Goat milk vs cow milk

[MvLittrell]

I want either a goat or cow for milk, cheese, butter, etc. which tastes better cause ive never had goats milk? Are the milking rules for a cow the same as a goat, like milking twice a day? I know goats are less to deal with and ive had goats before, i may get a goat now and a cow later when i have the facilities for one let me know what yall think!



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[BlackWillowFarm]

The first thing you need to do is taste raw goats milk, then raw cows milk to see if you have a preference. It's a personal choice and you'll get answers from both sides saying they like one or the other better. IMO cows milk is more versatile for cream, butter, cheese and not as sensitive to temperature fluctuations as goats milk. I started with goats and switched to cows. Fencing, feeding and handling have to be taken into consideration too. How much milk do you need each day? Is one or two gallons enough or could you use more? You're right that either will need to be milked twice a day but there are ways around that too.

Get a taste of the milk before you do anything.

[mrs whodunit]

Imo both goats and cows can be milked once a day. We either leave the kids or calf with the mom and seperate 12 hours before milking.

I was always taught cow milking is very rigid... from having our own andcaring for a friends I realized cows are flexable.

[Lizza]

It's not really that one tastes better then the other that is the most important in cow versus goat. They both taste good and you get use to the taste of either. Cow milk is more versatile.

The thing to consider is taking care of the animals. Cows outweigh goats by about 700 pounds. How much pasture do you have for your cow? Also since cows are just so much larger, they are physically harder, you can for the most part over power your goat, you will never be able to over power your cow. Not that they are bad animals per se (or they shouldn't be) it's just that they are large animals.

Cows also give huge amounts of milk, mine gave about 4 gallons a day, and that was milking 1x a day. You need to make plans for that milk because it will over take your frig in a few days.

Lastly which one do you enjoy the most, milk animals are the most personal of all livestock. You will be seeing them 1-2x a day year round, working with them very intimately. This is not a question anyone can answer but you and one that has no right answer, just a personal preference. Personally, I prefer cows, but that is just me.

[BlackWillowFarm]

Originally Posted by morningstar

It's not really that one tastes better then the other ......

I don't like goats milk or cheese. Never could get used to the taste of the milk and I tried, really I did. Ice cold it was fine, but after that, I could hardly swallow it. Cream in your coffee or milk in your cereal? Bleck. That's just me. More people on this planet drink goats milk than cows milk. Best advice I can give is, taste it before you buy your goats.

[Lizza]

Originally Posted by BlackWillowFarm

I don't like goats milk or cheese. Never could get used to the taste of the milk and I tried, really I did. Ice cold it was fine, but after that, I could hardly swallow it. Cream in your coffee or milk in your cereal? Bleck. That's just me. More people on this planet drink goats milk than cows milk. Best advice I can give is, taste it before you buy your goats.

You are probably right, I guess I was thinking that first day ice cold. I never could put it in my cereal either or coffee. I once tried hot chocolate, blech. I know people do it but ick, warm goat milk is not something I enjoy. But to drink it cold from the frig is really good. Maybe that is why I like cows better . Although personally I just like cows personality and I like taking care of them.

It should be noted that raw cows milk from your cow (especially say Jersey with much higher butterfat) tastes MUCH different then the white stuff you buy at the store. It also takes some getting use to if you aren't use to it.

[chewie]

I like both milks, but as other mentioned, goats are far easier and cheaper for me to keep. the cow I had gave 4 gallons per milking, twice a day. i raised calves on her milk, 9 one summer. and I do miss the butter, I just can't seem to get enough goat cream for butter.

[CaliannG]

Hmmm, ya'll are the opposite of me.

I prefer goat cream in my coffee. I prefer goat milk on my cereal. I also prefer goat milk in hot chocolate....

I think it depends upon the level of richness that you are accustomed to. If you like skim milk from the store (or 1%-2%), then you are going to think that your cow's milk, once you have skimmed off the cream, is absolutely *delicious*!

However, if you prefer whole milk from the store, and have been known to pour a little half-n-half in with the milk on your cereal, and the heavy cream in your fridge is for your coffee, then you will probably find goat milk absolutely wonderful!

