Goat's Milk

HendricksHearth · #1 09/18/09, 06:00 PM

Hi everyone,

I don't own any goats, but I adore them and would love to raise them someday for food, fiber, whatever. Anyhow, I use goat's milk in my handcrafted bath and body items, but I love dairy in general and already purchase farm-fresh to support the local farmsteads. I just recently read about all of the benefits of drinking raw goat's milk and thought I'd give it a go. To make a long story short, I really want to like it, but so far it has been a rocky road. I was told that it would be almost indistinguishable from cow's milk, but I detect a big difference thus far.

To give you background information, the farm I purchased the milk from has Saanen and Alpine dairy goats, I believe. I purchased it by the gallon and it was ice cold. I took it straight home and to the fridge. It seems like the first glass I had the first night was pretty good- not too different from cow's milk, except it had a very slight aftertaste and was creamier. The next day- whoa! It seemed to have a much stronger aftertaste- kind of musky or something. The third day I couldn't even make myself drink it. It did not smell or look spoiled, but had a strong musk taste. It still soaped beautifully and every time I opened the fridge, I looked at it wistfully because it is so white, creamy, frothy, delicious looking, but yick- it did not taste good to me at all.

I decided that maybe if it did not taste good to me as milk, that it would be better as cheese, so I made my first batch of homemade ricotta with the rest of the goat's milk. Bad move- it was a success in that I made my first ricotta, but I made lasagna last night with it and I could taste that nasty musk again!

So, what did I do wrong? Does all goat's milk get like this after less than a day? Is it something specific to Saanen or Alpine goats or for that matter, is there a difference in the taste between dairy breeds? I would appreciate any input.

Thanks!

Lauren

Alice In TX/MO · #2 09/18/09, 06:32 PM

Sounds like older milk. Ours doesn't get goaty for more than a week. Try to get some FRESH milk from another producer.

Laverne · #3 09/18/09, 06:42 PM

My LaManchas have fabulous milk. I've had Alpine and there is a difference. Heard it is a gamble with toggenburgs also. But it really depends on the goat and management.I love to have control over my milk. Clean Mastitis free udders, excellent nuitrition which will put those nutrients in the milk for me. Knowing the cleanliness of my milking habits and proper cooling of the milk. Raw milk not damaged from pasturization. Everyone who trys my milk are really surprised with the excellent flavor and sweetness of it. It lasts for days in the fridge and the cheese is fabulous.

romysbaskets · #4 09/18/09, 06:47 PM

I had a unique experience I would love to share with you. My youngest son, my 4th child, was less then his birth weight at 2 months old, causing a big concerny! He was a nearly nine pound baby at birth and nursed by a Mom, me, who has a very healthy diet! His metabolism was so high, I could not get him to gain weight. I had given fresh goat's milk to my 3rd child to suppliment him with nursing, so I knew to try it. So I opted for this choice, the doctor said my baby was about to be a "failure to thrive" baby!~ Within the first week, this skinny tall baby was instantly healthy and gaining weight successfully. He drank only goats milk for his first two years, no cow's milk. It is very healthy for you! To this day, he does not like cow's milk!

Although I can detect a difference in the goats milk, it is subtle in FRESH only milk (I believe organic practices in their feed and living quarters matter here). The older the milk the stronger the taste! The more you drink it the less you will notice the subtle difference! Go with Alice's advice, find a farm that you know is FRESH.

Enjoy!
Romy
Island Girl
www.romysrealm.blogspot.com/

lamoncha lover · #5 09/18/09, 09:04 PM

My first milker was an alpine and after tasting her milk I anout decided I hated the taste. Salty. skanky and strong aftertaste.Then my lamancha had a baby and her milk is so sweet and awsome tasting. NO aftertaste, They have exact same living conditions..same diet. Not sure why the difference but goat milk should NOT taste like swamp water.

madness · #6 09/18/09, 09:33 PM

I've gotten very picky about fresh milk now. After 5 days, I have a hard time "choking" it down. My husband flat out refuses to drink it at all (unless I sneak it into the cow milk carton if I don't want to run to the store....shhh....). So it's different for each person.

Also, all of our goats have different tasting milk. So it could easily be just that batch of that farm. Do try again!

Madfarmer · #7 09/18/09, 11:02 PM

Mine is from a LaMancha & 2 Nubians. It rarely lasts more than three days, but we've never had an off-flavor. Sometimes it is caused by the individual goat, but usually it's feeding, sanitation, or milk handling.

Madfarmer

Madfarmer · #8 09/18/09, 11:03 PM

Mine is from a LaMancha & 2 Nubians. It rarely lasts more than three days, but we've never had an off-flavor. Sometimes it is caused by the individual goat, but usually it's feeding, sanitation, or milk handling.

Madfarmer

LaManchaPaul · #9 09/19/09, 06:46 AM

OH, Lauren, ISN'T that musky yuck just aweful!! I cringed reading your post. I HATE that smell and NO WAY could I drink milk with that near my nose.

My sensors are keen to that... In my experinence, as goat milk gets older and/or if it isn't kept VERY cold the yuck gradually builds. If it isn't chilled rapidly after milking, the yuck builds. If the gallon wasn't kept COLD when bringing home or in your ref, that would cause a rapid change.

I believe that if the producer didn't wash hands and teats completely. that during this time of year the musk just floats and collects.

