Milk

[Lance Blythe]

I’ve milked a few goats and cattle for the babies. I recently had some extra. Is straight milk health for human children? What processes are a must before consuming?
My herd isn’t a milking type herd being Pygmy or Pygmy fainters, but I’m interested in a Lamancha mostly to help feed bottle babies, but assumed I’d have extra and didn’t want to waste it.

 

[Goat Whisperer]

It can be used for human consumption, but you need to make sure you are doing it in a safe manner.

We have several different breeds of goats, Lamanchas, Mini Lamanchas, Nigerian Dwarfs, and a Nubians. I use the milk for cheese, soap, and to drink.

I start by cleaning the udder, I use soap/bleach water. Dry with clean towel.

Strip first few squirts into cup and inspect for any possible issues.

Milk into clean/sanitized milk bucket

Spray teats with chlorhexidine

Strain milk through proper milk filters

Chill milk.

You want to be sure your hands are CLEAN.

We pasteurize the milk. Some drink the milk raw but I am a firm believer in pasteurization, especially when you are giving it to children. You cannot see listeria, e-coli, salmonella, and the list goes on.
We have a machine, but you can do the stovetop method.

 

[Goat Whisperer]

You also want to be sure any dewormers or other meds haven’t been given recently/has passed the established milk withdrawal.

 

[Lance Blythe]

Whoa, I assumed there was a process but had no idea it was so involved. How much mild do you get per whatever measurement compared to soap and cheese?

 

[Goat Whisperer]

Whoa, I assumed there was a process but had no idea it was so involved. How much mild do you get per whatever measurement compared to soap and cheese?

It varies

Right now 10# of milk is giving us 4-4.5# of chèvre

It’s not too bad, you should already be washing the udder, stripping the teats, spraying the teats for the protection of the goat. The milk processing is fairly simple once you are familiar with how to do so.

 

[Southern by choice]

Yes, it is fairly simple.
Like @Goat Whisperer said- anytime you milk a goat even for feeding livestock you should always clean the udder, strip the teats, milk , then use some form of teat dip.
Cleaning the udder ensures no bad bacteria gets into the orifices. It also helps with good let down of milk.
Stripping the teats just gets that plug out and you can see if there is anything to be concerned about ( like the beginnings of mastitis or a burst capillary).
The spraying of the teat with chlorhexadine (fight-bac brand is what we use) is cold and closes off the teat- closing the orifice which is necessary so bacteria doesn't enter.
Some use iodine, dips made of mild bleach water etc.

So it is all the same process until you get to the milk part.

We milk into a stainless steel pot (bucket)
We take the milk and pour it through a strainer with a filter to remove debris (such as hair that falls in) and it goes right into a widemouth jar.
We chill it in the freezer for 20-30 minutes to get it cold fast.

That is key! Chilling milk quickly preserves flavor.

Then we move it to the fridge.
When we have time then we will take the milk out and pasteurize for human consumption.

It is a pretty fast process.

It sounds like alot when you lay out step by step.... but if you typed out every step it takes to make a pot of coffee it could sound like it was a major ordeal.

These are the products we use (Goat Whisperer is half owner of the farm)

This is a jar with the strainer and filters we use.

Milk pail, wash bucket, dry cloths

Fight bac- spray for after milking

Chevre Cheese- getting ready to hang

So many cheeses you can make besides Chevre!
Some fun dessert cheeses

With Homemade raspberry sauce

Lemon Raspberry-

 

[BoboFarm]

I need dairy goats!

 

[Southern by choice]

I need dairy goats!

Dairy goats are wonderful!
The above was made from the milk of our miniature lamancha Trouble & lamancha Zephyr!

There is a great miniature Lamancha breeder out by you.

 

[babsbag]

I have been milking for about 8 years and I always chill my milk in an ice bath or the freezer if I intend to drink it. I was always happy with the taste of the milk. But now that I have the dairy I have a commercial bulk tank that chills the milk and it is FAST and COLD. I can't believe how much the better the milk it. Chilling is definitely the key.

 

[babsbag]

@BoboFarm Everyone needs dairy goats.