Should I be doing any testing on my raw milk?

[farm mom]

We will be milking our goats in a couple of weeks when they start kidding. We had milk goats a few years ago and didn't do any testing on the milk. Is there any tests I should be doing? Where can I send the milk to for testing? How often to test? I may be selling a couple of gallons a week to friends and want to make sure my milk is safe for us and them. Of course, we keep everything very clean here and as sanitary as possible but we are a home not a professional dairy!

[goatkid]

We don't test our milk. I've been milking for 7 years and have not had any problems. Commercial dairies usually get tested by the dairy inspector, who draws milk and tests for bacteria and the somatic cell count (SSC). The thing with goats is that a higher SSC doesn't necessarily indicate mastitis. The count increases in later lactation and one of the tests they use is for cows and not accurate for goats.

[Alice In TX/MO]

Have you checked your state regulations on selling milk?

[steff bugielski]

You can call your local extension office they should be able to give you the name of a lab that tests milk.
Personally, for myself I would not worry, but if i was selling or giving it to anyone I would run tests. There are potential bacteria in milk that have no taste, no smell and can be deadly.
E-coli, present in feces can be present even in a sanitary dairy. Lysteria also can kill .
But be careful. that sample sent to the lab might red flag your Dept of Agri. to the fact that you are selling raw milk if it is illegal in your state.

[Goatguy]

I would drink it, if it tastes good and I don't get sick consider it a "pass" on your test.

[goatkid]

The thing about testing the milk, is that the results could change within a period of a week, if there was a problem. You could get a good test and then if outside debris got into the milk that test could show bacteria. So far, no one has gotten sick from my goats' milk. I do tell people that if they want to be on the safe side they may want to pasteurize it.

[haypoint]

Pick a side, folks. You can sell your milk and feed it to your children, but you'd better pasteurize it. Or, you get it tested regularly. All this "advice" about "it hasn't made me sick so it must be good." is as dangerous as unprotected sex. If you sell untested milk how far do you think that "you might want to pasteurize it" disclaimer would get you in Court?
Somatic cell count does increase thru a lactation. How much puss do you want to drink?

[dkdairygoats]

I use to give milk to a lady with children allergic to cow's milk. She wanted it unpastuerized. In Michigan it is illegal to sell raw milk, so I gave it to her and she "donated" money towards grain. I never tested it (besides the California Mastitis Test), but I did test my goats for CAE and Johne's and only gave milk from the negative ones. I was very careful to be as clean as possible and get the milk cold as quickly as possible. This went on for 2 years and she never had a problem with her kids getting sick.

I would not dare to say that milk is fine just because it doesn't make one person sick. It has been proven that milk carries germs, which is why only pastuerized milk is sold in stores. However if the person is specifically requesting raw milk....well, it depends how well you know and trust them. Would they sue if something happened?

[ozark_jewels]

Needing to pasturize good raw milk before feeding it to children is simply hogwash. I was raised on raw milk, my siblings were all raised on raw milk, my Dad was raised on raw milk, most of my friends were raised on raw milk, my grandparents were raised on raw milk. We all still drink raw milk.
Raw healthy milk is good for you.
Have healthy animals, milk in a clean enviroment, strain and chill your milk quickly, drink it within a week.
Selling raw milk is something else. Some places its completely illegal, other places you can sell it. Some places you can only sell it for animal consumption......whichever you decide, I would only sell or give milk to people you trust.

[farm mom]

Yes, it is legal to sell raw milk here. You can not have more than nine lactating goats (or three cows) and the consumer must pick it up at the farm and you can not advertise.

I don't have a problem with not testing with my own family but if I was to sell (which there is a big demand here) I didn't want to get sued, especially since we own our own successful lighting store here in our town. But I understand what you mean about the frequency of testing. It could be fine one week and pick something up another week and who can afford constant testing? I guess I will have to ask around at a few people I know that sell raw goats milk and one that sells raw cows.

I also think it easy to say only sell to those you trust but if someone got seriously ill off of my milk would I really trust them to stay "levelheaded" and not sue me? I'm not so sure. Maybe if you have them sign a contract saying they understand the potential dangers of raw milk? Might still get sued but perhaps it wouldn't go so far?

Hmm, wish it were a hundred years ago!

[mtnmenagerie]

Originally Posted by ozark_jewels

Needing to pasturize good raw milk before feeding it to children is simply hogwash. I was raised on raw milk, my siblings were all raised on raw milk, my Dad was raised on raw milk, most of my friends were raised on raw milk, my grandparents were raised on raw milk. We all still drink raw milk.
Raw healthy milk is good for you.
Have healthy animals, milk in a clean enviroment, strain and chill your milk quickly, drink it within a week.
Selling raw milk is something else. Some places its completely illegal, other places you can sell it. Some places you can only sell it for animal consumption......whichever you decide, I would only sell or give milk to people you trust.

AMEN ozark!

i never went a day in my life without drinking raw milk - along with everyone else in my family.
anything you come in contact with carry's germs. but i guarantee if raw milk was as unsafe and unhealthy as the government would have us believe... the human race would have faced extinction a long time ago.

[smwon]

You know… it is hard... we hear so much about how unsafe raw milk is and yet we hear about how good it is for us… I enjoy reading about raw milk and those who take the plunge and drink it. Your post Emily is perfect and very much in line with the way I think…