Raw Milk - Page 3

I love raw milk.  We own a cow share here in Colorado, which gets around the legality of things.

The farmer tests the milk weekly for e.coli & a few other pathogens.

It runs about $30/month, for that I get a half gallon per week.  So, I guess that's around $7 a gallon (sorry if my math's wrong), which seems steep, but a lot cheaper than prescription or OTC medicine, which we tend to never need because (I believe) of this stuff.  I just skip the weekly starbucks and it all evens out.

My daughter & I have been drinking it for years, and I think it's great!

Not only is raw (I say REAL) milk that is produced by pastured, healthy cows safe, it's one of the healthiest foods you can consume. Pasteurization has made milk nutritionally deficient and unhealthy. A calf raised on pasteurized milk is sickly and poor. Mankind never suffered an epidemic from raw milk. Pasteurization was the answer to a man made problem. Following the industrial revolution more and more people followed jobs away from farms to factories, the demand for milk in the cities were at an all time high. Dairy farms were mass producing milk in unsanitary conditions, from herds of unhealthy cows, plus the milk was transported and handled with no thought of contamination or shelf life. Rather than understanding that the problem was in the production model, pasteurization was adopted as the answer. Now the milk processors don't want you to know that milk fresh from a healthy cow is superior to their product. If raw milk were unsafe, why would they sell it from vending machines in Europe? My 4 year old has only drank raw milk and has NEVER been sick. I used to suffer horrible allergic reactions to grass pollen, but no more. I'll never let a drop of commercial milk pass my lips again.

We have a farm nearby, he sells raw milk for $7.00 a gallon I think. It is all on the honor system, he keeps the milk in a fridge and he has a lockbox to put your money in.

My husband loves it, but my doctor wont let me drink it for health reasons.

But it smells and looks delicious.

The other difference is that goat milk has a very strong taste to some.  I really can't take it.  I prefer cows milk.  In California we have two legal raw milk dairies.  I would MUCH prefer to buy it from a local farm operation that I can check out in person whenever I want, but alas, our government "protection" prevents me from this.  I grew up drinking raw milk and was a pretty healthy child, but more than that I LOVED the taste.  I had friends that would come to our house just to drink the milk. ;)  I loved being able to skim the cream off the top and have with my oatmeal in the morning.  Once I had my own kids, I sought out this option again.  We've been drinking raw milk for about 3 years now.  In addition to enjoying the taste,  I will tell you that all of our friends are home sick with the flu right now and no one in my house is ill...or has been ill in over two years.  Of course this could also be due to other healthy food options, but I think having the beneficial bacteria brought to us by raw milk is a great resource for boosting your immunity.  It does not come without risks, but it's a risk I'm willing to take.  It is not cheap either...we have to pay $15 a gallon now.  gasp.  I do use the milk to make yogurt, kefir, butter, cheese, sour cream etc.  So I definitely don't waste a bit of it.   If you are interested in learning about your state laws you can visit  www.realmilk.com.

Quote:

Originally Posted by EastWestFarm 

Not only is raw (I say REAL) milk that is produced by pastured, healthy cows safe, it's one of the healthiest foods you can consume. Pasteurization has made milk nutritionally deficient and unhealthy. A calf raised on pasteurized milk is sickly and poor. Mankind never suffered an epidemic from raw milk. Pasteurization was the answer to a man made problem. Following the industrial revolution more and more people followed jobs away from farms to factories, the demand for milk in the cities were at an all time high. Dairy farms were mass producing milk in unsanitary conditions, from herds of unhealthy cows, plus the milk was transported and handled with no thought of contamination or shelf life. Rather than understanding that the problem was in the production model, pasteurization was adopted as the answer. Now the milk processors don't want you to know that milk fresh from a healthy cow is superior to their product. If raw milk were unsafe, why would they sell it from vending machines in Europe? My 4 year old has only drank raw milk and has NEVER been sick. I used to suffer horrible allergic reactions to grass pollen, but no more. I'll never let a drop of commercial milk pass my lips again.

The flavor of raw, fresh milk from grassfed cows is outta this world. Rich, creamy, sweet. The last time I tried store milk it tasted like burnt plastic and I couldn't bear to drink the crud. I buy from an organic farmer I know and can see the farm anytime.

Yes, there is a little risk, but there is risk in everything in life. The Western diet of processed 'foods' is a slow killer; I'll stick with the raw milk!

You have to be careful.  VERY careful.

If the milk is not properly treated, it can get contaminated.  If the farmer is not anal retentive about cleanliness, you can get sick.  If the cows are not cared for, bad things can happen.  This all means that you have to be very careful about from where you buy it. 

Go see the farm.  Are things tidy, organized, or are there piles of poop everywhere, trash scattered about, and horrible smells (Don't fret junk laying around.  That seems to be part of the farming experience).  Is the barn clean, reasonably fresh smelling, and nicely maintained, or is it filthy, reeking of waste odors, and caked with manure?  Do the animals look healthy, happy, and well cared for?  Does the farmer seem to treat his animals with care?  A farmer who cares about the property, animals, and his own self will care about his milk.

IMHO, the best way to get raw milk is to raise your own jersey or miniature jersey.  They're a lot of work, and require a lot of time investment, but they pay back in psychological benefits, grass cutting service, and the most amazing, fresh, dairy products around.  I'd sooner be without a family cow as I would without a refrigerator, heat in the house and running water.

Finally, I don't consume raw milk for health reasons.  I consume it because it tastes divine.  Store bought milk tastes like boiled chalk water, and I avoid it like the plague.

Oh and by the way.  My milk cost me around $14 a gallon when I factor in the cost of hay, grain, vet bills, and my time.  I have one cow, and no access to pasture, so I have no economies of scale.  IMHO at $14 a gallon, it's worth every penny.

We are planning to get a jersey or mini jersey (preferably mini) :) My hubby grew up with and is fine with goat milk but I much prefer cow milk. I grew up with beef cattle, not milk, so this will be a fun little project for me once we get it! We want to raise our kids on raw milk (no kids yet, still in the planning stage LOL) and natural, whole foods.