Goaty milk taste. An unscientific result with A&D.

[Awnry Abe]

Last year, we battled horrible, spit-it-out-in-the-sink goaty tasting milk. This year, just like last, at freshening the milk was sweet and fresh.

Whilst on a goat field trip about eight weeks ago to the Ozarks to visit a "large" commercial dairy, I lamented to the proprietress about last year's goaty flavor catastrophe. It was so bad that we just shut the two does down. She suggested I try vitamins A&D this year. So I shopped. It was cheap-ish, so I bought. Just in case.

Fast forward to early last week. Even though DD's milk handling habits remained consistent and spot-on, the milk from one particular doe turned nasty. Just like last year. DW even commented that her whole body picked up a strong odor. (She says the same of me, so obviously she has a sensitive sniffer.)

I had no reason to suspect any mastitis/health issues, so I reached for the bottle of A&D and gave her a shot. In about 2 milkings, the milk was palatable but still goaty. In 2 more, it was better than I have ever had before. Viola! Problem solved!

But....with Myth Busters and all other poor applications of the scientific method, there is always something overlooked. In the same evening that we administered the shot, we did a full process review of DD's morning and evening routine and discovered a diet change. Because the winter weather had eased, and the goats were in the new barn, we allowed them to browse/forage ala "free range" all over the homestead during the day instead of forking them hay every 5 minutes. Part of her evening feed regiment during the throws of winter after freshening was a steady stream of alfalfa. After letting them scourge for nibbles around the yard during the day as the weather improved, the alfalfa all but stopped. After talking about this, she resumed the evening alfalfa.

Alas, we changed 2 variables and got a different taste result: A&D and/or alfalfa. I can't say for sure what did the trick. All I know is that the milk tastes awesome. Because it is more awesome than before, I am inclined to suspect the A&D. But I'll have to get more scientific-minded to know for sure.

A word of caution: before you go reaching for that bottle of A &D injectable to cure your goaty-flavored-milk ills, take heed of the label warnings about allergic reactions.

[Alice In TX/MO]

GOOD post and good solution.

[Farmer Jayne]

This is good info. Thanks! Last year we had one doe whose milk made you want to shave your tongue. She was the only one of three. If it happens this year I'll give it a try.

[mrs whodunit]

Interesting. Never heard of that will keep in mind should we end up with nasty milk.

Thanks for sharing

[TeenyTinyFarm]

Sun dried alfalfa is very high in vitamin D. D may be the connection....hmmmm

[aart]

Originally Posted by Awnry Abe

..........Alas, we changed 2 variables and got a different taste result: A&D and/or alfalfa. I can't say for sure what did the trick. All I know is that the milk tastes awesome. Because it is more awesome than before, I am inclined to suspect the A&D. But I'll have to get more scientific-minded to know for sure......

I love this kind of analysis! Actually you changed 3 variables; A, D and alfalfa. The D in alfalfa connection is another interesting possibility.

[Suzyq2u]

We had a terrible issue with bitterweed last year
(didn't know what was causing the off taste initially - but it was TERRIBLE )
We plan on spraying this year (we're told by the extension office it's an emergent)
But I wonder if that might help clear it out if anyone got into it again..... hhrrrrmm Good idea!

[Clovers_Clan]

We're going through the same thing at the moment. The goats are out on pasture now with less alfalfa. Noticed the milk and cheese this week tasted different. I will try the A&D. Economically, it will be a last resort to increase alfalfa. Curious to see if the A&D takes care of it. Thanks for the post, excellent timing!

[harvestmoonfarm]

I feed alfalfa pellets free-choice as well as on the stand, and have never had a problem.

[Tango]

Good info. the breeder of my doelings told me to chill the milk rapidly as a cure for goaty taste. with cows, diet was always the culprit if it wasn't health. off tasting cows milk is rarely heard about and usually connected to diet. off tasting goat's milk is way more common to hear about. for me it seems to show a clear connection to diet but since we are so diverse in methods and geography - it is a different dietary variable for many of us.

[TeenyTinyFarm]

Well cows don't have the varied diet that goats do. Cows are all like "oh look grass! Oh more grass! Oh get grass there too!" Goats forage on a much greater variety. Those of us who have breast fed our children know that certain foods we ate imparted off favors in our milk and often resulted in a fussy baby. I would suspect it is like that with goats. They eat something different when they are out foraging and it will change the flavor of their milk. I think to what degree depends on what they eat. I would imagine the only sure fire way to get consistent flavor in your milk is to restrict your animals diet...i.e. only this hay and that grain and grass pasture. If intake is consistent, then output should be consistent as well. (Excluding any health issues of course.) But frankly i don't think that is fair to who goats are as a species. (Restricting forage) Just my thoughts....

[Tango]

Originally Posted by TeenyTinyFarm

Well cows don't have the varied diet that goats do. Cows are all like "oh look grass! Oh more grass! Oh get grass there too!" Goats forage on a much greater variety.

That is basically what I said, lol. We feed many dfferent things to our goats and our pastures and fields have many different flora so it is hard to pinpoint the culprit on something, like it is with cows. But it is usually diet-related.