Please help! 1st attempt at chevre - cloudy liquid on top!

[narnia]

I'd not be shocked if the cloud is just excess fat. But I don't know my way around lactics very well, and particularly not with goats.

I have watched a youtube video where a girl had used the same chevre packet in the past.  She stated that she did not like these packets because the it never gave her a clean curd...always a lot of floaties.  So, she has changed to using a separate culture and liquid rennet. 

I have to agree...as every batch I made with these packets - all 4, gave me lots of floaties in my whey.  I can't wait to try the "real" stuff!!   

[Stinky]

If you get the floaty stuff on cheese when using the "real stuff", assume it means your goats are happy and have nice fatty milk.

[narnia]

   But, I don't think that happiness of goat determines the fat content, but rather, the breed.  Lamanchas give on average, a 4% fat content.  Nubians, a little more.  Nigerian Dwarfs give 6-11%!!  I want some Nigerians!!     They have the richest, sweetest milk, but small quantity, giving on average a qt/day. 

[SOSEATTLE]

  But, I don't think that happiness of goat determines the fat content, but rather, the breed.  Lamanchas give on average, a 4% fat content.  Nubians, a little more.  Nigerian Dwarfs give 6-11%!!  I want some Nigerians!!     They have the richest, sweetest milk, but small quantity, giving on average a qt/day.

I have access to Nigerian Dwarf milk and it makes awesome cheese  .


Susan

[Sweet Leaves Farm]

Narnia, don't forget that lactation duration makes a big difference in fat and protein content of the milk. My Nubians go from 4.2% butterfat to 5.8%, or more in 10 months of lactation.

Changing your rennet levels every time your goats change their butterfat and protein levels is an exercise in futility. Unless you have a $2000 lacticheck machine and a cream separator you won't be able to stabilize the fat content of your milk. When your doe freshens, you'll notice the difference. Much less white stuff on top. Later in the season, you'll gradually get more and more white on top. Here's some fun reading about how feed composition and length of lactation affect pastured dairy goat milk. http://naldc.nal.usda.gov/catalog/1987

[narnia]

Narnia, don't forget that lactation duration makes a big difference in fat and protein content of the milk. My Nubians go from 4.2% butterfat to 5.8%, or more in 10 months of lactation.

Changing your rennet levels every time your goats change their butterfat and protein levels is an exercise in futility. Unless you have a $2000 lacticheck machine and a cream separator you won't be able to stabilize the fat content of your milk. When your doe freshens, you'll notice the difference. Much less white stuff on top. Later in the season, you'll gradually get more and more white on top. Here's some fun reading about how feed composition and length of lactation affect pastured dairy goat milk. http://naldc.nal.usda.gov/catalog/1987

Thanks!  This is very comforting to know!!  I won't keep fermenting longer anymore...trying to wait for the white film to go away.