In Michigan, as of this writing, it’s against MDARD regulation (not law), for dairy cow-owners to sell raw milk to their neighbors. That doesn’t mean that the four letter agencies can tell you what you can feed your family. If you own your own cow, or own one with friends, you can avoid their overreach!
That is where we come in! We own our cattle in community with private individuals from all over our local region. Everyone contributes to the care of the livestock they own, and in return, receive a percentage of the production equivalent to their respective ownership in the herd!
Why should the need to keep your own cow stand in the way of your access to nutrient dense, whole, unprocessed (raw) milk? It shouldn’t, and we’re here to help. The ability to own part of an animal makes it possible for you to enjoy milk without any of the hassle or regulation. Not only will you receive your share of the milk, but you will become part owner in a real dairy herd and contribute to it’s care as well.
Guess what else? We’ll do all the work! All you need to do is contribute for care of the cows, and show up once per week to pick up your share. That’s it!
What do our cows eat?
We are completely transparent with all of our members about how our cows are cared for, we don’t use ‘non-gmo’ or ‘organic’ buzz words when none are necessary-
We feed our cows whole oats fermented with whey from cheese making, and add Lassahol (fermented organic molasses supplement) to improve the oats bioavailable nutrients and flavor. Oats are naturally non-GMO, there is no such thing as GMO oats! Also, whole oats are lower in polyunsaturated fat than other grains.
The fermented oats, kelp and some diatomaceous earth are given at milking time. Minerals/salt & hay are offered 24×7 in the pasture. Unsprayed, no-BS hay that Andy bales himself is fed, in both wet fermented (haylage) and dry bale varieties when rotational grazing is not available/sufficient. We can’t legally say our hay is organic because we didn’t pay for that label, but our hay is never sprayed, ever.
Just in case you didn’t know, in the late spring/summer/early fall the cows are rotationally grazed on over 35 acres of organically managed pasture. This means that the pastures are not sprayed or treated with anything other than our cow’s manure, organic approved amendments as needed, and hoof prints! We’ve owned this land since 2005 so we know what’s been on it, and what hasn’t!
What are the benefits of owning a cow share?
You will have access to the farm fresh, real, raw whole milk, that will nourish you and your family.
Each share of the herd entitles you to up to one gallon per week, half and multiple shares are available as well. The milk will be available here on the farm for pick up on your specified day, weekly. If you would like to sign up, please reach out to us via the ‘Contact Us’ button below to confirm availability.
What is A2-A2 Milk?
Our Brown Swiss cattle will be selectively bred for the A2 protein, which is said to be easier to digest. This protein is common in more heritage dairy cow breeds as opposed to the A1 protein that is most common in conventional farm milk. Our cattle are tested to confirm they are A2A2, and are registered Brown Swiss.
You may have already heard of milk from A2-A2 cows, it’s quickly becoming a leading innovation in the industry. A2-A2 milk refers to milk that only contains one type of protein: A2 beta-casein. Most milk that you purchase in a store contains both the A1 and A2 beta-casein, but research studies have shown evidence that our bodies may digest the two different types of protein differently. In these studies, people who have experienced adverse gastrointestinal effects of milk consumption, which resemble those in lactose intolerance, were able to drink milk with two A2 proteins with no adverse reactions.
Why Brown Swiss?
- Close protein/fat ratio – Brown Swiss milk possesses the closest protein/fat ratio of any dairy breed.
- Feet and legs – Properly structured legs allies to strong, hard, black, well formed feet, that mean Brown Swiss cattle have few problems. No doubt this is one of the key qualities that enable many Brown Swiss to continue producing in the herd until they are 12-15 years of age.
- Quiet Temperament – Dairymen, whom have worked with a variety of breeds are completely unanimous in their praise of the docile temperament and inquisitive nature of these quiet cattle.
- Longevity – The characteristic longevity of the breed is very evident in the Brown Swiss. While the breed tends to be later maturing than other breeds, cows tend to reach their peak in 5th or later lactations. Some breeds find it difficult to reach this stage, while the strength of the Brown Swiss allows them to lead long productive lives.
- Strength & Hybrid Vigour – Brown Swiss cows are cattle of great substance and strength. The experience of having cows ‘go down’ with metabolic problems or any other reason is rare amongst Brown Swiss owners.
- And because Teri thinks they are pretty. ?
Is Raw Milk Safe?
It’s a question many people have. We want to make sure you understand the priority we will put on the quality and safety of our herd share owners’ milk.
Real milk that has been produced in sanitary, humane conditions is a safe and healthy whole food. We are currently LISTED as a safe raw milk dairy with the Raw Milk Institute!!! This means that we have gone through a rigorous audit of our milk collection and bottling procedures and have exceeded their standards for the safe production of raw milk for human consumption. We are only one of two LISTED raw milk dairies in Michigan, and one of 19 in the Nation & Canada as of this writing!
Link to Our Herdshare Protocols and Quality Control Information
To learn more about raw milk safety and the many health benefits, please visit RealMilk.
So how will it work?
You will need to become a Herd Share Owner. Raw milk cannot be sold or purchased in the state of Michigan.
In our herd share operation, owners pay the farmer (Teri) a fee for boarding their share of the herd, caring for the herd, and milking the herd. The herd share owner then obtains the raw milk amount commensurate to his or her share of the herd, based on actual production, weekly.
Fresh cream from our cream separator.
For each herd share purchased, you have access to up to one gallon of milk each week. You can also own half shares (up to 1/2 gallon a week), or multiple shares (1 or more gallons a week).
You pick up your fresh milk weekly at our on-farm private member drop site, and we will provide the containers- they are free to use.
