Selling raw milk for 18 month old

LFRJ · #1 05/17/11, 01:29 AM

We have established a buyer who wants to purchase a gallon of raw milk weekly. This is a boon for us since we are typically swimming in milk and are happy for a regular customer. Problem is, they will be feeding this to their 18 month old baby... and they want it raw!

We are new to goats. We have drank the milk ourselves with no problem. We do our best to keep our facility and milking habits very clean. Further, I understand the arguments in favor of raw milk. Still.

I'm just not sure I'm comfortable selling raw milk knowing it's going to be consumed daily by an infant. We have a pasteurizer. I wouldn't even charge extra to pasteurize.

What would you do?
Not worry about it because the danger is actually lower than I'm worried over?
Insist on pasteurizing?
Pasteurize, and just not tell her until I'm comfortable with selling raw?

I doubt I'd be able to bring myself to option three. I'm a horrible fibber and its just plain wrong. I just don't know if I can bear the weight of selling raw
milk. It may not be a huge risk, but it feel right now like a heavy one.

I don't think selling raw milk without a license is legal in my State, so there's that to worry over already.

CaliannG · #2 05/17/11, 01:40 AM

My granddaughter can ONLY consume goats milk raw. She cannot consume any other kind of milk at all, and if it is pasteurized, she reacts badly to goats milk also.

I am GLAD I have goats and didn't have to depend upon having to get someone to agree to sell me raw goats milk for my granddaughter in this state, where it is illegal. The doctor had her on rice milk (she couldn't consume soy milk or any of the infant formulas, she just threw them up) and while she was surviving on it, it had very little protein and fat for her growing body, and she was very behind developmentally.

I thought she was going to be permanently disabled. At 6 months, she barely moved, she still couldn't track things visually. She slept most of the time and she was obviously underweight.

Raw goats milk saved her. Literally, within a week of changing her diet to raw goats milk, there were EXTREME, *obvious* changes. She became active and playful, she started tracking visually, she started GROWING. It was amazing the changes that happened in such a very short time....and these changes were so extreme and so huge, that no one, not even her doctor, could chalk them up to a growth spurt.

Considering my own experience with my own granddaughter, who is nearly two years old now and speaks in complete sentences, and is mentally *ahead* of her peer group, I could not imagine not selling (or giving, depending upon the circumstances) raw goats milk to someone with an infant in need, no matter what the legalities are here.

This is just my experience and my feelings. If I had not already been into goats and had goats milk, would my granddaughter still be unable to see clearly, listless, and wasting?

I have to wonder.

houndlover · #3 05/17/11, 01:43 AM

I would drink my own raw milk, I would not sell it to someone. It's not worth the risk.

horsepoor21 · #4 05/17/11, 04:50 AM

Our son is 20 months old and can ONLY drink raw goats milk ! Anything else and his belly swells like a balloon !

Last fall a gal came to our home to buy some cows , when she saw we had goats she quickly asked if we had a goat in milk for sale as her infant could only drink goat milk . Any sort of formula was horrible for him and she had been feeding him canned goats milk (yuck !) and it was getting so expensive for her so we sold her a doe . She was out again about 6 months later and her little boy was doing GREAT on it !

CheerfulMom4 · #5 05/17/11, 05:26 AM

I had our Amish neighbors stop once and ask me about buying raw goats milk for their baby. I didn't do it, it made me to nervous. I pointed them to someone who had some milking goats for sale.
I wouldn't have a problem with family. I have a friend who milks for raw goat milk for her grandaughter. I am just paranoid I guess. Everyone is friendly unless the baby gets sick for some reason, then it's all your fault. Of course it's not but seems people think that way.

Immaculate Sublimity · #6 05/17/11, 05:44 AM

its not something I'd take responsibility for, sell them a goat or point them to someone who has goats for sale in milk. Taking money for something that could end up being a huge liability just isnt worth it.

steff bugielski · #7 05/17/11, 06:25 AM

Well no mother ever pasteurizes her own breast milk. We let our babies nurse even if we are sick.
I have sold raw goat milk for 10 years now mostly to infants and children.
Why don't you get a sample of milk tested by a lab once in a while, like 2-3 times a year. It is not that costly and then you will feel better.

If you drink it iy must be safe.
This mother is only trying to do the best she can for her baby. She is taking responsibility.

