My wife Lisa and I are expecting a new baby in the month of may. I have 6 freshened nannies that will wean off in 6 weeks.My questions are how long can the milk be frozen and should it be pasteurized and is there a safe home procsess? Thak you in advance for all responses. Richard Baker bigrich@rocketmail.com

-- Richard Baker (bigrich@rocketmail.com), March 11, 2001

Answers

Goats milk does not have to be pasturized, but if you wish to, simply heat the milk on the stove to 165 degrees, stir to be sure all the milk is at that temperature and you're done. You can also but small pasturizers for $200 from Caprine Supply(www.caprinesupply.com). The milk should be frozen before the cream has separated and can be stored for up to 6 months.

-- David in NH (grayfoxfarm@mcttelecom.com), March 11, 2001.

I personally wouldn't give a baby anything unpasteurized. Pasteurizing is not difficult. I heat my milk in a pan over a pan of water. Heat to 165, stir and get it off the heat fast. If you get it hotter than that, it takes on a "cooked" taste. Sit the pan immediately in a sink of ice water to cool down quickly. We try to cool to 65 or 70 before refrigerating. Tastes sweet still.

-- mary, texas (marylgarcia@aol.com), March 11, 2001.

Richard how long have you had the does? Are they tested negative for CAE, CL, Johnes and TB? If you are going to wean the kids off the mom than you will need to be milking the does now, or they will wean with empty udders. You may want to simply send in a milk sample to test for staph or any mastitis. I also wouldn't feed an infant un- pasturised goat milk, and certainly not even pasturized milk from untested animals. Even pasturization doesn't kill all bacteria and virus. The other posts show how easy it is to pasturize at home, certainly until your child is older an easy percaution, and since the child will not have any preconceived notions about what cooked milk tastes like, they will be fine with it. Course formulas are cooked, I would also if your wife is not breast feeding, be supplementing the milk with Niacin, perhaps enough is found in normal infant vitamins. You will need to ask about that. None of my business here, but if your wife is choosing not to breastfeed, perhaps you can at least talk her into nursing the first few days, colostrum (first milk) is very important for the future health of your child. If she can not nurse, you can contact your local LaLeche League and buy colostrum from a mother on the list. Most hospitals have this information. In Houston their is a frozen colostrum bank. Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh TX (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), March 12, 2001.

Vicki's answer covered most of the bases, but if you are going to feed the baby goat's milk (an excellent food for it, if you follow Vicki's precautions) you do need to supplement folic acid. That is the only thing goat's milk is short on that the baby needs. You can ask the doctor how to get the folic acid, but I think baby vitamins should have it.

-- Kathleen Sanderson (stonycft@worldpath.net), March 12, 2001.

Thanks Kathleen, I thought it was niacin :)

-- Vicki McGaugh TX (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), March 12, 2001.

For a brand new baby, I would pasteurize it. Not because it needs to be, but because everything you give a newborn is sterilized.... Once the baby is about 3 - 4 months old, you can stop doing this. (Maybe just really old-fashioned, but how many generations were raised that way???!!)

-- Sue Diederich (willow666@rocketmail.com), March 13, 2001.

Richard, Congratulations on the new arrival. New babies are such a blessing and usually means lots of sleepless nights. My suggestion is a little off the subject, but breast feeding is the best for all types of babies, including humans. It gives them that added bonus of the colostrum, which gives the immune system a boost and makes for a healthier baby. It does not have to be for months but even a week or two really makes a big difference. Then, you can switch to the goats milk. I fed my two youngest goats milk after a short time of breast milk. I did not pasturize, but ignorance is bliss and did have the goats tested for Tb and Bangs. If I had to do it again, I would buy a pasturizer. Good luck and best wishes

-- karen (kansasgoats@iwon.com), March 14, 2001.

I had a brother who could not even tolerate mother's milk (probably things Mom was eating..who knows), anyway, he was switched to goat's milk when he was just a few weeks old. I don't remember pasteurizing it..but that was a few years ago, since he is a grown man now. He did great on it and other then being a bit strange ;-) he is fine. Gotta love those strange brothers! ;-)

-- Cindy in Ok (cynthiacluck@yahoo.com), March 14, 2001.

Thanks for all the response. Lisa will breast feed for about 30 days than she will be going back to work and I will be the primary caretaker. We have a great arrangement she earns it and after bills I blow some on livestock. I feel the need to smell manure and that way I can justify My parents money they blew on me to get an AG degree. I will have the goats vet checked. I have had them about 2 years. Thaks again Rich

-- richard baker (bigrich@rocketmail.com), March 15, 2001.