Bucky Milk

[rstaffe]

I recently purchased an Alpine doe in milk. She had a buck smell on her when we they brought her to us yesterday, so I know she's been close to a buck. Her milk is just horrible. How long does it take for this bucky milk taste to pass? We've been milking her twice a day.

Thanks.

 

[suzettex5]

My understanding is it is her hormones causing the funky milk taste. It can take up to 2 weeks for it to pass. If you milk her, put the jar of milk in running, really cold water for about an 1/2 hour, then let it sit in the fridge for at least 24 hours, that may help the taste/smell. I have the same issue with taste/smell and I find letting it sit 1 day and get super cold seems to help- my goat is Saanen though and they are known for their mildness of flavor in their milk.

Hope this helped- if not, at least you got a bump, hopefully someone else will have better advice.

 

[rstaffe]

Thanks Chillin', guess I'll just have to be patient....

 

[cmjust0]

Well...I've frankly never been a big believer in the idea that a buck's presence imparts so much "goatiness" to a doe's milk. I've read and heard enough for myself to be a believer in the idea that "goaty" flavor is the result of of the milk's caproic, caprylic, and capric acid content, much like the puke-ish smell and taste of parmesan cheese is a result of butyric acid.

I just can't see how it could possibly be the buck who controls the amount of caprylic or capric acid the doe imparts to the milk, unless there's something about a buck's scent that makes a doe produce more goaty acid.. Could be, I suppose..

I guess all you can really do is try to get her cleaned up and see if the milk improves.

 

[suzettex5]

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I agree Cmjusto- I dont think its the actual presence of the buck, although a smelly, hormonal buck 'could' leave an odor ON the doe that could possibly transfer to the udder and teats, then into the milk, but I doubt it. The does' own hormonal reaction to the presence of the buck 'could' be dumping hormones into her milk causing a funky taste- I've heard that alot. Although, the doe can go into heat without a buck around and cause the same issue with milk flavor, also a common occurance, I'm told.

I would also consider her feed, and any changes in her diet. Humans that eat alot of one food, ie; garlic, will have a garlicky smell and taste to their breastmilk, so I would imagine the same would apply to goats, but thats just my hypothesis...

 

[shadowpaints]

one thing i do when i am ready to refriderate fresh milk, DONT put the lid on the jar/jug untill the milk is COLD putting the milk in the fridge with a lid on it while its still warm traps the smells. also, make sure the teats are clean ( we wash with unscented baby wipes) and make sure you are straining all the milk . one hair in the milk can ruin a whole jar!

we feed our milking does horse quality alfalfa hay and they get a scoop of sweet feed while we are milking them

 

[cassie]

It is likely the doe never had good milk. When I had my dairy on occasion I would run a buck with the does and his presence did not affect the flavor of the milk. I once had a buck that produced milk. I had to milk him out every few days or so. Once I sampled his milk. It was good. No bucky or off flavor at all.

 

[Rin]

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........

They can DO THAT?! Learn something new every day...

 

[TwistedSerpent]

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Forgive me but I just can get the rather innapropriate pictures out of my head, haha but that just sounds so bad...