Milk

[Devonviolet]

@Devonviolet are those reusable cloth? We use the disposable ones ... I don't like washing stuff How do you like it?

The filters are disposable. However, I am always trying to find ways to save money.

When I started using them, I looked at reusing them. There were comments about bacteria. So, I came up with a plan to stay safe and be frugal.

When I take the filter out of funnel, I rinse milk with hot water, to rinse fat out, put a drop of liquid dish soap, scrub well and rinse well. Then I put it in a heat safe glass bowl in the microwave for at least 30 seconds+ to kill bacteria. I never use a filter more than 3 days.

 

[babsbag]

Do you boil your cheesecloth too? I do mine.

 

[Devonviolet]

I have that filter and I hate it. The milk goes down around the outside of the fiber filter.

I used to have that problem. But then I figured out that if I push down around ring until I stop feeling it shift in place, That doesn't happen. It usually means going around twice, which isn't bad.

 

[Devonviolet]

Do you boil your cheesecloth too? I do mine.

Are you referring to cheese making?

For draining whey, I have several "flour sack dish towels" which are dedicated to only draining whey when making cheese.

 

[Southern by choice]

Do you boil your cheesecloth too? I do mine.

We do.
I usually only use a cheesecloth twice then pitch it.

 

[Latestarter]

Dang Babs... my goats milk is grade E... I don't have the inclination to do all the work required to meet the grade A or B (or even C) standards Maybe if/when I get an automatic milk machine I'll create a cooler that holds the milk receiving bottle that can be encased in ice.

 

[Alaskan]

I used to have that problem. But then I figured out that if I push down around ring until I stop feeling it shift in place, That doesn't happen. It usually means going around twice, which isn't bad.

I have the same filter you have... the one with the ring.

It works well for us. I like the fact that it is super easy to clean.

Filters... eh.... we tried washing cheese clothes.... hard to do well x2 a day. So we buy the filters in the largest size box to save a bit per filter.

 

[AClark]

actually... the raw milk having the active enzymes. ... is one of the reasons we have the goats.

I have one child that is celiac and one with asthma and alergies and one with unspecified odd digestive issues. ... I think the raw helps them all. It heals the gut.

How old are the children? I've pasteurized what I have so far because I have a 1 year old and worry she might not be able to fight off food poisoning like the rest of us.

 

[babsbag]

@Latestarter, get an old small chest freezer off of Craigslist and fill it with ice and Propylene Glycol. Then get a stainless steel milk tote and keep it in the freezer. When you are done filtering the milk just pour it in the pre-chilled can. Of course if you had a way to agitate the milk it would be even better but I know of a few small dairies that chill their milk this way and it works well. I was talking to @Southern by choice last night about finding a way to mount an ice cream freezer motor in the freezer so it would stir the milk but you wouldn't have to deal with the small ice cream bucket all the time.

 

[Lance Blythe]

So another newbie question. I know breeds like lamancha are milk goats is that because of the amount of production? Can meat goats be milked or just not worth the time due to less production?
You guys are all amazing. This summer I plan to make a stantion. Will take some time to figure it all out.