Alice In TX/MO · #8 05/17/11, 07:15 AM

It's really your call. You can have the milk and the goat tested, but as you said, it's still illegal in your state. We all know the benefits of goat milk, or we wouldn't have goats, and we wouldn't be on this board.

You and your family have to make the decision about the risks. It will affect your whole family if the arrangement goes bad.

Like a previous poster said, I'd be more inclined to sell them a goat. You also could look into goat shares.

rootsandwings · #9 05/17/11, 07:23 AM

from the legality angle - you could lease them a goat and make arrangements to board it and milk it for them - they come get their milk. Have a written contract. I'm not sure what to do about the fact that that gives them a lot more than a gallon a week - you don't have niggles do you? that would reduce it some....

mary,tx · #10 05/17/11, 09:20 AM

http://www.realmilk.com/happening.html

You might want to take a look at what is legal in your state.

FunnyRiverFarm · #11 05/17/11, 10:47 AM

Our grandchildren drink raw goat milk and have since they were less than 1 yr old. If the milk is properly handled and the goats are kept in good health, the risk of illness is miniscule.

Check the laws and create a contract for her to sign that states she is aware of the risks and willing to accept personal responsibilty/liability for any of the possible outcomes. Please, please, do not be deceitful and sell her "raw" milk that you've pasturized...If it really makes you that uncomfortable just don't sell her any.

JJFarmer · #12 05/17/11, 11:54 AM

If you're concerned about the safety of the milk you're producing maybe you should make a habit of having it tested more regularly. Treat your milking facility the same way the usda would if they were in charge of inspection. Get tested for e coli, tb, cell counts, etc on a quarterly or bi-yearly basis. The numbers will put your mind at ease and you'll believe in the product you consume.

Raise your own standards so you have faith in your product.

Goat Servant · #13 05/17/11, 01:31 PM

Yes I think some testing for your own peace of mind. You know you couldnt pasturize in good faith.
We drink ours raw too. There IS a certified raw dairy in east Everett if you opt out.

Cannon_Farms · #14 05/17/11, 01:47 PM

I raised my child on it, I often wonder still if it was the right thing to do and i would not feed her it raw until she was right at a year old. I believe that its better than this processed powder stuff that has corn syrup or futrose in it as the first couple ingredients.
However I would not sell the raw milk to her if it was illegal in your state, or label it very well as pet milk.

steff bugielski · #15 05/17/11, 02:14 PM

Sounds like raw milk is legal in your state. Not sure about Washington St but here in NY the cost is really minimal for the permit. I only pay for annual testing.

Lada · #16 05/17/11, 03:38 PM

If you are concerned about it, then simply sell it with the understanding that it be used for pets or whatever. What she chooses to do with the milk once it leaves you is her business.

oregon woodsmok · #17 05/17/11, 03:48 PM

Have some really good liability insurance.

There doesn't have to be anything wrong with the milk. The kid gets sick, you've been selling them raw milk, they can sue you. Even if you win because they can't prove the milk caused the illness, the cost of fighting it could cost you your farm.

The people bringing the lawsuit can get a free lawyer. You can't.

mekasmom · #18 05/17/11, 04:18 PM

I personally wouldn't ever sell raw milk for human consumption. Make it very clear you sell only for "animal consumption". Have them sign a waiver with that written on it. Then whatever they decide to do with the milk is their business, but you have a liability waiver.
I think raw milk is safe, but I would want some liability protection from anyone if I chose to sell it.

ne prairiemama · #19 05/17/11, 06:35 PM

I'd sell it if it was legal but not if it wasn't depending on my take on the customer. The fact that it was for a toddler wouldn't bother me.

julieq · #20 05/17/11, 06:50 PM

We sold a doe in milk about ten years ago to a family with an adopted infant son who was 'failing to thrive'. Their physician suggested raw goats milk. He did wonderfully on raw goats milk. Our DD breastfeeds and when she weans she puts the GK's directly on raw goats milk. As a family, we can't drink pasteurized milk due to stomach complaints, but we can drink raw goats milk (or raw cow's milk).

However, we'd don't sell raw goats milk to people because it's illegal here unless you're licensed. We just say 'no'. A gal a couple of miles away is licensed to sell raw goat's milk and making a small fortune.