Quoted from Sharon

I'm making my own yogurt with polyflora AB! Thanks for the ideas. Great advice!

Way to go, Sharon!    

Can anyone make recommendations for making yogurt with raw milk.  My first attempt did not set up properly.  Also, because I am using raw milk, I wasn't sure I could reuse the yogurt for the next batch or needed to keep a starter batch that was not from raw milk.  Somewhere I read that the starter from raw milk won't continue to culture properly so I should use store bought yogurt for the starter.

paneer
http://www.recipedelights.com/basics/Paneer.htm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQu5jVagfao

Quoted from Kim

Can anyone make recommendations for making yogurt with raw milk.  My first attempt did not set up properly.  Also, because I am using raw milk, I wasn't sure I could reuse the yogurt for the next batch or needed to keep a starter batch that was not from raw milk.  Somewhere I read that the starter from raw milk won't continue to culture properly so I should use store bought yogurt for the starter.

It can be almost like luck to be able to come out with a successful yogurt made from raw milk.  This is because heat has not been used to kill bacteria in the milk.  This doesn't mean that the bacteria would necessarily be unhealthy for people to consume, but the bacteria might compete with the yogurt cultures.  This is very common and can result in weakening the yogurt strain.  Often, the yogurt will not even 'set up'.

I purchase raw goat's milk from a local farmer and bring the milk to a quick boil.  The resulting yogurt is consistently perfectly and provides a strong starter for future batches.

The original starter is Dr. D's Polyflora!  

I have had powdered goat milk before but never the real thing.  I have heard good things about it.  I am going to see if a farm nearby has it.  Not sure if it is legal in VA to sell it or not.  I have a cow share to get the raw milk, (which I can't have now to drink), so maybe I might have to do the same to get the goat milk.  I want to make my own yogurt and stop buying it.

We live on 19 acres and are trying to become self sufficient.  In another month we are getting Turkeys to raise for meat.  I was going to do chickens for meat until I found out that they are not allowed for me.  

Thanks!!

Goat milk has a thicker consistency than cows milk.  Depending on the breed of goat, can also be much more flavorful...  

Goats are relatively easy to raise, as long as you have a tall enough fence to keep them where you want them...

We thought about raising them but we have maybe 12 acres cleared out of 19 acres and we have horses.  Normally there would be plenty of pasture for both, but last year we had a long drought and we didn't even have enough pasture for our three horses.  If I can find a farmer who sells the milk or lets me buy a share that might work.  Right now, I am not well enough to handle the goats.  I haven't even been able to ride my horses in three years.  I am hoping that the GTD is going to help me heal.