Great-Tasting GOAT MILK

These tips for milking backyard goats will keep your homegrown milk safe and delicious

- TESSA ZUNDEL

I know, I know — you’ve heard that goat milk tastes nasty. Or  you’ve tasted goat milk from the store and wondered what on  earth happened to it to make it taste so…goaty.

That strong flavor is not inevitable if smallfarm dairy goats are your dream. In fact, it’s completely avoidable if you follow proper processing. Here are some simple ways to ensure your goat milk is tasty and sweet.

BUY REGISTERED ANIMALS

The flavor of milk — any milk from any animal — is dependent on several factors. The first is genetics: The only real way to determine a dairy animal’s milk quality is with a pedigree, which you can obtain by purchasing a registered animal.

The U.S. alone has several dairy goat associations, and a simple internet search will provide you with their criteria, rules and more information.

HANDLE MILK SAFELY 

Once you’ve established quality dairy lines in your backyard herd, focus on cultivating clean dairy-handling habits. Establish good routines and strictly follow through with them every time you milk.

• Use proper equipment. Seamless, stainless steel milking buckets prevent dirt and bacteria from building up in the seams. A lid covers your milk as you bring it in from the dairy barn to the house.

• Wash your hands before you milk to prevent the spread of infection or disease.

• Clean the teats well with a quality solution.

• Use a napkin or paper cup to dispose of the strippings, aka the few squirts of milk released from the teat before milking. I like to use a cup so I can check for chunks or off-color milk that alert me to mastitis or other infections.