Do I need a strainer?

[GoddessKristie]

I'm wondering if I need a strainer like this or if I can use something that's already in my kitchen. What do you use?

Also, do I need a strip cup, or is there something I can use for that as well? I have never owned my own goats to milk. I have milked them, but never owned them so, I'm not sure what I really need.

[pookshollow]

For straining milk, I use a stainless steel canning funnel with a milk filter folded into a cone shape inside it. It fits nicely into the wide-mouth canning jars that I use for storing the milk. I used to use coffee filters but they are so slow. The actual milk filters are more expensive, but worth it.

As for the strip cup, I bought one, never use it. The first couple of squirts go to the barn cats, and their dish is stainless steel, so if there were any lumps they would be quite visible.

My milk pails are stainless steel compost buckets, with handles and lids from Lee Valley Tools - about $20 each.

[happygoatfarms]

We use the same type strainer as pook, but still use the old coffee filters. Pook, where do you get your milk filters? And don't tell me Hoegger! I won't buy from them again...took 9 weeks to get a milk pail in with excuse after excuse. And then the pail was junk.

Kristie - you can use something in your home for a strainer, but you will probably be more pleased with a stainless steel strainer. Shop around - there are better prices and certainly better service.

Strip cup? Yep, the barn cats get that first bit, so we just spray it into their stainless bowls. They love it!

[Alice In TX/MO]

I'd get the strainer and use real milk filters. Coffee filters are too slow.

I use bathroom paper cups instead of a strip cup. Disposable. Squirt in, swirl and look, toss.

[Goatguy]

It depends how big you are on the whole "cleanliness" thing. I just use some doubled over cheese cloth, or an old t-shirt. Although, half the time I'll just drink it, hair and all, its not so hard to get used to. I would say if you plan to pasuerize, then strain with a dairy strainer, if not, than just take the simple way with a clean tshirt or cheesecloth!

[mygoat]

Yes, you'll need some way to strain, wether you make it or buy it. I like the stainless steel seamless storebought ones because they're easier to clean and don't have seams to get full of nasties. I have the mini strainer from hoegger and love it because I only am milking 2 does. Next year when I have 5+ to milk I'll be getting the larger SS strainer.

As for a strip cup, I just squirt the first 2-5 streams from each teat into our cat's dish and then examine it. Plus, my cat loves it.

For cheap, seamless stainless milking buckets, just go to your local family dollar and get 8 qt stock pots for about 6.00 each. For totes, you can get the larger size like a 13qt.

And for a cheaper pasteurizer for cae prevention, use an electric turkey frier if you can't find a cheap used one - I got my turkey frier for 150.00 from Cabelas - electric, digital display, timer... and 150.00 is alot cheaper than most pasteurizers and we can use it for cooking, scalding chickens during butcher...

[suzyhomemaker09]

Unless you are only milking 2 goats the little " busy Liz" model is not good enough for use.
I have the big filter and that one as well for when I'm down to milking only 1 or 2 does. Lots of places sell seamless stainless steel buckets as either animal feed buckets or like the above poster mentioned as a compost pail.

[nubiansinny]

I have the old plastic version of that funnel.It's worth it. I tried to rig somthing but it gets messy if you can't hold the filter tight. The milk seeps up and runs down the side of the jar.
I get milk filters at TRS and cut them in half making two triangles. They fit fine this way and it doubles the amount.
Tractor supply also sells ss buckets in the dog area. You have nigie's right. They have small ones that should fit under them.
You could strip onto what ever you use to pre-milk wash with.Paper towel facecloth whatever.

[canadiangirl]

Originally Posted by happygoatfarms

And don't tell me Hoegger! I won't buy from them again...took 9 weeks to get a milk pail in with excuse after excuse. And then the pail was junk.

Great! Wish I had seen this a month ago. I ordered stuff in March, strip cup and other cheese items. Last I was told was it shipped on April 14, but still no sign of it here. I don't think it got shipped on the 14th or it would have been here by now. If something gets held up I can understand this, I just appreciate communication.
Anyway to answer the original poster- I plan on using a strip cup but am not right now. : ( I have a stainless funnel and get milk filters from our farm supply store.

