Managing Raw Goats Milk

[Lkpfarm]

Hello -

We are looking for advice on storing raw goats milk. We have recently had our first doe deliver and have just begun milking her. Since we only get approximately 3 cups a day from her I had been bringing the milk in from the barn and filtering it into a single stainless steel milk jug which I'm keeping in the fridge. My thought had been to collect 4-5 days worth and then make (or ATTEMPT to make) chevre. But I've just read that fresh milk should not be combined with refrigerated milk as it will increase bacteria - since I've now done this for the last 3-4 days do I now need to throw out what I've got stored or is it still safe to use? I don't use a teat dip though I've been really stringent with sanitizing the equipment we've been using as well as my hands prior to milking.

Thank you for any input you all might be able to offer! I hate the thought of throwing out all that hard effort by both the poor doe and me but I don't want to make anyone sick...

 

[animalmom]

I think what is meant is you should not put warm just milked milk in the same container as your refrigerated milk.

We use raw goat milk daily. I milk, strain into quart canning jars, and put in the fridge. The following day I take all the quart jars and pour the cold milk into half gallon canning jars. We use milk at breakfast, in cooking and give it daily to the dogs. I also collect until I have enough to do a batch of chevre or yogurt. I've been doing this for 5 years and have not pulled a jar from the fridge that was off or bad.

You are going to really enjoy your goat milk!

 

[babsbag]

@Lkpfarm Can I ask why you don't use a teat dip? It is not so much for your health but for the goat's. The orifice in her teat is an open channel for bacteria to enter and mastitis to take hold; you need to do EVERYTHING you can to keep that clean. I use bleach and dawn dish soap to wash the udder before, then I dip the teat, milk, and dip the teat again. Mastitis is not something to take lightly.

As far as the milk storage, the faster you can cool it the better is will taste and the longer it will keep. Putting it directly into the fridge does not really cool it properly although I have been guilty of doing that too. If you can get an ice chest with a salt/ice slush in it and then pour your milk into a container and set it in the ice bath that will cool your milk quicker and it will taste better and last longer.

Never pour warm milk into your chilled milk as that just raises the temp of the cold milk which defeats the purpose of having it chilled. Cool the fresh milk and then you can combine them.

 

[OneFineAcre]

As the others have said, you do not want to combine the warm just milked milked with that already refrigerated. Cool it first.

 

[Lkpfarm]

@babsbag; I didn't use the teat dip because I hadnt done enough research to realize I needed to lol. I actually figured that out yesterday at the same time I realized I shouldn't have been adding the warm milk directly to the chilled! So, do you all think I should dispose of the milk that I've mixed this week and just start over? Given that I mixed warm with cold 2-3 nights in a row has that likely ruined it all?

Thank you all for the input!

 

[Sweetened]

Discarfing that milk is a personal decision. I wouldnt, but itll likely taste goaty.

 

[Pearce Pastures]

You could use the milk in baking or cooking. Whip up some pancakes with it.

 

[norseofcourse]

You could use the milk for soapmaking, too

 

[Lkpfarm]

Thank you everyone! The input has been hugely helpful - have implemented teat dipping and now understand the need to chill each batch of milk BEFORE combining it with others! I guess these are all rookie mistakes