Problem with milk

[Sherrynboo]

My girls just kidded about 4 weeks ago and all had bucklings. The milk is tasting goaty now. I do have the buck in with them but he was in with them all through rut and the milk was fine. Is it because of the bucklings plus the buck being in with them? I have got to solve this problem! My husband won't touch the milk now and I have a time choking it down if I don't have enough flavorings in it!

Sherry in GA

[mygoat]

How fast are you chilling the milk? I had this problem till I started chilling the milk as fas as possible.

Clean milking procedures as well as quick chilling, and you should have no problem.

Also, get that adult buck out of there and get the bucklings out as soon as you see their first erection - you don't want your ladies bred back too early.

[Sherrynboo]

I guess I am showing my ignorance here but wouldn't they have to come in heat before they could become pregnant? I am doing everything the same as I was last year. The only difference is all the young bucklings hanging around now. I do have them for sale and hopefully have one sold now.

Sherry in GA

[Vicki McGaugh TX Nubians]

Bucks do not make bucky milk unless you hands have buck on them and it is getting in the milk or as the milk goes through the air of the barn and then sits uncovered in your barn while you finish up chores.

A really good trick is to clean the udder and squirt milk from one side onto the ground and then info a clean cup, taste it, now rinse the cup and do the same for the otherside. Becaue if the milk tastes fine warm with no aftertaste than it's you. If it tastes bad coming straight from the doe it is her. It's subclinical staph, she is wormy, it's your hay or something you are feeding her...linseed meal, cottonseed anything, too much molassas etc... So it's detective work really. Vicki

[topside1]

Sherry, our ambient air is getting warmer every week so chilling the milk quickly is more important than ever. Bucks stinking up the milk, an old tale in my opinion....I'm milking six does, the buck is with them 24/7 minus milking times, never a goatie, buckie taste. My buck also runs with the gals all year long and always breeds my does in Sept or Oct. Never have I had an out of cycle breeding. Even if they were bred back eariler, who cares. If your goats are all of adult age and in perfect health than being bred back earily should be a non-issue....Look at the bright side, you may be enjoying great tasting milk year round....

[Sherrynboo]

Thanks ya'll. I will try tasting it when I milk to see if it has an off flavor. You are right Vicki, a lot of detective work!

Sherry in GA