There are trade offs. With a cow, you have the super large size, and higher feed bill. If you don't have a use for 4-10 gallons a day of milk (depending upon breed), then you are going to be drowning in milk and throwing a lot away. However, if you are thinking, "ONLY 4-10 gallons a day? I guess I could get by with that", then yes, the cow is for you.

Anything you can make with cow milk, you can make with goat milk. Sometimes, though, you need a little help from a centrifugal cream separator. Gallon to gallon, goats put more butterfat into their milk than cows do, and you can make butter, whipped creams, cream cheese, sour cream, etc., with it. You have to have the special separator to get it all out, though, which costs anywhere from $175-$500, depending upon brand and build. (I have a cheap, mostly plastic, $175 one, and I am here to say, it does the job just fine.)

I might add that, according to my daughter and my foster-daughter, if you run goat milk through a separator, it tastes just like the skim milk that they prefer....so I don't know if the taste means as much as the thickness.

There is also initial cost. Two nice, healthy, middle-of-the-road, productive, registered does will set you back, at most, $500 each. (We're not talking a doeling who had both Dam and Sire as Superior Genetics, Grand Champion, Elites....that will cost you a pretty penny. Just healthy, solid, registered does.) So, two milking does, giving you about 3/4 of a gallon to 2 1/2 gallons per day, depending upon their lines and management, plus an el cheapo cream separator, is going to set you back about $1200, tops. And depending upon your area, maybe less. (I have seen nice, registered does go for $250 each)

A good, solid milking cow is going to cost you a bit more than that. ~smiles~

Feed costs are also important. A cow will consume 45lbs + of feed per day, 12+ lbs of that will be in grain concentrates. A goats consumes 6lbs+ of feed per day, of which 2-3lbs will be in grain (unless she is a super high producer, then she will eat more)

So, honestly, buy a cow if you have a use for all of the milk, and if you prefer skim or % milk. If you don't have a use for all that milk though, and/or you prefer whole milk or richer, get goats.

[Awnry Abe]

I like both, and like one better than the other depending on which way the wind blows. I grew up with a guernsey, but have a Nubian goat now. If you have 1 cow vs 1 goat, you are going to have much more milk to handle with the cow. Both animals are very easy to handle, in my opinion, relative to their non-dairy counterparts. Even though a cow requires more grazing area, I would say that the cow's facilities are a little less intensive to build and maintain. I would also venture to say that the total cost of ownership, excluding land, would be more for a goat. My dairy cows are still yearling heifers. I may be in for a rude surprise when I get around to milking them next spring. Assuming that to be true, one would seriously want to consider a cow over a goat given the right acreage. HOWEVER, goats bring an intrinsic joy to my day that cows do not. You can't put a price tag on that...

[ozark_jewels]

Goats are harder to fence in, need their hooves trimmed, need good housing, are more susceptable to parasites. They are also easier to handle (being small), are easier to keep on small acreage, and are cheaper to buy and feed.
They are picky eaters and will need better hay than your average cattle hay.
Goats do better on brush than on pasture. Fed well, a good milking goat will give you 1-2 gallons of milk at most. Usually closer to 1 gallon.

Cows do not need hoof trimmings, rarely need wormed(we worm our cows maybe once every couple years), are easy to fence, do not need shelter except in the very worst weather. They prefer to graze, and need pasture, not brush. They are also very large, need space, are messier than goats. Are not that picky when it comes to hay. Unlike goats, they will pick up and eat what falls on the ground. Compared to goats they are vacuum cleaners.

Depending on the cow and the breed, she will give 2-8 gallons a day. Rarely will a home milker on minimal grain give 10 gallons and many do not even give 4 gallons. Feed for what you want. Do not buy a Holstien unless you can actually *use* 7-10 gallons of milk a day. Buy a Jersey or a Jersey crossbred.
Also, a good little homemilker doesn't need to be fed much grain if you are not wanting tons of milk. Our home Jerseys routinely got 2-3 lbs of grain twice a day and they gave 2-6 gallons of milk daily. Of course they were on pasture or free-choice hay. So feed for what you want. Contrary to what the feed companies want you to think, cows do not *need* large amounts of grain to live comfortably. Its all about your goals.

