Guest guest Posted January 20, 2007 Report Share Posted January 20, 2007 Which would be healthier: unpasteurized milk from a farm that sells to " big " organic (horizon), where the cows get a lot of grain/corn supplementation to produce year-round. Or the grass-fed pasteurized milk from a farm like Cedar Summit. Those are the 2 options available to me. Curious what is considered more important: unpasteurized, or grass fed?? Emilie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 21, 2007 Report Share Posted January 21, 2007 As an organic, grass based dairy farmer I'd like to give my 2 bits on this subject. Just because a farm feeds grain, doesn't make them a factory farm. There are grass based dairies out there (organic and not) that graze their cows as much as possible, but still supplement with varying amounts of grain to maintain animal health, or for economic reasons. We are part of PastureLand (as is Cedar Summit) and we make our butter and cheese only in the summer when then cows are 100% grass fed. However, because of this we get substantially lower milk production than if we would feed a minimal amount of grain (8-10#/cow/day). We are OK with this because we feel the benefit of being 100% grass fed is worth it, and the organic milk price is currently high enough that we can make a living getting less milk from our cows. HOWEVER, this winter we have found that our cows were suffering nutritionally because of being on only grass (in the form of hay) and we are currently supplementing with some grain (not just corn - a mix of oats, wheat, and corn at a rate of 4#/cow/day) to maintain the health of the animal. There is a lot more to grain/no grain being factory farm/not factory farm. I agree the choice with the local, raw, grain-fed milk vs. Cedar Summit's 100% grass-fed milk is not an easy one. I applaud people for knowing enough about their food to even think of this (after all there is a campaign out there claiming 'milk is milk')...but pretending to know all of the nuiances of farming and categorizing based on such knowledge is not a fair way to make a decision either. ________________________________________________________________________________\ ____ Bored stiff? Loosen up... Download and play hundreds of games for free on Games. http://games./games/front Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 22, 2007 Report Share Posted January 22, 2007 I really appreciate this perspective, and I thank you for sharing it. The farm I had mentioned, where I've obtained raw milk, is NOT, in my opinion, a factory farm, even though their milk goes to Horizon, whose reputation is poor in the organic world. They are a family from my church, and the farm is run mainly by the family who lives there, their brother down the road, and roughly a dozen children still at home, between the two families. I believe they are managing 200 head of dairy cattle. While that is certainly bigger than some operations, they appear much more pastoral than industrial. And I know them and all their kids personally. I attend ry at their farmhouse during Lent. I was actually quite surprised when their neighbor, who supplies our eggs and poultry needs, told me how much grain and corn they're feeding (I knew they did this in the winter, but according to this neighbor, who used to raise grass-fed dairy cows, but now just has some beef cattle and the chickens) the milk farm is now using more and more grain/corn to feed the cows year round. It really made me unsure what to do. To top that off, it's just recently the co-op started selling Cedar Summit, and the combination of the choices has really made me unsure what the best route is. that's why I brought it up. Emilie > > As an organic, grass based dairy farmer I'd like to > give my 2 bits on this subject. Just because a farm > feeds grain, doesn't make them a factory farm. There > are grass based dairies out there (organic and not) > that graze their cows as much as possible, but still > supplement with varying amounts of grain to maintain > animal health, or for economic reasons. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 22, 2007 Report Share Posted January 22, 2007 If you want to have 100% grassfed, organic, sustainable, small farm milk and meat be willing to PAY MORE to keep those farmers in business. Our cows never receive grain. They receive high quality, certified organic, very green, alfalfa in the winter to boost their systems if the grass/alfalfa mix isn't enough. Feeding this is more expensive than grain because this hay is very expensive and they have to eat more (hay) volume than if they were given additional grain, BUT cows are ruminants and are not meant to eat grain. Period. When grain is fed for economic reasons, it is because we farmers do not get enough money for the food we raise to raise it naturally (not the label, the real thing). So, to stay in business farmers start cutting corners, first, it's a little grain, or maybe not organics, etc. I understand completely the economic reasons for feeding grain, but it is not good for the cows, the people, or the land. It is better for everyone to PAY MORE for their milk and meat than force farmers to compromise to stay in business. In other parts of the country raw milk is selling for $10-12/gal. We should all be paying more than we do here. That is what will keep the alternative food supplies from dying out or making compromises. Cedar Summit used to add grain to their cow's feed, they no longer do that. They are now 100% grassfed and I applaud them for that. I would love to see their milk raw, but that is a legal issue for them. If we have to buy milk in a store they are an excellent choice. If you are buying raw milk and your farmer is not 100% grassfed or organic, talk to them, ask them to go that route and raise their prices! I am sure you will get their attention if you tell them you are willing to Pay More. That will allow them to have lower quantity, but a higher quality product that will bring in more per gallon. Hopefully a lot more-We need to stop having the farmers subsidize our food. We need Domestic Fair Trade. Only farm financial sustainability will keep the type of milk (or meat) you want to drink (or eat) available. ~Jan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 24, 2007 Report Share Posted January 24, 2007 Please, don't feel ignorant! this is so new for many of us! we're all learning and trying new things, maybe another farmer can make your idea work? That was just how I saw it. On your dream- COOL DREAM!! Jan > > Jan and everyone, > > I didn't mean to sound so ignorant. I didn't know