Saving Milk ??'s

dbarjacres · #1 05/01/06, 08:37 AM

Hello, I'm new to milking altho we've had goats for 2 1/2 years now. I've been milking my new Nigerian Dwarf doe for 10 days now (2x a day, she was rammed and aborted her kids 2 weeks early at her breeder/owner's home in mid March). So even tho we LOVE her rich sweet milk, I don't want to weigh 100 lbs more come fall from drinking the high butterfat! So we are only using about 2/3 of a quart daily for ourselves. The rest I've just been feeding to the barn cats and our dogs, who all think it's delicious! But I think I'll be getting twin mini manchas shipped to me from Texas in a couple weeks when they are 4-5 weeks old and thus will need milk for them, may as well use this does. I also want to make soap and butter, but have no clue now and haven't had time to research yet. So, is there any way to freeze the milk? If so, I'd appreciate the best container method, length of storage time, etc. Thanks!
Jenny
www.hoofweb.com/dbarj
minidonkeys@tznet.com

rainedaze · #2 05/01/06, 08:47 AM

Our container method that was recommended to us is a gallon ziploc bag. When thawing the milk DO NOT let it sit in the sink to thaw. The cream will seperate. Thaw the milk in a hot pot of water as quick as possible. If you need any extra milk let us know. I am probably buying another goat in milk this week and have 4 milking right now. It seems to be a little more than we are needing.

Good Luck, Heather

mpillow · #3 05/01/06, 08:53 AM

I freeze milk in 2ltr soda bottles or plastic milk jugs milk jugs and I do just set them in the sink when just for animals...separated and/or sour milk is fine for animals....in fact I often feed frzn milk(6m old) to bottle kids and keep fresh milk for table when my first doe kids

I've had no diarhea in my bottle kids either.

For cooking I prefer to can the milk.....25min at 10# in pressure canner....others do 1hr in water bath....I'm feeding excess canned milk to chickens too.

I havent made soap but frzn milk method I've heard is easier???

dbarjacres · #4 05/01/06, 01:21 PM

Thanks for the offer Heather! If I run short, I'll give ya a shout.

Now, what if I'd plan ahead and put the milk to thaw in the fridge? does that work to thaw it w/out seperating?

I figured there was some way to freeze it. My friend breastfed her babies (people babies of course!) and she had buckets and buckets of human milk in the fridge. She was a "good milker" maybe a Saanen in a former life!? Anyway, Said it was good for 6 months I think.

mpillow · #5 05/01/06, 01:29 PM

Frige will take days to thaw a 2ltr and it will separate still....

cmharris6002 · #6 05/01/06, 03:50 PM

Hmmm... I freeze milk and had never had it separate

If you use zip loc baggies make sure you but the good ones. I've had problems with the cheepies leaking during defrost.

be careful of freezing in previously used plastic containers. They can be difficult to sanitize.

mpillow · #7 05/02/06, 08:34 AM

Yep I only freeze for animal use so I'm not real careful about sterilizing...and most milk is 6m old before I use it....
I did open a newer bottle and it did not separate(left to thaw in sink) so it must have to do with cleanliness (it was a water jug) and age

SherrieT · #8 05/02/06, 05:40 PM

Excuse if this is a stupid newbie question but would freezing and then thawing goat milk like this be a good way to separate for making butter???

Sherrie

bgraham · #9 05/04/06, 01:50 PM

I just want to give a tip for goat's milk soap.

When lye is mixed with a liquid, it raises the temperature dramatically. When the liquid is milk, it turns it a yucky color. To avoid this, freeze your goats milk in ice cube trays. When you are ready to make soap, remove the cubes from the tray, weigh them to see how many you need for your batch, and mix the lye directly with the cubes. They will melt right away because of the heat created by the reaction with the lye, but because they are frozen, the temperature won't rise enough to cause discoloration.

Hope this helps somebody.

Beth

cfarmher · #10 05/04/06, 01:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SherrieT

Excuse if this is a stupid newbie question but would freezing and then thawing goat milk like this be a good way to separate for making butter???

Sherrie

I was wondering the same thing. If no one else posts, I'll make sure to try it and get back with you on it. It won't be until next week though because I'm not getting my goats until tomorrow.

cowgirlracer · #11 05/04/06, 02:51 PM

I've been freezing milk for animal consumption since December. I just freez it in an empty pop bottle, juice container, plastic milk jug etc. I have let mine thaw in the sink, and give them a good shake and haven't had any trouble. I didn't fill the bottles to the top so there would be room for expansion in the freezer, I then lay them on their side in the microwave to heat up before feeding. Very convenient. If it has been frozen in something too big for the microwave I pour it into a bowl first. Again this is what I am feeding to our bottle calf, not people, stricter milk handling for people.

suzyhomemaker09 · #12 05/05/06, 07:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SherrieT

Excuse if this is a stupid newbie question but would freezing and then thawing goat milk like this be a good way to separate for making butter???

Sherrie

I've frozen milk and have never tried to seperate after thawing , but I really don't think it would make any difference.