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GENERAL CHEESE MAKING BOARDS (Specific Cheese Making in Boards above) => INGREDIENTS - Milk Types, Formats, & Pre-Cheese Making Processing => Topic started by: ArnaudForestier on April 05, 2011, 01:51:52 AM

Title: Straight Jersey Milk - experiences?
Post by: ArnaudForestier on April 05, 2011, 01:51:52 AM
I have found a source for Jersey milk (I can obtain straight Jersey milk, or a holstein/jersey blend).  I only know of Jersey from what I've read, and anecdotal experiences from makers who use it (one, who loves it, but finds he has to "cut" it with other breeds, as it's too rich).  I will be concentrating on alpine styles for a long time to come, with the occasional reblochon and vacherin (mont d'or style) tossed in. 

Can folks with experience with this milk, please opine?
Title: Re: Straight Jersey Milk - experiences?
Post by: Oude Kaas on April 05, 2011, 02:04:20 AM
Go for it, its fantastic!!!!!!
Title: Re: Straight Jersey Milk - experiences?
Post by: Erkki Juusto on April 05, 2011, 02:31:14 AM
We have 3/4 jersey cross and brown Swiss x Holstein. You have take some cream off for Emmenthal and Gruyere. Excellent butter and ice cream
Title: Re: Straight Jersey Milk - experiences?
Post by: steampwr8 on April 05, 2011, 03:00:28 AM
Jersey milk is 40% cream plus. Delicious warm out of the cow and ICE cold in the glass..nothing better.

I made a Lancashire with registered Jersey milk this weekend. EVERYTHING is covered in butterfat.

One really needs a cream separator to process it properly.

Title: Re: Straight Jersey Milk - experiences?
Post by: susanky on April 05, 2011, 11:04:07 AM
Last summer I used raw Jersey milk.  I am new to cheesemaking.  My hard cheeses (cheddar, parmesan, gouda) are still aging.  Soft cheese were FANTASTIC.  Skimming it (for parmesan) was a job!  But then I had cream for cream cheese etc.  Used it whole for the other cheeses.

Now my jersey cows are not milking and not due until June.  This weekend another friend started giving me milk from his Brown Swiss cows.  I was excited to read that Brown Swiss have an ideal PF ration for cheesemaking!  But I have to say, drinking it, it doesn't compare to the Jersey milk which was far sweeter/richer.  This (also raw milk) tastes alot like store bought milk.  Hoping to make first batch of cheese with it soon.
Susan
Title: Re: Straight Jersey Milk - experiences?
Post by: darius on April 05, 2011, 12:42:54 PM
I use Jersey milk, but it's pasteurized and homogenized. I suspect they also skim some of the cream before pasteurizing. It's a new, small local dairy and they don't post the P/F ratio. It's certainly fresher than regular grocery store milk.

I'm making Lancashire and Caerphilly from it, but I'm such a beginner that I have no way to judge the milk or the cheese yet.
Title: Re: Straight Jersey Milk - experiences?
Post by: zenith1 on April 05, 2011, 01:17:20 PM
go for it-Jersey and Guernsey are really good for cheese and ice cream
Title: Re: Straight Jersey Milk - experiences?
Post by: ArnaudForestier on April 05, 2011, 02:28:07 PM
Thank you all, for the replies so far.  I'm very keyed to try this out; the only issue is that the straight Jersey is extremely expensive (twice the cost of the holstein/jersey blend), but after hearing so much on this breed, at least one of my makes, I'd really like to try it out. 
Title: Re: Straight Jersey Milk - experiences?
Post by: darius on April 05, 2011, 02:39:46 PM
I pay $3.75 a gallon for it here. Sure wish I could buy it raw!
Title: Re: Straight Jersey Milk - experiences?
Post by: lwybrant on April 05, 2011, 04:36:23 PM
I just tried to make cheese for the first time and used straight from the cow jersey milk.  I have been told that it may not form properly due to the amount of fat?  So far the loaf is firm and had formed a rind, i waxed it when it was cool and had it at room temp a few days, i had a few droplets form through the wax so i removed the wax and put it into the frig it is now dry again. Should i wax it again and get it back into the fridge?
Title: Re: Straight Jersey Milk - experiences?
Post by: linuxboy on April 05, 2011, 04:47:29 PM
At home and on a small scale, cheeses tend to weep whey for maybe 5-15 days after the make. Usually, this is due to curd variation, press schedule, smaller curd mass, etc. I would wait for 1-2 weeks before waxing to give the cheese a chance to dry out and firm up.
Title: Re: Straight Jersey Milk - experiences?
Post by: ArnaudForestier on April 05, 2011, 10:30:42 PM
Say what you will about the Jersey, y'all.  I'm not impressed.

