Colostrum in milk 3+ weeks into FF?

Is it normal for a first freshener to have colostrum 3+ weeks after kidding? We picked up this doe (& a pregnant herd mate of hers) just over a week ago with one of her two kids on her (the other was sold as a bottle baby the day before we picked up her and her buckling). I was SO excited to try her milk last week after her first day on the stand and as soon as I had it chilled I had a nice big mouthful of colostrum?..Ha! I tried again yesterday and it is better but still has a colostrum flavor. I thought milk was usual clear in about 4 days to two weeks, but it looks like it will be more like a month+ for her. I am super impatient because I've actually never had ND milk before! ;). But one of my mini nubian does is putting out the best milk I've ever tasted in my life... It's blown away a couple long time dairy goat folks we know who have some pretty fantastic milk of their own, and one of those people now wants to switch to minis from full size nubians. I figure that the ND milk will be for cheese, butter, and ice cream while the mini nubian milk will be for drinking, cereal, etc. My other nigerian is pregnant and due at the end of next month, but it looks like she is going to have 4 or maybe even 5 kids so I'm sure that she will be colostrum free by the time we can steal any milk from her kids ;)

Okay, I'm glad I asked and I will be sure to keep an eye on her... The taste has improved significantly in the past week (ie: the "off" flavor is much less pronounced than it was), so it seems that whatever it might be is clearing up on its own. The cream content definitely isn't where it should be either, so that also tells me that there could be something going on with her. The flavor is very familiar, though, and the last time I tasted it was from a local source that was convinced it was a moderate amount of colostrum remaining in the milk... Of course, that could've been an incorrect assumption on their part when really there was an infection or other health issue going on. I will touch base with her breeder as well to see what her thoughts and suggestions are.

Replies

Rebekah May 20, 2014 at 1:19am

Okay, I'm glad I asked and I will be sure to keep an eye on her... The taste has improved significantly in the past week (ie: the "off" flavor is much less pronounced than it was), so it seems that whatever it might be is clearing up on its own. The cream content definitely isn't where it should be either, so that also tells me that there could be something going on with her. The flavor is very familiar, though, and the last time I tasted it was from a local source that was convinced it was a moderate amount of colostrum remaining in the milk... Of course, that could've been an incorrect assumption on their part when really there was an infection or other health issue going on. I will touch base with her breeder as well to see what her thoughts and suggestions are.
Deborah Niemann-Boehle May 19, 2014 at 11:16pm

Great suggestion, Rachel!
Rachel Whetzel at MigMog Acres May 19, 2014 at 11:04pm

*If* you HAVE had nigerian milk before, and you're tasting something "off" you might be tasting a low grade infection or mastitis. I had a doe with off milk at around the same time, and being new, I thought it was colostrum too. Now I know that it wasn't, and in retrospect, I think she might have had a very mild case of mastitis, or infection from a rough delivery. Thankfully, it got better without me figuring it out, but maybe what I suspect could help you!
Deborah Niemann-Boehle May 19, 2014 at 11:02pm

Normally I never say never, but that is not colostrum in a doe that is 3 weeks fresh. Milk is mature by day 4. If you have never had ND milk before, you have had it now. It is very rich and creamy. Some people actually water it down, which I consider a great waste, but I love half-n-half on cereal, so everyone has their own taste preferences.

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