milk problems

[furholler]

My sister-in-law is having a problem with skunky milk. Some friends of hers are also. Does this have to do with the time of year? Feeding hay and all. Is there anything that can be done to prevent it? The milk we got from her was fine until a couple of weeks ago. What causes the skunkyness? Any advice would be appreciated.

P.S. I'm not sure of the cows breeds, she has three, I think. There is a jersey cross and a holstein, I think. Not sure of the other.

[warrior]

Could there be wild onion/garlic in there pasture. These will transmit their flavor/odor to the milk. What is commonly called wild onion here is really garlic and grows well in the winter after the grass dies back though it really doesn't come on strong until late winter early spring. The hay they are fed may contain smartweed which will flavor the milk as well. Overall there is a long list of plants that can alter the flavor of milk. That would be my first thought rather than some other problem.

[jersey girl]

We have raised dairy cows for years and the number one reason for milk taste change is contaiminated feed (hay) or wild herbs in the pasture. It only takes a few hours for the taste to enter the milk and it will disappear just as fast when it is taken away. Check your hay or try some different hay and look around the pasture to see what might be growing. A few days on clean hay and the taste should be back to normal.