Milk laws in Canada

woadleaf · #1 01/28/08, 07:24 PM

Just a few quick questions - is it legal for me to buy milk from the guy down the road who has jerseys? Is there any loophole which would allow me to get milk from him? I have to drive up there to ask, so I'd like to know if I've got a fair shot or if he's just going to laugh at me.

I'm in NB, if it makes a difference.
Thanks!

Teacupliz · #2 01/28/08, 07:58 PM

sorry guys

**fordson major** · #3 01/28/08, 08:10 PM

unless you know him really well i would not bother! dairy farmers can get quite aggressive if they think its a trap. not illegal to own your own cow and drink it's milk. have not seen a dairy cow in NB yet! Charlotte County.

DaleK · #4 01/28/08, 08:28 PM

Nope. Not legal in any way, shape or form, and if he got caught he'd lose his Grade A, no questions asked, plus probably a fine from the local health unit, plus POSSIBLY depending on how the provincial dairy group responded forfeit part of his quota. Could easily cost him $100,000 or more.

JeffNY · #5 01/28/08, 10:04 PM

I've heard jail time, and a 250,000 fine.

DaleK · #6 01/29/08, 07:52 AM

Not quite Jeffy

linn · #7 01/29/08, 07:54 AM

Offer to buy him some feed. He can give you the milk and you can give him a few sacks of feed every now and then.

wr · #8 01/29/08, 08:11 AM

There is a Hutterite colony near me and they will sell raw milk if you tell them you are planning on feeding it to an orphan calf. There are laws against buying for human consumption but nobody is expected to follow you home and search your barns & yard, they have legally done due dilligence by asking how you intend to use it. It is not legal to trade raw milk for feed but I do think I've heard of a few people that have bought pails and they accidentally had milk in them.

woadleaf · #9 01/29/08, 09:55 AM

That's disappointing!
It'll be a few years before we can get a dairy animal, so I was hoping to get some nice milk in the meantime. I'm not even after raw milk for the sake of it, I just want the jersey milk and raw doesn't bother me. Unless he can pasturize himself (unlikely?) there's no way, huh?

This guy is a Jersey breeder, according to his sign, so I'm not even sure if he's considered a dairy - would that make a difference?

Lots of dairy cows in NB. Mostly around the Sussex area, I'm in the south west, myself. There is different farm on the other side of me who has Holstiens, so they're here, too.

francismilker · #10 01/29/08, 10:01 AM

Is anything legal in Canada? I feel really bad for you guys trying to homestead or go organic with those kind of regulations.
I'm being serious. Shouldn't a person have the right to drink raw milk if they please?

BlueHeronFarm · #11 01/29/08, 10:08 AM

You could bring it up by saying you are planning to get a dairy cow, but aren't ready yet, but would like to know more before you take the plunge. Then ask if he would do a cow share and/or let you put in some labor in exchange for milk. You could get some practice that way.

wr · #12 01/29/08, 10:15 AM

If he's a dairy, he would be regulated and satisfying a milk or cream quota so they know what his output is. If he's just a guy that happens to own a couple milk cows, you might be able to pull it off. It doesn't hurt to ask and see how he feels about it and if you really want it, you can always tell him that you have a bottle calf and would like to supplement his feedings with some milk.

JeffNY · #13 01/30/08, 10:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaleK

Not quite Jeffy

Are you absolutely positive? I did a google search and found an article stating the following.

Quote:

Farmers that sell unpasteurized milk or give it away can face fines up to $250,000, and up to three years in jail. However, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency says they'll only investigate if there's a complaint or someone gets sick.

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNew...hub=TopStories

So the 250,000 fine and jail time isn't false.

Jeff

robin f · #14 01/30/08, 05:19 PM

one thing you can do is, go to the farm, ask if he will sell you a bull calf, a jersey bull calf in NB is worth about $1.00 to $5.00 if he will, ask if you can buy the milk to feed the calf and get extra for yourself. that way you get meat and your milk. or just go there and ask, some farmers do sell fresh milk. but yes it is not legal, but as i say its done a lot. good luck

Tam319 · #15 01/30/08, 06:06 PM

Be forewarned if this is a commercial dairy and you go there asking for milk for your "livestock or pets" with the intention of using it for your own use...many of the dairy farmers in this area are struggling to keep up with quota and will only part with their "dump milk" for livestock use. ie. milk from animals who are on antibiotic withdrawal, cows with mastitis/high somatic cell counts or who have just freshened and the colostrum hasn't completely cleared out yet.

woadleaf · #16 01/30/08, 06:58 PM

going for advice isn't a bad idea, but I don't have any fences at all, and the barn needs a lot of work before I can get animals - so baby cows are out (and I'm a terrible liar so I can't even SAY I have one). Oh well, milk will have to wait until next year.

robin f · #17 01/31/08, 05:04 PM

just go and ask, worst they can say is ............ no, if you like jersey milk so much, and i know why you do, because i do, its worth asking, many farmers will sell you milk for cash, i know 4 in my area that do, big farms too, not little homestead types, as i say the worst they can say is............. no, the best ...........yes.

just tell them how much you love jersey milk, and would like to have a regular supply, two / thrre times a week, or whatever you think

woadleaf · #18 02/01/08, 06:13 AM

Where would his milk go otherwise? Do the jersey breeders sell to the big dairies just the same as for holstein? Or is there a jersey milk product available at retail?

linn · #19 02/01/08, 07:45 AM

Why not buy your own cow? The neighbor may have an older cow that he will sell reasonably. Even though your fences are bad, you can use an electric fence to keep a cow in. I have put up an electric fence myself. They are also portable, so you can move a cow around to where the grazing is better. You don't have to have an elaborate barn, just something to keep your cow out of the freezing percipitation and weather. You can even milk outside in warmer weather.

robin f · #20 02/01/08, 12:01 PM

as far as i know in NB it will just go in the tanker with the rest of the milk from any other farm, they get paid by butterfat content which is more than holstien milk, not sure if there is jersey milk anywhere on the shelves in NB, i dont think so.