I hope that you try again. Consider asking the producer "for today's milk" and carry it home in a cooler, lower the temp in your frig. Really raw goat milk is awesome!
Paul

HendricksHearth · #10 09/19/09, 02:27 PM

Thank you so much for the information and advice! I will try again- maybe I will ask if I can help with the milking a) so I can learn and b) so I can take it straight home in an iced cooler. I don't know if the batch I purchased was milked that day or not either and it sounds like that could have made a difference.

Thank you again!

Lauren

Wiste · #11 09/19/09, 03:23 PM

Hey Lauren, I'm curious where you live since sale of raw goat's milk is illegal in many states in the US. Did the person selling it to you know it was for human consumption? Is their farm certified for Grade A dairy production?

I've been reading David Mackenzie's Goat Husbandry and it seems like there are several things that can cause milk to taste off from diet, to disease, to the doe being in heat. I read that in addition to disbudding (cauterizing the horn buds) that some people also destroy the musk glands because it can contribute to the milk having a goaty flavor.

If you get a chance to see the goats yourself, check out their physical conditions and where they're kept and the cleanliness of the milking parlor. I would be very cautious about drinking milk which is not certified for cleanliness as there are disease (some very serious) that can be passed to humans via the milk as well as chemical contaminants and even medication given to the goats.

Beulah Gardens · #12 09/19/09, 03:41 PM

Okay, first I want to say I love my Alpine... but we don't much care for her milk (saddle after taste). I don't know why but her milk is not as good as the Nubians. We crossed her w/ a Nubian buck and love the milk from her daughters. We keep the Alpine because I love her and she gives a TON of milk. It is easy to hide in cooking. I would try a different breed. Also, if the owner thinks she is selling you milk for soap she may not be as careful as she would if she knew you were drinking it, please make sure you are drinking fresh, safe milk.

DQ · #13 09/19/09, 03:46 PM

I know others disagree but the biggest difference i have found is how much the milk is handled and how much milk fat it seems to contain. and it doesn't seem to keep as long as store bought cows milk. I milk through a filter and it goes in the frig. the more I pour it, stir it, mix it with other milk etc...the more goaty it gets.

Wiste · #14 09/19/09, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DQ

it doesn't seem to keep as long as store bought cows milk.

Store bought cow milk is usually ultra pasteurized which means it's totally dead. It's so dead you can't even make cheese from it because even the good bacteria was killed. This is what makes it last so long.

billooo2 · #15 09/19/09, 07:45 PM

I have Alpines, and have never had a problem with milk not lasting loner than an couple days.....until this year. I bought a thermometer for my rerigerator......and discovered that it was not as cold as it should have been. The shelf life of my milk went up to almost a week!!

Cheryl aka JM · #16 09/19/09, 08:09 PM

I have two girls~ both crosses....an Nubian/who knows what and a Nubian/Saanen. The Nubian X who knows what milk is always sweet and wonderful. But I had a horrible time with the Nubian XSaanen milker. It was nasty~ goaty. I finally figured out (with help from here~ THAK YOU ALL!) that the problem was copper. I copper bolused her and her milk is great now! No idea why the other doe with the same browse and minerals available to her always has sweet milk while this doe had a problem......but the copper bolus made a difference less than 12 hours after I gave her the bolus! NOW~ knowing that.......IF THAT does milk gets to me more than about 4 days old........the taste comes back. So I've taken to freezing her milk to thaw the day before we want that milk.

Same management~ different goats......different taste. Could be that you got milk from a doe that was not using whatever vitamins or minerals as effectively as she could. If the milk tastes good on day one..........freeze what you'll not use in two days and pop it back in the fridge the day before you'll want to drink it or make cheese (I've not tried making cheese yet.......gonna try that soon!)

LFmenagerie · #17 09/19/09, 08:38 PM

copper bolus for better tasting milk! Holy goat! Gosh Cheryl- I wonder if that is why my goat has better milk now. But I think it took longer for mine.
In defence of the Alpine...I had an Alpine that had the most amazing good milk. We did taste tests with anyone that came here and was willing. They always chose hers and drank a huge glass claiming that goats milk is way better than cow milk.
She was CAE pos though and with little land to keep seperate groups, we made the most difficult decision to put her down. She didn't give us a doe but we have a buck from her and hope that he carries that amazing milk gene and passes it to the new does. We will find out this spring with one being big enough to breed this year (we had late kids this year).

LaManchaPaul · #18 09/20/09, 08:56 AM

I love this thread!

DQ · #19 09/20/09, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wiste

Store bought cow milk is usually ultra pasteurized which means it's totally dead. It's so dead you can't even make cheese from it because even the good bacteria was killed. This is what makes it last so long.

absolutly. but I always used a culture when making cheese so its not as if it matters wether its past. or not........I'm not one to rely on whatever happens to be growing in the milk....the first cheeses/yogurt I made were all from store bought cows milk since I didn't want to waste my precious goats milk.

christie · #20 09/20/09, 10:40 PM

Alpines and saanens were bred for cheese making! Goat cheese making that is... where they want that off flavor for the cheese.
Nubians have a higher butter fat then other goats so they tend to have a creamier taste.
I have Nubians and we do taste tests between Org whole cows milk vs raw goat milk. And No one can tell the difference. they usually pick My nubies sweet milk as cows milk.
So handling a cleanliness all plays apart, but I think it may be a breed thing.
Idf you try it again, and your sure its a fresh batch and still is nasty. Then its the breed.

My Goats milk lasts over a week and never gets goaty!
And I have heard not sure if its true.. that raw milk should last longer then pasturised milk. The enzymes in raw milk fight off bacteria. Where the pasturised milk doesn't have those enzymes to fight any bacteria, so it would go bad faster. who knows??