Storing the milk pail away!!!

"SPIKE" · #1 01/01/13, 10:54 AM

Nobody likes to see a grown man cry, but

!!!

My 2 does are bred and it is time to stop milking. Cecelia is due the first of March and Annie goat the first of April. I started milking only once a day a couple of weeks ago. Cecelia has been giving a nice amount of milk at once a day, but she is due in 2 months so it is time for her to have time off. Annie goat started drying up right away when I went to once a day. I had hoped she would provide milk for another month, but I guess not!

I did not have a lot of freezer room and only froze 2 gallons.
I DRANK SOME STORE BOUGHT WHOLE COW MILK MILK THE OTHER DAY AND IT REALLY HAD NO GOOD TASTE!!!
My goats and I have spoiled me! Mid March seems so far away!

SPIKE

Donna1982 · #2 01/01/13, 11:02 AM

I know how you feel. I do not know what I'm more excited for the fresh milk or cute goat babies in a few weeks.

mammabooh · #3 01/01/13, 11:32 AM

Whaaaaa....I'm going to have to dry mine off in a few weeks too. I must get blood drawn and sent in for pregnancy tests first just to make sure, but I'm pretty sure that both of my milkers are bred. Last year, I milked Snicket through, so I didn't have to go without milk. I don't know how we're gonna take it!

"SPIKE" · #4 01/01/13, 11:45 AM

If all goes well with them both being F2s this year, I hope to be able to use one to milk through next year. But that will mean I will have to brave the cold and dark next winter. So we will just have to see. I do not do cold as well as I use to.

SPIKE

harvestmoonfarm · #5 01/01/13, 11:48 AM

I dried mine off in October this year because I hate the cold. However, if we move where we're planning to, the milk stand is going in the garage and I WILL have a heater. I hate going 5+ months without milk!

Ressa · #6 01/01/13, 11:53 AM

Ohhhh I FEEL for you! The goats that I had intended to milk thru decided on thier own to get bred and the ones I thought were bred were not. We had to go two months with no milk and it was awful.
The look in my mother's face when I told her the first kids were born was priceless. She was so happy that milk was on the way again soon. Lucky for us, two sets of twins insist on nursing off of the same side so I have to milk out the other. hehehe
I whined and whined about store bought milk too. (had to buy milk for my grandson) I just gave up on milk for myself during that time.

Alice In TX/MO · #7 01/01/13, 11:56 AM

We are trying not to panic about going two months without goat milk. I'm freezing the morning milk now, but drying off is going to have to start soon.

At least I have a friend with a milk cow that's due to freshen soon, so we will have real milk instead of the white water they sell in the grocery store!

CaliannG · #8 01/01/13, 12:06 PM

My mother is lactose intolerant, so the only time she buys milk is if she has something she needs to cook with it, such as mashed potatoes (which she doesn't do very often).

After the holiday meals, she put together a bag of leftovers for me to take home. Inside this bag was what was left of the quart of milk she had bought to cook with.

I looked at her. She said, "What? You know I am not going to use it."

I replied, "Are you forgetting that I am freezing nearly a gallon per day right now?"

"Well, I am still not going to use it, so it might as well go somewhere that uses milk."

"Then give it to someone who will use store-bought, cow milk, Mom, because the only thing *I* would do with it is feed it to the dogs. If it is going to be fed to animals, you might as well leave it out for the feral cats. I am certainly not going to drink it or cook with it. The stuff is disgusting."

"Oh."

I am very glad that I have some milking through.

harvestmoonfarm · #9 01/01/13, 12:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaliannG

I replied, "Are you forgetting that I am freezing nearly a gallon per day right now?"

I know this is OT for this thread, but what is the best way to freeze it so that it's still drinkable after thawing?

mammabooh · #10 01/01/13, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by harvestmoonfarm

I know this is OT for this thread, but what is the best way to freeze it so that it's still drinkable after thawing?

I freeze it flat in quart freezer bags. I know others say that they have trouble with little flecks in the milk when they thaw it, but I've never had that issue.

GoatJunkie · #11 01/01/13, 01:55 PM

I wish we all lived closer. It *kills me* to throw out milk.... but half a gallon a day is too much for me and my only customer moved away. :/

I make Chèvre, mozzarella, and cottage cheese.... but I have limited freezer and refrigerator storage....

When it comes to our own goat milk, it's feast or famine isn't it?

Alice In TX/MO · #12 01/01/13, 02:15 PM

Freeze it RIGHT AWAY after filtering, and it's less likely to separate flecks of cream when it thaws.

Backfourty,MI. · #13 01/01/13, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by harvestmoonfarm

I know this is OT for this thread, but what is the best way to freeze it so that it's still drinkable after thawing?

I froze ours with about 1/4 tsp. baking soda per gallon & no flecks or separation after thawing. Doesn't change the taste either since it's such a small amount of baking soda.

Backfourty,MI. · #14 01/01/13, 02:27 PM

I feel the same way Spike. My only doe I bred this fall isn't due until Beginning of May & I'm already lost since I dried her up because I didn't want to milk when it was really cold.

I did freeze a lot of milk but now have been saving it for making soap since I've been selling so much.

I miss the milk for our drinking but also miss the time spent with my doe each day. I think she misses our time together too.

mammabooh · #15 01/01/13, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alice In TX/MO

Freeze it RIGHT AWAY after filtering, and it's less likely to separate flecks of cream when it thaws.

Yes, that's exactly what I do...strain it and pour it directly into the freezer bags.

Squeaky McMurdo · #16 01/01/13, 05:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoatJunkie

I wish we all lived closer. It *kills me* to throw out milk.... but half a gallon a day is too much for me and my only customer moved away. :/

I make Chèvre, mozzarella, and cottage cheese.... but I have limited freezer and refrigerator storage....

When it comes to our own goat milk, it's feast or famine isn't it?

Gah! I wish I lived closer to other people with milk goats too. Cocoa is only giving 2 ounces per milking now that it's cold. Gah!

chewie · #17 01/01/13, 05:45 PM

today was my first day of no milking. been taking less for weeks and now we're done. have some froze, but seems that stuff just gets a freezer taste, so I wind up cooking with it mostly. I just LOVE a glass of milk, left out a short time to its not terribly chilled, its like a treat for me. and now, that'll be til march. boohoo! and the only way I determine if they are bred is them not going into heat, so I'm always nervous that they are dried up and not bred!

for those who milk thru, how do you know if your doe is a good candidate for doing so?

Frosted Mini's · #18 01/01/13, 06:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoatJunkie

I wish we all lived closer. It *kills me* to throw out milk.... but half a gallon a day is too much for me and my only customer moved away. :/

I make Chèvre, mozzarella, and cottage cheese.... but I have limited freezer and refrigerator storage....

When it comes to our own goat milk, it's feast or famine isn't it?

Cheese freezes well, and it takes up a lot less freezer space than milk.