Not sure what to do (RANT)

[SkyWarrior]

Making soft cheese works well. I do that with my excess. It's easy. Bring a gallon of milk to near boil and add 1/4 cup vinegar slowly. Ladle the curds out into butter muslin and let drain. Add salt. Yum!

I have dropped to once a day milking. Twice a day iis giving me about 2 gallons. If I find someone who wants goat's milk and is willing to trade something, I would ramp up the milking. I can't sell it as the laws out here prohibit that, but I can give it away and someone can give me something they think I might like.

 

[GLENMAR]

I have made that cheese too. We don't eat it much.
I have to decide if raising goats is worth the benefits of milk that
I am not really using.

 

[lovinglife]

It helps if you have friends that like the milk and would be willing to milk for you a couple times a week and keep the milk. Would give you a break and you still get good milk. I have people lined up for my goats milk that want to barter, one lady has chickens so she wants to trade eggs for milk, one lady raises a large garden wants to trade fresh produce, it works great! Maybe you need a new cheese recipe, no reason you shouldn't love the cheese from fresh goat milk. Lots of different recipes out there.

 

[GLENMAR]

I can't even get my brother to take some milk for his 3 children.
I would love to practice with more cheese recipes, but I don't really have time.
I am open to trading, but I am not sure who would want goat milk.
I tried to get my neighbor across the street to milk because she said she wanted to pet sit.
She is a big animal lover and I thought this would be a good chance to get away for 24 hours.
She failed at milking. She could only get a few drops out, even with me trying to teach her.

 

[Fluffygal]

Once you dry them up you could work a schedule to alternate you favorite does that allows only 1 in milk at a time. That way you are not overwhelmed by too much milk.
Butter is another dairy item you could make and don't forget about ice cream! With Summer round the corner ice cream consumption goes up.

Part of raising our own foods is learning what works for our own situations. You'll get it figured out.
Goats are good for more than dairy n meat. They help control brush, fertilize our gardens, and are fun pets.

 

[madcow]

Oh my, what a problem. You seem really down about it. Everyone has given you some really good alternatives instead of getting rid of your goats. Although I've never done it, I think drying off your does would be the best option at this point. I've read some about it and it seems you just stop milking them, and their bodies will adapt quickly and stop making milk. That will probably hold true if you omit the milking time you aren't able to milk because of you work schedule. It's a waste of money to continue milking when you don't really need the milk or can't gain some benefit from it. When goats lactate they eat more to keep up milk production and you are throwing money away by continuing to milk and not using it.

Also, like someone else said, situations change and you certainly don't want to get rid of all your goats and later have to start all over again. Goats involve a lot of time, energy, and money. They are a long-term committment. That goes double when you're milking goats. My daughter says they are high maintenance, and she's right. But you can cut down the maintenance and costs by drying them up.

Have you considered dehydrating the excess milk? I know it can be done, but I haven't done it myself. I have seen videos on YouTube that show you how and I think you only need a food dehydrator to do it. They do make drum driers especially for dehydrating milk products, but I haven't looked into it to see how much they cost. Something else to think about when it comes to keeping the milk. It would be another good option if you wanted to keep milking.

 

[treeclimber233]

Maybe the next time you breed your does you could breed to a meat buck. Then you could keep babies nursing (and growing) to drink the extra milk. That is what I do. I pen my babies up for 8-10 hours then milk when I want to. If you are working towards a milk star having babies nursing will get your doe in top production. Their constant demand will stimulate her to make more milk. Then if you can't milk a time or two you have built in milkers. Trust me you will not have to ask them twice. And if you are interested in eating goat meat you have dinner running around in your field. And if you are not interested in eating goat meat somebody out there would love to eat a milk fed baby. And as for your question about udder memory--I don't think it does. Every time your does freshen they usually increase the amount of milk they make.

 

[SkyWarrior]

I mentioned your problem to my husband who says your SO needs to "man up" and drink goat's milk.

Your brother too.

As for your neighbor, get a hand pump so she can milk your goats.

 

[GLENMAR]

I mentioned your problem to my husband who says your SO needs to "man up" and drink goat's milk.

Your brother too.

As for your neighbor, get a hand pump so she can milk your goats.

Ok that made me Thanks guys.

I am sure it will be better after a little break.

 

[OneFineAcre]

Making soft cheese works well. I do that with my excess. It's easy. Bring a gallon of milk to near boil and add 1/4 cup vinegar slowly. Ladle the curds out into butter muslin and let drain. Add salt. Yum!

I have dropped to once a day milking. Twice a day iis giving me about 2 gallons. If I find someone who wants goat's milk and is willing to trade something, I would ramp up the milking. I can't sell it as the laws out here prohibit that, but I can give it away and someone can give me something they think I might like.

We've made this too. But, I will tell you this. If you get the bacteria for chevre and use that to curdle instead of vinegar it is soooo much better. It's a little more work but worth the effort. And, it freezes very well too.

We will roll in spices like dill and garlic salt and it is great on crackers. Did some recently with sun-dried tomatoes. Yummmy.