainers]

That's a great idea! I've seen people drape cheese cloth over their milking can, too. My girls start dancing and moving when I milk them, but only as soon as their grain runs out...refill. Purty goats btw!!

 

[peachick]

I used 4 cups of goat milk and made this little nugget of cheese with fresh chives
(feeling proud of myself)
The making of the cheese was easy.... the milking of the goat was work.


DSC_0011 by S!GNATURE, on Flickr

 

[mydakota]

That is just the cutest little cheese nugget I have ever seen! Good job!

 

[willowbreezefarm]

This is a great thread! love your cheese ball too looks really yummy!

 

[mossyStone]

Your Goats are adorable and the cheese looks yummy! well done