Ammo for raw milk people

Cattle do produce bst naturally, rbst or recombinant bst is the synthetic form of the hormone. When bst was first introduced there was no test that could differentiate between the synthetic form and and the naturally occuring hormone. Advances in medical science may have come up with a way to accomplish this but I imagine it would be extremely expensive and you would most likely have to test the animals blood and not the milk they produce.

We see this technology advancing in the sporting world where doping and blood manipulation for performance enhancement are rampant so the technology may indeed exist now.

I think the issue here is not whether owning a cow and drinking the raw milk she produces is a bad thing. The issue as I see it is that dairy farmers are being portrayed as nothing but greedy opportunists who care nothing for public health or the welfare of their animals. While there are bad apples in every bunch, the majority of us who have made our living like this are honest hard working people who take seriously our responsibility to the public we serve and the livestock that aid us in that mission. We don't appreciate the accusations especially when the information offered to back up these accusations is not only inflammatory but in many cases, simply untrue.

I agree, while most folks are honest money drives some people to do things that are just plain wrong. So does laziness. Outof the 5 dairies that are close by where we live 4 are very decent, 2 of those are exceptional. The 5th farm you wouldnt' want to feed the milk to your dogs, at least I wouldn't. Yet the trucks haul the milk out regularly. I don't know if they use hormones, but they do use a lot of antibiotics and the conditions are disgusting even though they have some pasture. I don't know where that milk goes or where the milk I buy comes from and it bothers me. My husband used to haul cattle and the stories! He's seen the best and some of the worst.

We purchased some really nice beef in the past, grain fed, but a couple of years ago our neighbors gave us some of their grass fed beef for Christmas and it was AWESOME. I had no idea it could be that good and I don't have a problem graining a cow as long as the grain is organic.

We believe organic and raw is best and recently went from goats to cows. I hope to be milking our little Dexter cow soon and will be adding at least one more, maybe two.

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"Understanding is the reward of faith. Therefore seek not to understand that you may believe, but believe that you may understand." † ~ St. Augustine

Honeybee, how do you know they use lots of antibiotics?

Samples are taken of all milk before it leaves the farm and then the load is tested at the processing plant BEFORE it is allowed to unload,so there is no way milk with antibiotics can enter the system.As a matter of fact, milk is the most highly tested of all foods consumed in the United States.

I have trouble understanding the animosity displayed by people here toward those that farm for a living instead of a hobby.

This is why Organic milk is backwards. Antibiotics can't be in any milk, at anytime, it is illegal and the farmer would be fined over $10k.

As far as raw milk. I drank the regular pasteurized stuff for years. Now I drink our own milk. The taste of ours is FAR surperior to that in stores. It is sweeter tasting, it is creamier, and does not upset my stomach like pasteurized milk does. I do not drink it for "health" benefits, I drink it because it is our own, we know where it is coming from, and the taste can't be beat.


As far as BST, I am against it, I am against it because I know what it does to cattle, and it certainly does not help them. From swollen hocks, to congested bags, its not good for the cow. Many records over 28k (those who average that), are using BST. The more average are below that. Some use it even with lower numbers, but I have talked with DHIA testers, and not a single one who uses BST, will test WITHOUT their rbst shot. They cancel the test day, and if rbst really didn't boost production, they would test at any time.

Now does rbst account for the average holstein giving 20k? No, that is breeding, as I have some who have made 305 records of 26k, and I feed baleage/grain/pasture.

Some things that do effect taste in milk, TMR's tend to sour the milk some, its not as sweet. You have more DA's with corn silage, over hay, etc. But as a whole, raw milk's benefit is you know where its coming from, while pasteurized stuff, could be from anywhere. Afterall, one thing you can look up, more people get sick from pasteurized milk over raw milk, something like 300+ a year.


Jeff

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"Give Me Liberty Or Give Me Death" Patrick Henry, March 23rd, 1775

While they may use a lot of antibiotics, they do have to honor the milk withholding time on the antibiotics used before they can put that milk in the bulk tank. It is tested and if it has drugs in it, they have to pay for the tanker truck that they contaminated.

Now, if the withholding time is truly enough.......thats another question.

My goal is to produce milk from cows who had the least antibiotics as possible(there are sometimes when they are truly needed), in a natural setting which means they get to graze and then they get a portion of grain at milking time.

People also need to be aware that "organic" does NOT mean "natural". You can have "organic" cows producing "organic" milk, but those cows have never even seen a blade of grass. Nothing less natural than that. So for me, "naturally raised" is a better goal than "organic".

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Emily Dixon
Ozark Jewels
Nubians & Lamanchas
www.ozarkjewels.net

"Remember, no man is a failure, who has friends" -Clarence

My neighbors young adult children worked their, one of them lived with the family for a short time while working their. She got so disgusted she quit and when she went to work for one of the better farms she was shocked at the contrast. I'm fairly certain she mentioned antibiotics, she has sense gone back to college and moved away.

Edited to add:
Another thing that got me about this place was when my other neighbor went their to look at some stock for sale. She saw a cow standing out in the snow in a pen up to her knees in mud and manure and she was calving,calves foot sticking out. She pointed it out o the woman/owner and her reply was "Oh, I know that's why she's in a calving pen" She ended out rescuing an animal there.

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"Understanding is the reward of faith. Therefore seek not to understand that you may believe, but believe that you may understand." † ~ St. Augustine