Too much milk!! Need your opinion Please

jerryf · #1 04/03/11, 11:20 PM

I have two Alpine does 4 and 5 yrs old. Both fresh,,,,,,,I use 2 quarts a day,,I can't swallow and have a feeding tube....at 2 qts my weight stays constant.. getting 8 quarts...have 40 quarts in the freezer..... Can I cut back to once a day milking? Cut back on grain- but I have heard a good doe--and these are-- will milk of their body to skeletons without grain. Feed only hay? Don't want to add to my chores with calves, bottle lambs ect.....Sell one doe? To top it off I have my right pointer finger in a splint..yes I am right handed...hand was kicked by a wild lamb while loading for market....tendons ruptures On Thursday I will find out if I need surgery...milking with one hand.....sell both?

Jerry

mpete · #2 04/03/11, 11:40 PM

You can easily go to once a day milking... I only feed grain on the stand. The thing with having only one milker is what happens when you dry her off for breeding... ??? With 2 milkers you can stagger breeding so you always have one in milk. Whatever your choice is, good luck...
And ******OUCHIE!!!!!!******* Sorry you are going through that! It makes my fingers ache just thinking about it! **Wishing Healing Your Way***

westbrook · #3 04/04/11, 12:01 AM

talk to all the vets.... many people with "c" sections on dogs and cats will buy from you.

contact your local kennel clubs.. let them know you have goats milk!

you will be sold out in no time!

make cheese! mozzarella is easy....

http://greenaprons.wordpress.com/201...arella-cheese/

chamoisee · #4 04/04/11, 12:07 AM

Well, if i lived nearby I would come over and help you with the milking. :-( Maybe there is someone here who can??

Laverne · #5 04/04/11, 02:11 AM

I'm so sorry about your hand.
I make cheddar cheese twice a week with my two does milking. That uses up 8-9 gallons a week. Regular and Jalapeno cheddar.

TSYORK · #6 04/04/11, 09:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Laverne

I'm so sorry about your hand.
I make cheddar cheese twice a week with my two does milking. That uses up 8-9 gallons a week. Regular and Jalapeno cheddar.

Recipe????? please!

TroutRiver · #7 04/04/11, 09:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TSYORK

Recipe????? please!

ditto!

Yes, make cheese! Or sell some of your excess milk! Although with only having one hand to milk with, it may be easier to dry one of them off, or start milking once a day.

AuntKitty · #8 04/04/11, 10:12 AM

Maybe there is someone in your area who makes goat milk soap and will buy the extra milk from you. Then you could use that money to pay someone to help with milking.

Kitty

JJFarmer · #9 04/04/11, 10:47 AM

We make fresh cheese, yogurt and buttermilk out of all our extra milk. I have yet to try hard cheese mostly just because I don't think my family has the patients to wait for it.

Once a day milking is possible and will cut back on the amount of milk you're getting.

Wolf Flower · #10 04/04/11, 10:50 AM

If you have other animals, goat milk is great for all of them. When I have too much, I let it sit out to clabber, and feed it to my chickens. The dogs and cats like it, too.

You can definitely cut back to once a day milking, it should make things a lot easier on you. The does should adapt and start producing a little less. I cheat by leaving kids on their mothers and milking once a day.

mpete · #11 04/04/11, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Laverne

I'm so sorry about your hand.
I make cheddar cheese twice a week with my two does milking. That uses up 8-9 gallons a week. Regular and Jalapeno cheddar.

I would like the recipe also!!!

LaManchaPaul · #12 04/04/11, 01:12 PM

Laverne, If you're sending your recipe PM, please send it to me as well. Thanks. I do look forward to cheddar cheese.

I've been successful with only two cheeses:

One gallon of milk filtered and not refregerated. Queso Blanco ( barely touch the spoon in liquid rennett -not even a drop and a quarter cup of apple cider vinegar) and Queso Fesco (same as above without the vinegar) Uuuummmmm good. The blanco doesn't melt into liquid so it really good on quesedillas. The fresco is good crumbled on top of a salad. Oh my!

I wasn't successful with the recatto (1/4 teaspoon citric acid at 200degF)

Sonshine · #13 04/04/11, 01:35 PM

I want the recipe for the cheddar and jalepeno to.

PrettyPaisley · #14 04/04/11, 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sonshine

I want the recipe for the cheddar and jalepeno to.

Me, too!

MrsSurplus · #15 04/04/11, 06:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PrettyPaisley

Me, too!

And me - PLEASE!

Oakshire_Farm · #16 04/04/11, 08:11 PM

and me

The Tin Mom · #17 04/04/11, 08:42 PM

Me too, me too!!!

I have been making chevre and using a lot - but tomorrow am sending a bunch of milk to my future tomato patch... I would really prefer cheddar...

motdaugrnds · #18 04/04/11, 11:18 PM

I know what I'ld do if I were in your condition and needed the milk. I would get rid of one of the does, replacing it with a weather. Then I would milk the one doe twice a day and what milk I did not use, I would freeze for use when she is not giving milk. This way, you have milk all year long without spending as much time as 2 does would take.

Laverne · #19 04/05/11, 02:10 AM

I put the process I do for the cheddar on my website. Link below.

I'm sorry Jerry that you can't swallow.

mekasmom · #20 04/05/11, 06:56 AM

I would freeze the milk to save for later use.