[Sasha]

I have a ss strainer as well--it's worth having. I use the milk filters as coffee filters strain too slowly for me. I got the strainer from Hoegger's but I agree with others and won't buy from them again. The milk pail I bought from there didn't last a season before the handle broke. Worthless.

I buy from Caprine Goat Supply now.

I've never used a strip cup. I give the first milk to the cats too.

[pookshollow]

I get the milk filters from TSC or the main branch of my feed store if I happen to be that way. The local branch, for some strange reason, doesn't have them on the shelf. I know that if I asked, they'd bring them in for me, though. Joys of being on a first-name basis with the staff.

[GoddessKristie]

I was in TSC over the weekend and ours didn't have any milking supplies at all I did take a look at the SS dog bowls and found one that I think will be just right for under $5!
I was dispointed. I'm glad for the discussion about Hoeger! I was going to order from them, but not now!
Since the milk is for my son I'd like to be super clean with it.
So, one strainer and whatever I can find for a strip cup! I thought there might be something special about the strip cup dairy suppliers sell because it has that screen on it. I'm sure I would be able to see anything odd in there, though.
Awesome! Thanks guys!

[Spinner]

I use a piece of clean white cotton to strain. That's how we did it in the old days before someone came up with the idea to make a special style of strainer and filters.

I use a baby wipe to clean the teat, then the first squirt goes onto the white wipe.

I don't have a fancy milk pan either, I milk into a jar. As soon as I'm finished milking, the jar comes in and gets poured into another jar using the white cotton towel to strain, then the jar goes into the frig.

I never use a container larger than a quart. It lets the milk cool faster than a large container would.

[GoddessKristie]

Spinner, that makes a lot of sense. How do you clean your cotton for the next milking?

[Rockytopsis]

This is what I use, a ss pail with lid and handle that came from wally world. I use a bungee to hold a men's 100% cotton large hankie, this catches any hair or hay or what ever that would fall into the milk. Once it is in the house I do restrain with a ss funnel and filters. However I would think the hankie would work just fine. You could always use 2 hankies.

[wildhorse]

I have to agree with every one else we ordered a milk pail from hoeggers it took forever to get here and its a piece of junk its super thin ss. I paid 399.00 for there dual pasteurizer it was suppose to be new Not it was used and it leaked were someone had tried to wield it!!! Try to stick with caprine supply at least they know quality and they ship quickly.

[nehimama]

I'm so simple

I use a "gold" mesh coffee filter - brand new, never used for coffee. Gets scrubbed really well after the milking is done. Works well for me. The filter nestles nicely into a plastic canning funnel, which nestles nicely into any jar I'm planning to use for chilling/storage.

I'm surprised and dismayed at the comments about poor customer service and shoddy supplies from Hoeggers. My experiences with them have always been positive. However I do not have/use any of their ss milking ware. In the catalog, does it state that their ss products are from India or another country? That could account for the shoddiness.

NeHi

[Spinner]

GoddessKristie, I just wash it in the clothes washer with soap and bleach. Then dry it in the sunshine and fresh air. Fold it up and put it in the stack with the others. I have a dozen white cotton dish towels that I use.

Rockytopsis, I like the idea of using a mans clean white hankie. They are so much easier to find in the stores than the old fashion dish towels.

nehimama, I tried using a coffee filter and the milk just kind of set there instead of draining down into the jar. It took so long that I got tired of waiting on it. My coffee filters were the cheapo kind, maybe the good brand works better.

[Lizza]

Just wanted to add that last year was the last year I will ever order from Hoeggers. It was a horrible experience, I had a big order, and they shipped everything but the milk bucket and just put "on backorder" but CHARGED me for it! It came in like 3 months later and I had to keep calling and keep calling, never once anything from them and they were always so surprised that I had received nothing and had been charged. I only buy from Caprine now. Sorry for the rant!

For straining I prefer the milk filters and the ss strainer. No strip cup here either, I just squirt some on my papertowels to release the plug and inspect the milk.

[Alice In TX/MO]

Just a note:

I was reading the Missouri rules on dairies and milking. Metal mesh strainers are not allowed. There's no explanation.

Anybody know why?