How do you cool your milk?

[PotterWatch]

I have just started milking my doe who freshened last week. I don't think I'm doing too bad so far, but she is a kicker. As soon as she is done with her grain, she starts to kick and jump all over the stand. Today I grabbed a leg and held it up while I milked with the other hand. I'm really hoping there will come a time when I can just sit the pail on the stand and milk with both hands without fear of a hoof sending the pail flying (or landing smack in the pail).

Anyway, on to cooling. I am keeping my milk in mason jars. I put one in the freezer to chill it while I am milking, then strain the milk into it and put it back in the freezer while I clean up. When I have all the stuff cleaned and put away, I move it to the fridge. I am not milking out a ton right now since she still has the triplets to nurse, so I don't have too much milk to cool. So how do you do it and what should I be doing differently?

 

[Indiana hens]

We always patuerized it and made quick cheese. Mmm Mmm!

 

[joebryant]

I read in another post today about someone's son's having read instructions that said to put your milk bucket inside another bucket that has ice in the bottom. That way the milk cools quickly while you're milking. Sounded like a good idea to me; not that I have goats (or a wife with the industry to milk one).

 

[PotterWatch]

I read that as well. For right now, I am going to have to stick with just one bucket. I can't imagine trying to deal with my kicker, and hold a bucket of ice with a bucket of milk it in away from the flying hooves, lol.

 

[sandyj]

Try "thegoatspot.com". Very informative for goat owners. Just like backyards chickens only with goats. I have learned lots!
sandyj

 

[AK_Button_Mama]

Most people I know just put it in the fridge.. but I have seen others used a sink full of ice water and a gallon container floats in it with the milk.

As for the kicking... you need to keep food in front of her. Goats or cows do not come in to be milked they come in to be fed and if the food runs out in the bowl they will dance! they are telling you to feed them more!! here is a cute picture!!! I took this while milk testing at a friends last week!!! the goat is named "imposter" (I think) and tonight it looks like she is impostering a farmer!!!

couple of the ladies!!!

our favorite girl BLING

 

[MissPrissy]

I have a stainless steel milk bucket. I keep plastic bottles filled with water in my freezer. I pop one in my bucket and milk directly onto it. This cools the milk rapidly for me.

In the kind of weather we are having now cooling the milk shouldn't be much of an issue. Temps outside have been colder than my deep freeze or fridge. How are they were you are?

When you bring in your pail of milk strain it into a clean glass jar. Set it in your freezer for a couple hours to chill down fast then move to the very back of your fridge which should be the coldest.

 

[PotterWatch]

Quote:
Yeah, I've tried joining that forum, but I can never get past the "I accept" button, just keeps redirecting me to that same page. I have emailed an administrator asking for help but haven't gotten a reply.

 

[Chirpy]

I highly suggest using stainless steel buckets (like MP said), it's far easier to keep it clean/sterile.

In the summer I either milk onto a frozen plastic pop bottle (also like MP) or a plastic freezer bag with frozen water in it. That helps the milk to start cooling immediately. Once I finish milking in the barn, I rush up to the house where I strain the milk into a marked 1 1/2 gln. tupperware pitcher. (I have it marked to show how many cups of milk I get from each doe. Many people weigh it instead - I'll probably start doing that at some point.) I then get a 1/2 gln. or quart size Mason jar out of the freezer and pour the milk into it/them. I have a cheap plastic bucket that I set the glass jars into, fill it with cold water and add a bunch of ice to bring the water/ice level up to the milk level in the jars. I then put the whole bucket into my chest freezer for around one hour (depending on what size jars I used). I use the stove timer to make sure we don't forget to get the jars out of the freezer. We then move them into the frig... all done with icy cold, delicious milk.

I run all my milking equipment through the dishwasher after every milking. I have a friend who has been sending in her milk monthly to have it tested. They tried different methods of washing their equipment (and both plastic and stainless steel) and found there was lots more bacteria when not washed in the dishwasher and on plastic.

I am training a brand new milk doe right now also. She's doing very well, I had to literally tie down her back feet (I was instructed on how to do this by several old timers) for about three days. Now, I don't have to. I always had at least one other person standing on the other side of her when I tied her down to make sure she didn't try to fight and tip over. Here's a great idea to stop kickers.. I haven't personally used it but intend to get one to try when I have the money:

http://fiascofarm.com/goats/hobble.htm It looks far safer then tying her down.

I also suggest using http://thegoatspot.net/phpbb/index.php. I don't know why you are having difficulties. If you don't hear back from someone soon and want to PM me I can talk with them and see what's going on with your log on issues.

 

[hcammack]

Quote:
I love toggs beautiful goats I want some!!!! At the place I milked we took it up to the deep freeze walk in after straining it through a Nalgene bottle with the end cut off and the middle of the cap cut off and you can just screw milk filters right in. I have no idea how they cut a nalgene though?