How much is your raw milk? - Page 2

[stilllearning85]

10$ a gallon here in Portland (we get it from Washington at a Certified Farm). Used to pay $7 but the drive was so far it cost around $10/gallon with gas costs anyway.

[AJP]

Originally Posted by ThereseReich

But in reality, is Claravale also "100% pasture grazed" too, so its quality is just about the same as Organic Pastures?

Claravale moved recently, so maybe they have more pasture access at the new place, but it used to be that their cows only had seasonal pasture (late winter/early spring) because they didn't have irrigation water (and you can't keep pastures green in CA through the summer and fall without that). They fed hay and grain when I spoke with them years ago. I don't think Organic Pastures feeds large amounts of grain, but I don't know how much. They used to have pictures of their grain storage on their website. They may have reduced the amount of grain due to demand for 100% grassfed milk, but in reality, keeping a year-round dairy herd in CA on grass only is close to impossible, given the metabolism of the modern dairy cow. I'm not saying it's a bad thing for them to supplement with some grain (I have to do that with my own cow to keep her from getting too skinny, she gets a few pounds per day), but I wish they were more upfront about it on their labels and website. I would be very surprised if they have succeeded in getting their herd completely off grain, especially considering that so much of it is Holstein. A little bit of grain as a supplement for an animal that is mostly forage-fed (meaning pasture or hay) is a very different thing than confinement dairy cows eating so much grain and soy that it messes up their digestive systems and makes them sick. I believe that "100% pasture grazed" means the cows are on pasture 100% of the time, not that 100% of their nutrition comes from that pasture.

I think both OP and Claravale produce wonderful, healthy milk. It would be lower in CLA than that from 100% grassfed cows, but it's still great milk. Claravale is not certified organic, I think they say they don't feed any GMOs though.

Seasonal, grass-only dairying can be done in areas where the pasture grows fast and lush all spring and summer, but that's a rare situation in CA, partly because our soil here doesn't get as much of a winter rest (no truly dormant season of freezing temps and snow cover, in most of the state). Neither OP nor Claravale are seasonal dairies in that sense.

[PassionateWriter]

6 a gallon

[JennaW]

AJP thanks for all the wonderful information!

[jldumm]

we own a "share" of the cow and it works out to about $10 a gallon, (at least for the first year)

[sarah70]

12.29 here at the only raw dairy in Arizona.
They are not grass-fed

[Magelet]

I know some folks who had a "share" of milk from a family cow. Its in cali, so it sounds like it was illegal though. I also think it was even more expensive than claravale or op.

I may have to look into a claravale co-op. I just can't afford 4.50 a quart right now (14 a gallon, since they only sell quarts). I'm not comfortable with op, because I've talked about it with several people (who sell raw milk) who decided to only sell claravale because they feel that Mark McAfee has some questionable business and health practices. I trust their opinions and knowledge very much, so between that, OP's "off" taste, and the plastic, I go with Claravale when I can afford it. (OP is just as expensive, in my area). I SO wish I had access to more affordable raw milk from a small farmer, but atm, I don't. Maybe when we move to where ever we are going to have our farm, and then certainly when we have our own farm....

[MyLilPwny]

Originally Posted by Magelet

I'm not comfortable with op, because I've talked about it with several people (who sell raw milk) who decided to only sell claravale because they feel that Mark McAfee has some questionable business and health practices. I trust their opinions and knowledge very much, so between that, OP's "off" taste, and the plastic, I go with Claravale when I can afford it. (OP is just as expensive, in my area).

I agree that the plastic isn't as good as the glass. I haven't noticed an "off" taste though. When I first started raw milk, I had Claravale's and then when I had Organic Pastures, I thought their milk tasted better than Claravale's.

About the questionable business and health practices, do you have any more info on that? Because now I'm really confused. On their web site, is this all a lie when they say: "At OPDC the vigor of each cow is a high priority. Our individually named cows are never given antibiotics, hormones, or GMOs (Genetically Modified Organisms). Only organic green pasture and approved naturopathic methods are used to feed and care for the cows. Preventative, nature-based healthcare keeps the herd healthy all year."

Are they really not organic then? And Claravale who doesn't have an organic label is the "real" organic one? I'm so very confused here.

[mamadelbosque]

I have herd shares (yes, plural - one is closer and seasonal and my preference as they're 100% grass fed, the other isn't quite 100% grass fed, but is also not seasonal so I've gotten milk from them this winter vs pasturised or frozen raw...), and pay $22 a month for the non-seasonal and $23 a month for the seasonal, per gallon of milk per week. Which works out to $5.50 a gallonish.

[becalive]

raw milk cost

ohio - $7 gal.
not bad considering organic milk in the store is $6 gal.

[kaleidoscopeeyes]

The cheapest I can find Claravale is $4.50 a quart (+ $1.50 glass deposit) all the other stores around here that carry it sell it for $5.00 a quart. OP is cheaper, but I really don't like that it comes in plastic. It's probably just an aesthetic thing though, maybe I'll try it one of these days. I tried OP raw butter once and so thoroughly disliked it I think I'm turned off to the whole brand.

[tamagotchi]

We pay $3.75/quart for Claravale through our co-op. (Plus the standard $1.50 bottle deposit)

[Rainbow2911]

Oh my. I think I need to move house! I pay £1.99 per pint for raw goats milk (which is the only raw milk I can find at the moment). That is about $18 per gallon. Sigh. :

[Smithie]

$4/gallon at the farm - cheaper than organic milk from the store or farmer's co-op! I think the cows get some grain in winter, but I am OK with that. It might be just hay that they get. The main point for me is - they have a lot of pasture and when I pick up my milk they are standing out on it!!!

[moneca]

I pay $7 per gallon through a cow share program for pastured raw here in Colorado.

[sebarnes]

We pay $6/gallon. My sister has it the best though. She's in Idaho and has a neighbor who has pastured cows and sells them the milk raw. She only pays $1.50/gallon. Yes, I am jealous.

[Theoretica]

We must be really lucky...we pay $4/gallon for our raw milk

[MamaEli]

$8/gal. in NC.

[Thystle]

We had to do a cow share too.


We pay $7.00 a gallon.

$16.00 a gallon straight cream. :

[tayndrewsmama]

We paid $10 for a lifetime cow share and pay $6.00 a gallon. The milk is fantastic. I have spoken to people there that have come all the way from Chicago! That's almost four hours one way for them. :

It's calving season now, so the milk is very scarce. Like liquid gold to get your hands on.