(http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p316/pkphotodo/pb-110405-cow-da-01photoblog900.jpg)

Now I'm impressed.

Title: Re: Straight Jersey Milk - experiences?
Post by: susanky on April 05, 2011, 11:25:56 PM
I pay $3.75 a gallon for it here. Sure wish I could buy it raw!

My Jersey farmer guy gives it to me raw.  In fact, if I don't go get it, he throws it out or saves it for pigs.  I'm quite sure he has never pasturized himself.  But his cows aren't milking yet.

My Brown Swiss farmer guy/friend is very opposed to raw milk.  He pasturizes EVERYTHING.  In fact, he was sure I was going to die last year drinking raw milk from the other guy.  But I've been working on him for a year.  He finally got tired of me begging so we came to a compromise.  He told me if I milk the cow, I can do with it as I please.  DEAL!  He has an extra milker so that is mine.  I bring it home, clean it etc.  We are all happy!
Susan
Title: Re: Straight Jersey Milk - experiences?
Post by: darius on April 05, 2011, 11:27:58 PM
What a DEAL, Susan! Good for you. :)
Title: Re: Straight Jersey Milk - experiences?
Post by: coffee joe on April 11, 2011, 01:50:08 PM
Here is my son training a 2 year old Normande bull. Not sure who is more afraid at this game, but seems fun by all! This breed has some of the highest fat content and Kappa Casein genes. These guys get huge at over 2200 lb but otherwise are very similar to Jersey. Common lineage way back.
Title: Re: Straight Jersey Milk - experiences?
Post by: ArnaudForestier on April 11, 2011, 01:54:20 PM
Joe, I'm very impressed with Normande cattle, from everything I've seen.  At a recent grazing conference, I had the good fortune to meet and talk with a Frenchman, a broker of Normande (and other French breeds) genetics in the States.  It prompted me to look at the breed in more detail. 

Congrats on your story, by the way.  I've been following it for some time. :)
Title: Re: Straight Jersey Milk - experiences?
Post by: vonknabe on November 16, 2011, 07:06:14 PM
Hello, all! I am trying to make the perfect cheddar cheese. I recently found a local source for fresh cow's milk (jersey). The 1st and only batch I made was not good, as I had a problem withtoo much rennet and tough curds. I had skimmed the cream off the milk (and made butter), and just used the milk for the cheese. My question is this: Would the cheddar cheese be better with the straight raw milk (no cream being removed)? I am getting more milk tonight, and starting my next batch.

Thanks for your help!
Title: Re: Straight Jersey Milk - experiences?
Post by: fied on November 16, 2011, 07:47:31 PM
Yes, Cheddar made with whole milk is best.
Title: Re: Straight Jersey Milk - experiences?
Post by: vonknabe on November 16, 2011, 08:27:58 PM
What do I do with the cream that has risen to the top? Just stir it back into the milk?
Title: Re: Straight Jersey Milk - experiences?
Post by: Oude Kaas on November 16, 2011, 08:38:57 PM
yes
Title: Re: Straight Jersey Milk - experiences?
Post by: SarahV63 on April 30, 2012, 03:02:29 PM
Here is my son training a 2 year old Normande bull. Not sure who is more afraid at this game, but seems fun by all! This breed has some of the highest fat content and Kappa Casein genes. These guys get huge at over 2200 lb but otherwise are very similar to Jersey. Common lineage way back.

Just wanted to say this is soooo cute!