Raw milk question for those who use it.

My husband and I drink the raw goats milk. Our children drink it also, ages 5,4,3,2,. This was all wonderful until our ex-spouses caught wind of this and started calling pediatricians. These pediatricians around here (Northeast Missouri) are morons!!! They said it is better to give a child soy milk than goats milk. They claimed it doesn't have enough milk fat in it to support brain development. Which is completely untrue. Goats milk has a more digestable and usually higher percentage of milk fat than cows milk. Anyone who has milked a cow knows how nasty that can be~!! I have yet to have a goat go poo while milking. When we milk after they are all done the milk is taken in and strained and goes right to the refridgerator. I like knowing exactly how the milk was handled and what has happened to it along the way. I believe that you should do what puts your conscience at ease. If you want to pasteurize for your children that is wonderful, even pasteurized goats milk in my oppinion is better than store bought cows milk. My kids are healthy and I feel have done remarkably well when drinking it. Now on one occassion in particular we did get a very "goaty" tasting batch and the kids turned up thier noses at it, but other than that they dont know the difference. Enjoy your goats!!! Love your goats!!!

When it comes to raw milk, use common sense and some cleanliness rules. I don't think many people would eat a carrot when it has just come out of the ground. So, with milk. Make sure the doe is in good health, and your milking facilities are clean. Proper handling is most important in good quality milk.

As for cement, I would not raise animals on cement floors as it is way too cold up here and cement causes joint ailments. For years I had a milk stanchion and dirt floors. I didn't have problems, I was just very careful to be as clean as possible.

And Vicki, as much as I like knowledgeable people and opinions, there is much more to raising goats than winning in the show ring and making more profit on your milk. Most of us here have our own animals in order to have clean food. You do it for a business and the opinions come across very hard core because you have to be highly critical in a business. Just maybe not try to scare the newer people out of it. Thanks