Hi folks,

I guess if anyone should be able to help me, the people on this forum should. I have had my Oberhasli for over a year now. Last year, she kidded April 23. I didn't use the milk for a while, and after that, we used it even though it was thin and tasted salty. She was giving about 8 pounds a day for her second freshening. I took some milk to the vet to be cultured, and it was negative. The CMT test was also negative. Eventually, the milk thickened up and tasted sweet, but it took two or three months. This year, she kidded May 7. I let the kids nurse until two days ago, when I weaned them. She is giving around 11 pounds a day, and it's been two months since she kidded, but the milk still tastes thin and a bit salty to me. My partner says it's fine, but his son says it tastes strange. There is no goaty taste, just kind of salty and not rich. I use the usual dairy cleanliness protocols. I feed very good grass hay, alfalfa hay, and the goat grain recommended by major breeders in the area. Does anyone have any suggestions?

-- Laura Jensen (lauraj@seedlaw.com), July 10, 2000

Answers

Is the grass hay salt marsh? that could acount for some salt taste, may be cut back on salt intake, check grain for salt maybe switch grain?cut back on salt block use, maybe set out for 1 hour a day?

-- kathy h (saddlebronc@msn.com), July 12, 2000.

Laura since her milk sweetened up and tasted richer with time perhaps it is because she is lacking in butterfat. As the does milk longer their butterfat increases. I would definetly look into the diet. Like the post above, whay kind of hay? Something in the pasture right now that is dead or burnt up from the heat during the late summer and early fall? If you are feeding a commercial grain, what is in it? Did you know that with by products listed on the tag, they can switch grains, and animal fats and protein whenever they want, so perhaps it is something that the mill is mixing right now that isn't in the grain in the fall. Perhaps linseed oil right now and this fall and winter to make the feed more free flowing another oil? We switch from alfalfa in fall and winter to feeding some grass and lots of woods and pasture, do you switch like this? Are they wormed? Maybe something will perk your memory! Vicki McGaugh

-- Vicki McGaugh (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), July 12, 2000.