As to the tastes of goat vs cow milk?? Both are good. I grew up on Jersey milk and for me, there is NOTHING better. No need to skim all the cream off. Skim off half the cream to save for butter, shake the rest up with the milk.....oh the frothy goodness!!!
Goats milk is a little less easy. It needs to be handled delicately and chilled quickly, then it is delicious. If not handled properly it can taste, well, "goaty" is the best description. But handled properly it is good.
If you do not skim all the cream of cows milk, it will actually taste richer than your average goats milk. All depends on what you want.
Just remember before making your decision, to taste RAW goats milk and RAW cows milk. The pasturized version of either tastes very different from the raw version. Especially cows milk. Nothing compares to real whole raw milk, goat or cow. Yum.

So decide which your situation is better for.

Really, a lot depends on what appeals to you personally too, I mean the animal itself, not just the milk. Remember, you will be milking this animal at least once a day, if not twice, for many, many months in a row. You better LIKE the animal or you will both be miserable.

I love my cows. We have always had cows(well, since I was about 6), but if I HAD to choose between goats or cows(heaven forbid), I'd go with goats. I simply enjoy their personalities more. But I sure would miss that Jersey milk!

[Otter]

Just wanted to point out, when you are milk-tasting, get specific. Holstein milk is not exactly the same as Jersey milk, this doesn't surprise most people in the know.
But Nubian milk and Alpine milk - also different.

Personally, LaMancha milk is my least favorite, and Nubian my favorite. Some people say there is no difference at all between those two breeds, and for some people, they can taste one.

Once you've narrowed it that far, if you're buying one that's already milking, taste her milk. Lots of people remember to do this with a goat - do it with a cow too. "Goaty" milk has NOTHING on "cowy" milk . That, my friend, is a taste you will never forget (no matter how desperately bad you want to)

Spend some time with both and see what you enjoy. And there is no law against both. While I love my goats, for a while now, it seems the Universe is conspiring to keep me in a state of Cow Envy, but one day I will have one.

[Zilli]

I love my LaMancha milk; I've never had a problem with it and it is still good after a week in the refrigerator. I drink it fresh (although I'm not much of a milk drinker) and I have it on my Cheerios and oatmeal and I eat the yogurt with fruit and granola........YUM!

Although I have never had a cow (I always wanted one - guess it just wasn't in the cards), I have been able to get fresh, cream-on-top cow milk off the farm from time to time. And the only thing that I can think of that I prefer the cow milk over the goat milk is that nice thick layer of YELLOW cream. I do make butter using the cream from my goat milk, but it takes a while to get enough to do much with (I would love to have a separator) - I skim the cream and put it in a jar in the freezer, and when I have a pint, I thaw it and put it in a quart jar and shake.

[LoneStrChic23]

Definately agree that you should taste milk from both before investing.

With goats, I've found milk varies from goat to goat, even within the same breed..... I've had milk from a Nubian that tasted like skim milk when compared to the milk I get from my Alpines. I've milked a variety of goat breeds and the worst milk ever came from a Nubian x Saanen cross doe.... I also owned a french Alpine doe with strong flavored milk, her daughter had milk that was strong too, so both were culled (so far to date, I've never had bad milk from my American Alpines). Flavor also depends on how the milk was handled, & health of the goat so when you go tasteing, find a clean source....

As for cows, I would love a lil Mini Jersey cow just for the cream (ok, and I'd like one just so I can look at it... They are so pretty!)

I get cream from my goats, but I have to skim & freeze it for a few days to get enough for butter & such (no separator here).... I don't have much space, so a cow wouldn't be ecconomical for me, plus cleaning up cow patties isn't on my list of favorite activities...... If I'm on poop duty, I'd rather rake tiny berries.....

Goats are harder to fence in, and at times can seem high maintenance, but I like their personalities

[Cliff]

Originally Posted by Otter

Just wanted to point out, when you are milk-tasting, get specific. Holstein milk is not exactly the same as Jersey milk, this doesn't surprise most people in the know.
But Nubian milk and Alpine milk - also different.

