and more milk questions

[Lauri]

I have been told that sometime the buck will effect the flavor of the milk.
If this is true...........
I am considering buying a doe that has been living with a buck.
If her milk has a "goaty" flavor, how long will it take to wear off?

And........

I understand that breed, care, environment can have an effect, but what is the typical age for a doe to no longer be a decent milker.

[nehimama]

In my experience, this isn't true. I have bucks in rut living with my milkers, and do not get a "goaty" flavor to the milk. The most important thing in keeping the taste fresh is IMMEDIATE CHILLING and CLEAN MILKING UTENSILS.

When I'm finished milking, it gets strained, goes IMMEDIATELY into CLEAN jars, then into a 5-gallon bucket of ice water - LOTS of ice and "Blue Ice" packs as well. Within 30 minutes, the milk's temp is down to 38 degrees. Then it goes into the fridge.

That is what works for me.

I can't answer your question about the age, though. Sorry.

[CaliannG]

nehimama is right. I had two bucks and a very bucky wether that ran with my does. I do not have a problem with "goaty" tasting milk, and believe you me, both of my bucks AND my wether SMELLED.

People have different ways of doing it, but CLEAN milking utensils and quick chilling are the keys to good tasting milk.

My milk gets strained and put in its container, and then it immediately goes into the freezer for 10-15 minutes, and then into the refrigerator. The end results are the same: Milk that has been chilled to less than 42 degrees within a 30 minute time period.

The age in which a doe starts dropping in production varies so much on an individual basis that it is hard to tell. Some does never have a cycle quite as good as their second cycle, and other does are still milking strong at 11 years old. "It depends" is again the answer here.

[steff bugielski]

Another buck living with the girls dairy. I have never had a problem.
I do not see the connection between how the buck smells and the taste of milk contained in an udder. Maybe the folks with a problem are not cleaning the udders properly or dipping the teats or not washing their hands.
I also do not milk in the barn. I milk in a separate room that is kept clean. My equipment is clean and sanitized and my milk is cooled to 45 degrees within 2 hours and kept at around 36 degrees there after.

[QoTL]

I've also heard this, but can't tell you from my own experience.

I do know I was given some cheese once that was so nasty I felt like I had LICKED the buck. An hour later I could still smell it It was NAST-Y!
She houses her buck next to the does, and he was in rut, but I can't speak for her handling technique.

My buck is just going into rut now (starting to smell a bit) and I have milkers nearby, so this will be our test

[Pony]

While I, too, have read that a stinky buck can affect the milk, I've never had a problem, and right now, my yearling buck is UBER STINKY and Trub is in full milking glory.

Her milk tastes fine as always.

[ozark_jewels]

Does usually peak in production between the ages of three and six. But they can be good milkers right up into their teens if well taken care of. I have a nine year old Nubian who still gives me almost a gallon a day. And she is a small doe.
I too, have never had a buck effect the flavour of milk.

[RedSonja]

Hrmmm... my reason for not owning a buck is all the people - and books - saying they affect milk flavor if housed with does. But with so many people saying that isn't necessarily so, I'm tempted to start shopping around for a buck.

Enablers, the lot of ya

-Sonja

[Pony]

Originally Posted by RedSonja

Hrmmm... my reason for not owning a buck is all the people - and books - saying they affect milk flavor if housed with does. But with so many people saying that isn't necessarily so, I'm tempted to start shopping around for a buck.

Enablers, the lot of ya

-Sonja

Well, Sonja, I think what you need to do is take a Milk Tour of all the MO goat farms, and taste test the milk to see if you find the bucks affecting the flavor.

You can start out down in the Ozarks by Emily and Susie, then work your way up northwest until you end up here. There are so many of us, if you hit two a day, you might be able to get done in a week or two, but you could probably visit Pygmybabies, Winterrwolf, and me all in one day.

Say! If you do it after Trub is bred, I can sell you a most excellent buck from impressive lines, because you'll be wanting a buck once you see that they have no effect on the milk's flavor.

BWAHahahahaha!

[Alice In TX/MO]

Coso and I are close to Susie's, too.

[Pony]

Originally Posted by Alice In TX/MO

Coso and I are close to Susie's, too.

Every so often I make a subtle hint to Nick that the Ozarks are really quite nice... It's all about my plan for Goat Domination...

BWAHahahahaha!

[julieq]

We've always kept the bucks in our barn with the does and even during rut we don't have a problem with smelly the milk. We feel it's more what you feed them (or don't feed them).

[CarolynRenee]

Glad you posted this thread Lauri!

Right now, I have a wether, buck & a freezer goat in "their" area back behind the house, while the five girls are all up front in "their" area. It's kind'a of a pain having two separate goat places to visit every day & I was thinking of bringing the boys up next to the girls this year to save time.

I'd still have them separated by a chain link fence though, as Mr. Stinky buck is very affectionate & I just cannot deal with him bothering me EVERY stinking (pun intended) second I'm in with the girls. I was a bit concerned about the off-milk flavor from having the buck in there with them, never quite understood how his stink got into her udder though. Going to definately move them all together now, so thanks for all the encouragement!

[Pony]

We have our does and bucks separated by shipping pallet fence. We did have goat fencing, but that got a little silly when Beaux could sort of walk up and over it. LOL!

I have found that our stinky Beaux is easily dissuaded with a quick shot of water from my ever present spray bottle. He doesn't like it at all, and will go away - for awhile.

Bucks are VERY forgiving creatures, though, so he'll be back.

[RedSonja]

Originally Posted by Pony

Well, Sonja, I think what you need to do is take a Milk Tour of all the MO goat farms, and taste test the milk to see if you find the bucks affecting the flavor.

I need a corporate sponsor for The Great Goat Milk Run of 2010 Someone willing to pay my expenses as well as pay for a farmhand to keep up with chores while I'm away. Any volunteers?

Seriously tho, I'd love to travel around visiting other farms and learning from everyone along the way. Maybe one of these years, when the youngest kid's weaned and can go visit Grandma a week or so in the summer...

-Sonja

[Lauri]

Red, since I am the OP, I feel it's only fair for you to take me with you:smiley-laughing013:

[asti]

I've not owned any goats so pardon the questions here, but how could the rumor start that a buck's rut influences a doe's milk?
could it be hormone changes or is it a total crock?
Secondly, I know one can alter the 'base' flavor of chicken eggs by feeding certain items, so... if say cinnamon, ginger, mint or licorice were fed to the doe, wouldn't that effect the milk by removing the 'edge' off the milk?

[Alice In TX/MO]

There are people (not on this board) who don't practice milk house cleanliness. I'd hazard a guess that if your buck is with your does, and you get that stink on your hands, and then you milk without washing, you will have stinky milk.

Plus, in the flawed logic of non-goat people, if anything stinks like a buck, it *must* make the milk stink.

Another logic flaw, if someone has gotten hold of store bought goat milk, then the justification for its nasty taste must be a buck nearby.

[Pony]

Originally Posted by Lauri

Red, since I am the OP, I feel it's only fair for you to take me with you:smiley-laughing013:

I can see the Tour Bus now... BIG ol' thing, shiny and pretty, a huge mural on the side, painted with the major goats breeds dressed as rock stars.



Think the ADGA would sponsor it? We could all be Good Will Ambassadors.

[Alice In TX/MO]