Raw or pasteurize

[kathy22]

What do you think about goat milk? Should it be raw or pasteurize it?
I am a little scared to use it raw, maybe it is all the false info that has been drilled into me.
What cha think?

[pookshollow]

Is it coming from your own goats?

We've been using raw milk for the last 3 1/2 years - no problems. I'm careful to wash udders, sanitize the buckets, jars etc., filter and cool the milk quickly, and if I have any doubts about the milk (fly lands in it, hoof lands in it, or gets close), it goes to the chickens.

[prairiedog]

I use it raw all the time

[Chaty]

I do too and no problems...its better for you raw than pasturized...

[Patty0315]

Didn't we just have a thread like this ? try to find it and read it.


Patty

[julieq]

We highly suggest, "The Untold Story of Milk", by Ron Schmid, N.D. We've enjoyed raw goat milk (from our own tested, clean herd) for over a decade, and now enjoy raw cow milk, butter and cream from our own 'house' cow. DH has experienced a drastic healing from degenerative disc disease of his spine since we switched to raw dairy products.

[Alice In TX/MO]

We test our goats for CL and CAE (and we'll add some other tests in next time), and we drink the milk raw.

It's a personal choice.

[billooo2]

As far as I know, uncontaminated raw milk from a healthy animal has never hurt anyone.

Here is a link to a site with a lot of information:

http://www.realmilk.com/

[kathy22]

Originally Posted by julieq

We highly suggest, "The Untold Story of Milk", by Ron Schmid, N.D. We've enjoyed raw goat milk (from our own tested, clean herd) for over a decade, and now enjoy raw cow milk, butter and cream from our own 'house' cow. DH has experienced a drastic healing from degenerative disc disease of his spine since we switched to raw dairy products.

thanks i'll check that out!

[steff bugielski]

If these are you animals you can send some milk off to be tested for any bacteria or pathogens. Contact your local cornell extension. I use Quality Milk Product Service.
If you are buying from a farm ask to see their test results if licensed.

[jil101ca]

I've only had my milker for 2 weeks so am very new at this. I was pasteurizing my milk because the goats are new to me and I was leary of drinking the raw milk because of the hair and stuff. I found that the pasteurized milk had a very creamy taste to it. Now I am using the milk raw, no more creamy taste. It taste awsome! Nobody has become sick and more in the house are liking the milk.

[QoTL]

Ok have a question for this thread.

What are you raw milk drinkers testing your milk animals for prior to milking?

I REALLY want to milk my doe for some for the fridge, but I haven't tested for TB or Bruc. and I'm a tiny bit scared.

[Alice In TX/MO]

I have tested for CL and CAE. I'll add brucellosis and TB on the next round, but all my goats came from clean herds, so I don't worry.

I'm used to the brucellosis testing from having cattle in the past, and I had a brucellosis free herd.

We don't have fences that adjoin any other herds, so I'm not worried about contamination of that sort.

Edited to add: Two of our milk consumers in this house are immune impaired or suppressed. That has an effect on our purchase decisions on dairy goats. We are very careful who we buy goats from. If you know your goats' history, it helps.

You probably know more about the goats you have and their origins than you do the strawberries and bananas you use to make fruit salad.

[Qvrfullmidwife]

If you are pregnant or feeding a small baby or someone who is immunocompromised read up on listeriosis. It can be triggered in an animal by eating moldy hay or feed (perhaps overlooked in the middle of a bale of hay?). It took me several years before I felt confident that I had enough experience to be aware of early signs of illness before milk from that animal was consumed by my family. All the tests (CAE, CL, the state mandates ones for licensed dairies, etc) wont show this if it has started within the last few days.

Drinking raw or pasteurized is a decision that each family ought to make for themselves and they ought to do it after their own in depth research, not just going off of "hey! I drank it and it tastes great!" because that will be scant comfort if you end up with listeria in your family. Yes, there are benefits, there are also risks, make sure that you know both.

(Credentials:midwife, mother of 11 raw milk drinkers, owner of a dairy that sells both raw and pasteurized milk)

[catdance62]

we drink raw milk from our goats every day.
I try to practice safe handling and cleanliness methods.

[steff bugielski]

TB and brucellosis once a year on any new milkers born here or brought in. Monthly for listeria, E-coli, Salmonella, and more. Cl and cae are not transmitted through milk unless an abcess is in the udder and breaks. NY state tests for any thing that can harm humans. Most things do not pass through milk.

[crazygoatgal]

I always drink my goats milk raw and I am extremely immune suppressed- on chemo and have lupus. Never felt better than when I was drinking raw milk. I get sicker when I go back to store bought cow milk. I haven't been milking in the winter, but may start this coming winter.

[hoofinitnorth]

Another vote for raw and I have a compromised immune system too. I actually feel worse when I run out of milk for a few days. Go figure.

[issylthesthlia]

I'm going to be drinking it raw. I have severe issues with food allergies and I cannot digest anything that has been pasteurized. It has also been suggested to me that it can help my food issues to have the enzymes in the raw goats milk-- even those not dairy-related.