Organic and Raw Milk Question

[enchantinglysimple]

I just found Traditonal Foods most recently and I am thrilled to begin transistioning over to this new eating style. I also bought the book Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon and it is a great resource.

But I have a few questions regarding milk. I plan on making my own yogurt and fermenting other things as well.... and I was planning on buying raw milk from a dairy that is a good 40 minutes away but I am not so sure about it now. They are having me sign a waiver of liability about me knowing the risks of raw milk I know all the facts about how good the good bacteria is for you but reading that waiver made me very nervous of all a sudden.

I was wondering about Organic Milk free from Horomones and Antibiotics, that is better for you then regular pasterized milk, isn't it? And correct me if I am wrong but you can still use pasterized milk to culture yogurt and many other things and still get all that great bacteria from the cultured food, right?

Even if I were to buy pasteuried milk and culture it I would still be getting a lot of much needed good bacteria or enzymes and I would still be benefitting mine and my families health.

I guess I would just like some support on this issue, I know raw milk is best for you but being since I don't actually raise the cows myself and I don't know 100% that they are healthy and eating all of the right things it makes me uneasy. What do you think?

I know when it comes down to it I have to make the decison that best suits my family but It's always good to hear others responses.

If you have any suggestions or answers for me they would be greatly appreciated!

[Attached Mama]

Most organic milk is ultra-pasturized meaning even more of the good stuff has been killed.

They only make you sign the waiver because they have to do so to cover their hind ends. You can get just as sick from tomatoes or any other food as from milk.

If you are going to heat your yogurt to a high, high temp then you are fine with pasturized. We use raw for yogurt and just don't heat it very much.

You are far better off drinking raw milk, the way nature intended, than pasturized!!

[enchantinglysimple]

I did find out that the dairy that I bought some raw milk at feeds their cows Alfalfa and corn. Would they still produce okay milk? I bought some yesterday and I am a bit apprehesive to use it, even though I was so sure about the raw milk at first.

[PeggyinNC]

I understand your feelings, as I had to get over a bit of trepidation about doing something that all the "experts" say is bad and dangerous. However, we have been drinking raw milk from a home dairy farm for nearly two years now, and I am so glad we made the switch. Even milk from a slightly imperfect farm is far, far better than the most beautifully packaged stuff from a store that has been quite literally cooked.
I know the feeling, and it does take some time to get over it, but it is really worth it. It is just deprogramming from all the daily indoctrination. Keep reading Sally Fallon and the stuff in NT as well as over at the WP...that may help with the fears. Good luck in any case. We have to go at the pace we are ready for...

[Staciemao]

The alfalfa is for calcium, which lactating ruminants need a LOT of and can't really get from just grass. It's a good thing if this dairy is giving it to their animals.

I don't know about the corn, other than it gives them some protein and helps them stay still on the milkstand. My goats get a little bit of COB (corn, oats and barley) on the milkstand and I tend to think of it as helping to replace some of the calories that I take out of them by milking. Does that make sense?

[enchantinglysimple]

Yes i understand Staciemao thanks for that great info. It is good to know that alfalfa and the corn is a-okay!

I do feel a lot better about getting the raw milk but I am not so sure about the long journey to get it. I want to get a group together to go and get it but until then I am going to see if I can find non-homogenized milk at Whole Foods with the cream on the top.

I live in UT does anyone have any good brands of non-homogenized milk?

Thanks again for all of the info!

[Attached Mama]

Actually, corn is not digestible by cows and can make them sick... If they are only feeding them a few cups while milking, it won't do much harm, but it does greatly change the outcome of the milk to feed them corn and does make them much more prone to digestive disorders and sickness. I would still choose that raw over anything in the store tho.

[Sasha_girl]

I only 'give' to friends and people I know, but if I were to sell raw milk to strangers I would have them sign a waiver acknowledging that the milk was for pet consumption only (the only way it's legal in my state). I'd need that to cover my behind, kwim?

Not certain about cows, but my goats get alfalfa. It's good for their milk supply.

I would not drink milk from a store unless I had no other choice.

[junipermuse]

Originally Posted by enchantinglysimple

Yes i understand Staciemao thanks for that great info. It is good to know that alfalfa and the corn is a-okay!

I do feel a lot better about getting the raw milk but I am not so sure about the long journey to get it. I want to get a group together to go and get it but until then I am going to see if I can find non-homogenized milk at Whole Foods with the cream on the top.

I live in UT does anyone have any good brands of non-homogenized milk?

Thanks again for all of the info!

Most Trader Joe's seem to carry milk that is non-homogenized. i sometimes buy that because I know I'm going to be cooking with the milk and don't feel like buying rawmilk just to heat it up and lose many of the raw benefits anyway.

[stacyann21]

since I don't actually raise the cows myself and I don't know 100% that they are healthy and eating all of the right things it makes me uneasy.

Well you can be sure that the cows producing the regular pasteurized, homogenized milk at your local grocery store aren't. In general, farmers selling raw milk tend to feed their cows a proper diet and treat them better all around. And no, I don't think you can properly culture pasteurized milk into yogurt and cheese. Although I could be wrong? I know when our pasteurized milk used to spoil it smelled and tasted like s**t.