Why milk smells like a cow, what to do and how to remove the stench
The nutritional value and useful qualities of milk are beyond doubt. Natural products that have undergone a minimum of heat treatment are considered to be of high quality. Some minus remains a peculiar smell of fresh milk. And it can be difficult to understand why sometimes milk smells like a cow. The phenomenon appears for a number of reasons. Let's figure out how to get rid of or prevent an unpleasant scent.
Causes of an unpleasant phenomenon
Various factors can contribute to the unpleasant odor of fresh milk. A peculiar aroma appears due to the following reasons:
- milking rules are violated. Unwashed udder of a cow, violation of industrial hygiene requirements contribute to the smell of manure;
- diseases of the cow and treatment of the animal with drugs ("Creolin", "Phenol") can also affect the color and smell of dairy products;
- The smell and color of milk is influenced by the types of food eaten by animals. Compared to hay, silage changes the characteristics of the product more strongly. As a rule, on summer pastures, milk does not have an unpleasant aroma.
Specific odors in dairy products appear when a cow eats strong-smelling plants (chamomile, wild garlic).
How to remove cow odor from milk
Fresh milk can already be considered a delicacy. Not everyone loves this product, as it sometimes stinks a lot. To make milk pleasant to drink, they get rid of the specific aroma in different ways:
- during the heat treatment process, the bad smell is reduced. But it should be borne in mind that boiled milk is inferior to fresh milk in usefulness;
- the salt neutralizes the harsh aroma slightly. A pinch can be added to the liquid during boiling, but you need to adhere to a sense of proportion so as not to oversalt the product;
- a less common way is to use a cloth soaked in vinegar. The cloth is simply covered over the container in which the milk is stored.
To do less manipulation with fresh milk, it is better to take measures to prevent the appearance of a nasty aroma.
How to prevent a problem from arising
Since milk often develops a bad odor due to poor milking hygiene, it is advisable to prepare thoroughly for milking. The udder is washed well with warm water, and the first few jets are drained into a separate container. It is recommended to fix the cow's tail during milking. Since the animal often flaps its tail, and particles of dirt or manure from it can get into the liquid.
It is important to control the cow's diet. It is recommended to avoid excessive feeding of compound feed. Do not feed the cows sour or stale silage; the feed container is washed regularly. You also need to monitor the health of the cattle and contact your veterinarian at the slightest sign of malaise. However, it must be accepted as a fact that there are healthy cows that are provided with proper care, but the unpleasant smell is constantly present in the product.
Milk characteristics (fat content, color, taste, smell) can vary. Therefore, even one cow, depending on the season, diet, milk will smell differently. Taking these factors into account and taking proper care of the cattle, the milk will have a delicate aroma.