if it was feasible or not. > > I get my raw milk from a very small farm with only 3 grass fed cows that > are hand milked. So I was thinking along those lines and not a larger farm > where the animals are milked by a machine and and fed together. > > On a side note; > My dream is to live in a very small village/community where we have some > " community " cows, chickens, sheep, etc and a community kitchen with > a brick oven. And we all help out with the animals and baking etc.... > > A girl can dream....... > > Therese > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 24, 2007 Report Share Posted January 24, 2007 What really struck me in the " Omnivore's Dilemma " was the idea of cows (ruminants) not being able to digest corn. And yet, being fed it in quantity. That makes little sense to me. No matter how cheap it is, why would you feed an animal something it can't digest. I mean, I could get a dog and feed it rocks from the yard, but that wouldn't be good for it, but I suppose it would save me money on dog food... And yet I don't see many people doing this, because it wouldn't be good for the dog.... I don't get it. Emilie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 24, 2007 Report Share Posted January 24, 2007 Therese: If your community is within driving distance of an Amtrak depot my husband can work from, then I'd move to your community in a heartbeat. I have often dreamed of something like this... I look at the Amish and similar and just yearn for something similar, but you can't exactly move in to an Amish community just like that, especially when you're Catholic :-) Emilie > > On a side note; > My dream is to live in a very small village/community where we have some > " community " cows, chickens, sheep, etc and a community kitchen with > a brick oven. And we all help out with the animals and baking etc.... > > A girl can dream....... > > Therese Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 25, 2007 Report Share Posted January 25, 2007 I have been getting whole Horizon milk from the store (because I keep forgetting to get my farm order in on time), but last time I stopped at the co-op I got some Cedar Summit milk... did not like the taste of it. Is it just the time of year? And do all cows stop producing in the winter (if they're not pumped with hormones, I mean)? ~Virginia > > I am in St Cloud, so my options are less, as the Cities would be too far to go for milk. I > can get Cedar Summit at our Co-op, but I've been getting the raw stuff from a local farm. > It's *not* Horizon milk yet, when I get it. I'm getting it raw, the day it's milked, but their > milk eventually ends up at Horizon. So, when I get it it's not pasteurized or homogenized. > BUT, I recently discovered that these cows are grain supplemented far more that I had > formerly believed, which leads me to wonder if Cedar Summit's grass fed milk might be a > better choice. > > I am not aware of any raw milk in the St Cloud area that is 100% grassfed, and > unpasteurized. More's the pity. > > Emilie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 26, 2007 Report Share Posted January 26, 2007 Virginia- It is my understanding that Horizons is a lot fed cow, I think it would be better to buy a partially grass fed cow that is at least allowed to move around a bit, such as Organic Valley although Cedar Summit is at least not pasturized. Does not answer your q about taste though..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 29, 2007 Report Share Posted January 29, 2007 I think you meant Cedar Summit is not 'Homogenized', as it is pasteurized; but it is 100% grassfed and organic. > > > ... although Cedar Summit is at least not pasturized. Does not answer your q about taste though..... > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 30, 2007 Report Share Posted January 30, 2007 If you wanrt real milk in the metro- call or email me! Our source is on our way. Grass-fed, organic, sustainable family farm. We're expanding our coverage of the metro and are open to another 1/2 dozen or more dropsites or even home delivery if warranted. I'm trying to transition away from wholesaling our organic eggs and just growing eggs for direct markets. The enormous amount of work is why I'm writing this note at 2 am. Please, feel free to ask 1000 questions about the milk program we do on a weekly basis. Alvin 320-837-5347 www.mnorganiceggs.com --- " bellasol.organics " <bellasol.organics@...> wrote: > I think you meant Cedar Summit is not 'Homogenized', > as it is > pasteurized; but it is 100% grassfed and organic. > > > > > > > > > ... although Cedar Summit is at least not > pasturized. Does not > answer your q about taste though..... > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been > removed] > > > > > ________________________________________________________________________________\ ____ Need a quick answer? Get one in minutes from people who know. Ask your question on www.Answers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 30, 2007 Report Share Posted January 30, 2007 Alvin, I am interested in learning more about what you have to offer...not necessarily for myself as I already have a good system set up, but for others. What day would you deliver? Do you have just milk and eggs or other products as well (yogurt, kefir, butter, buttermilk, meat etc.) Does the milk come in glass or plastic? What is the cost per gallon or half gallon? Do you have a determined delivery area? Is Woodbury included or excluded? That's probably good for starters... Kathy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 30, 2007 Report Share Posted January 30, 2007 I'll get back to you offlist, but no area is excluded. 1/2 gallon glass bottles- only $2.50. Alvin --- realfoodie2003 <realfoodie2003@...> wrote: > Alvin, > > I am interested in learning more about what you have > to offer...not > necessarily for myself as I already have a good > system set up, but for > others. > > What day would you deliver? Do you have just milk > and eggs or other > products as well (yogurt, kefir, butter, buttermilk, > meat etc.) Does > the milk come in glass or plastic? What is the cost > per gallon or half > gallon? Do you have a determined delivery area? Is > Woodbury included > or excluded? That's probably good for starters... > > Kathy > > > > ________________________________________________________________________________\ ____ Food fight? Enjoy some healthy debate in the Answers Food & Drink Q & A. http://answers./dir/?link=list & sid=396545367 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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