Post by saphire on Sept 2, 2009 21:15:54 GMT -5
I bought my Jersey cow in June. Her milk when she arrived tasted like liquid gold, lol. Recently it has become extremely bitter. I have been searching the internet trying to find the cause of the bitterness to no avail. I have read that some cows can get this at the end of their lactation. Saphire is due to freshen on Jan 10/10, so she should still be milking for another 2 months. I had her feeding mostly on my lawn, which I let grow for her, and seems to be mostly clover. I put her back in her pasture and am supplementing with a fresh alfalfa bale... neither seemed to make a difference on the milk.
She eats second cut alfalfa at milking time. I use a milking machine that I bought new at hamby's in July. I strain the milk, then put it in glass jars with wax paper and the lid. It then goes into the 'milk fridge' Sometimes the bitterness is worse than other times, which would lead me to believe that it's something that she is eating, but other than what I have mentioned, she isn't eating anything else.
I started giving her minerals about a week ago, I am not sure if this has made a difference or not.
According to the mineral bag she is supposed to have about 80 grams a day, since I am not sure how to convert that to tablespoons, and I don't have a scale to weigh it. She has a few licks twice a day, but I am not sure how close that is to what she needs.
Today I bought her a bag of rolled oats and molasses, not sure if it will help but I don't know what else to do.
She has tested negative for mastitis and I have read that this milk is a result of an enzyme. The milk almost tastes like liquid blue cheese.
I don't want to dry her off yet , but I would like to find a solution to this bitter milk problem.
I tried to give you as much info as possible and hopefully there is a way to make the milk taste better... Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!!
I look forward to your replies.
Susanne
She eats second cut alfalfa at milking time. I use a milking machine that I bought new at hamby's in July. I strain the milk, then put it in glass jars with wax paper and the lid. It then goes into the 'milk fridge' Sometimes the bitterness is worse than other times, which would lead me to believe that it's something that she is eating, but other than what I have mentioned, she isn't eating anything else.
I started giving her minerals about a week ago, I am not sure if this has made a difference or not.
According to the mineral bag she is supposed to have about 80 grams a day, since I am not sure how to convert that to tablespoons, and I don't have a scale to weigh it. She has a few licks twice a day, but I am not sure how close that is to what she needs.
Today I bought her a bag of rolled oats and molasses, not sure if it will help but I don't know what else to do.
She has tested negative for mastitis and I have read that this milk is a result of an enzyme. The milk almost tastes like liquid blue cheese.
I don't want to dry her off yet , but I would like to find a solution to this bitter milk problem.
I tried to give you as much info as possible and hopefully there is a way to make the milk taste better... Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!!
I look forward to your replies.
Susanne