Personally, LaMancha milk is my least favorite, and Nubian my favorite. Some people say there is no difference at all between those two breeds, and for some people, they can taste one.

Once you've narrowed it that far, if you're buying one that's already milking, taste her milk. Lots of people remember to do this with a goat - do it with a cow too. "Goaty" milk has NOTHING on "cowy" milk . That, my friend, is a taste you will never forget (no matter how desperately bad you want to)

Spend some time with both and see what you enjoy. And there is no law against both. While I love my goats, for a while now, it seems the Universe is conspiring to keep me in a state of Cow Envy, but one day I will have one.

Yes please be aware that some goat's milk is pretty strongly goaty tasting. I don't buy it when people say that every goat's milk can be good if they have proper minerals, etc. They are goats. Just like cows are cows and their milk can taste "cowy," goat milk can taste goaty. Some breeds were even bred over time towards having that stronger taste for cheese making.

I've had milk from different cow breeds and from different goat breeds (all except lamancha) For me, I like Jersey and Nubian milk the best. I don't like all Nubian milk I've tried, but most is ok.

[MvLittrell]

so what do y'all think about pasteurizing it? does that take care of the "goaty " or "cowy" taste?


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[BlackWillowFarm]

The heat from pasteurization will bring out the unwanted flavors in the milk.

Cow's milk isn't "cowy" unless something is off with the cows health or they've eaten something in the pasture that affects the taste, like onion tops or certain weeds.

I didn't have my goats long enough to know if their milk is affected the same way or not.

I have Jersey's and people who are new to raw milk have said to them it tastes like melted ice cream because it's so thick and rich. My husband prefers skimmed milk so I put some in a sun tea jar where the cream rises to the top and he can get his skimmed from the spigot at the bottom. We use the risen cream for coffee and I make butter with any extra.

[LoneStrChic23]

Nope! I can NOT drink pasteurized goat's milk.... I've tried pasteurizing a few different ways, and I've had others pasteurized goat's milk & to me, it's all nasty!

I can smell the difference..... Hubby says I'm crazy and there is no smell difference, but to me, I can smell something different in pasteurized goat's milk.... Or perhaps I'm just weird? Dunno...

I handle my goat's milk in a sterile manner & chill quickly.... Never goaty, just creamy goodness

The only fresh cow's milk I've ever had was raw, so I can't comment there. Of course I've had store bought milk, but prefer the taste of fresh milk...

[BlackWillowFarm]

Originally Posted by LoneStrChic23

Nope! I can NOT drink pasteurized goat's milk.... I've tried pasteurizing a few different ways, and I've had others pasteurized goat's milk & to me, it's all nasty!

I can smell the difference..... Hubby says I'm crazy and there is no smell difference, but to me, I can smell something different in pasteurized goat's milk.... Or perhaps I'm just weird? Dunno...

I can tell the difference too. Not everyone can. You're not crazy!

[Sonshine]

I can't handle cow's milk due to being lactose intolerant, so when we got our goats it was wonderful to finally be able to eat cereal and have hot chocolate and icecream and cheese, etc.

[Zilli]

Originally Posted by LoneStrChic23

Nope! I can NOT drink pasteurized goat's milk.... I've tried pasteurizing a few different ways, and I've had others pasteurized goat's milk & to me, it's all nasty!

I can smell the difference..... Hubby says I'm crazy and there is no smell difference, but to me, I can smell something different in pasteurized goat's milk.... Or perhaps I'm just weird? Dunno...

I handle my goat's milk in a sterile manner & chill quickly.... Never goaty, just creamy goodness

The only fresh cow's milk I've ever had was raw, so I can't comment there. Of course I've had store bought milk, but prefer the taste of fresh milk...

I used to pasteurize the milk for the bottle babies, and so by extension, for the human family as well.

And I agree with you - I can tell the difference and I MUCH prefer raw.

I'm happy with my "poor man's cow." Since it is just me and my one son here (and at seventeen, he has one foot out the door - probably headed for enlistment in the Navy), I am already swimming in the milk I get from my one milker (5 1/2 months into her lactation, she's giving between six and seven pounds a day); I can't imagine what I would do with whatever a good cow gives (five or six gallons a day?). Yikes!