Dairy Products and Storage.

I know that for cheese you can use the cheese wax, and while it will continue to age and develop a stronger taste, it will not go bad.
A cool and dark place is pretty critical for where you are storing the cheese, and the wax is reusable.

The only way I have seen to store milk long term is by canning.
I have also seen butter canned as well.

The government "officials" in the US who govern the safety of home canning do not recommend canning milk or butter. That being said their reasons are that the high fat content in the milk products and butter could cause it to be unsafe. The canning of bacon is approved however which kinda makes me laugh.

Personally I am staying away form canning any of those products. I did buy some powdered milk in #10 cans and I store evaporated milk for cream in a pinch. We don't drink coffee but our guests do so that's as close to cream as they will get here.

Of course you could store it IN the cow 🙂

Storing dairy has always been an issue for me.
I do store some powdered milk as well as evaporated and condensed, not to mention coffee whitener.
I am looking at butter powder also.
Aside from storing it "in the cow" as Anita mentioned...it's a pain in the but food group for sure!
I also store powdered cheese sauce mix from Bulk Barn, but I'm not convinced of the actual dairy content.
The best bet may be making a bartering agreement with a local farmer.

Thanks for the replies everyone. I have the cheese and butter considerations fully covered and I have a sizeable store of powdered milk and cases of condensed milk. However as far as those last two products the only resemblance to real milk is the word milk in the their description. Ok they are ok to cook with but there is no substitute for real milk and cream.

Denob bartering is a great suggestion but isn't an option. In Northern Ontario there are only Two directions North and South. The closest cow to the south would be about 160km and to the north 40km. I am taking the approach that travel for those kinds of distances would be difficult or unwise in a severe shtf scenario until at least one year after the event.

I have the first couple of weeks covered so I am looking for a solution for the time period to about one year. I have had limited success freeing milk with low m.f. but with milk with higher m. f. contents the fat separates on thawing. So any suggestions would be welcomed.

Maybe buy a cow?
I have the same issues as you and am keeping an eye on this thread.

How long does cheese keep in wax at different temperatures? link?

I have kept if for nine months at 40F to 50F. I will have to do some more and refrain from eating it under the guise of "testing" it. 😳

Maybe buy a cow?
I have the same issues as you and am keeping an eye on this thread.

I get away with chikens, ducks and rabbits but I think a cow might be pushing it with the municipality. I have honestly though about a goat though.

If one is looking for dairy on the hoof...you should look up Dexter cows. They are small, don't eat a lot, easy birthing and give good milk, plus BF is like any other cow.

Having it bred will give extra beef. From all I have been told by others that its very good beef.
I have never had goat meat, so no idea of what they would be like.

I was looking at goats, but now decided I will be going Dexter after much research. I have a place I can get one delivered to me this coming spring.
I need to have this snow gone first, so I can make housing for it and fence in an area for it. Dexter cows also can handle the cold well too, which is a big plus for me. They also don't need a huge barn to house them in.

From all I have read (on goat forums from people that have goats) goats take a lot more care and vet bill can really run up. I was surprised at how much care they needed.
I even had some goats lined up. You have to get at least 3 they say, so they are not lonely.
I would rather have a cow instead, even if I have to get a Dexter bull if I can't get AI in my area. I am way out in the sticks.

So if you get serious about either one, I suggest you just watch what people say on a goat forums or cow forums. These are people that have them and you soon get the idea of whats required for each critter.

When you freeze whole milk, I was told to give it a good shake after it thaws out and you should be good to go.

Hope that helps a wee bit.

With regards to freezing milk. The cream, at least in my case, is skimmed off before freezing the milk. Cream is for peaches, ice cream and butter not for freezing. Thaw the milk and there will still be bits of cream floating on it. A good whisk will take care of the lumps but its just aesthetics. Nothing that will kill you if you get lazy and don't bother to whip it. You have to shake up non-frozen milk to mix in the creamy bits too but its a little easier with fresh milk. Hand skimmed fresh milk is in most case equivlilent to whole milk at the store.

Thanks OldTimeGardener. I will read a few of the goat forums. As far as shaking milk one it thaws it seems to work with 1% but not with 10%.

Maybe buy a cow?
I have the same issues as you and am keeping an eye on this thread.

Ok now my next question is how do I hide one of these? 😆 😆

So many interesting topics

So canning Gee is going to last many many more months and years then canning butter, you can home can milk if really want to, I know folks who do it, as for the cheese, it will keep years if done right in terms of wax, care and temps.

What kind of goat you buy makes a huge difference, if you buy show stock or dairy stock, you are going to have issues, if you go mixed breeded small family farm stock, bred to be healthy and productive, you tend to be fine, but you still buck to bred the girl, the meat is excellent.

If I could only have one milking animal on the farm, it would of course be my sheep, they win hands down, I had goats and replaced them with the sheep and a coming milk cow.

I agree on the freezing, I skim the cream on top, and then freeze and give a shake and use as normal once thawed out.

Maybe buy a cow?
I have the same issues as you and am keeping an eye on this thread.

Ok now my next question is how do I hide one of these? 😆 😆

In my opinion, any attempt to hide an animal of that size would be....wait for it...
Udderly futile!
HAHAHAHAHA
hehehe
hoho
I crack me up!