Re: testing cows

[Guest guest]

To Carolyn

From The Milk Direct people

follow your gut feelings, it is very hard to contaminate milk on a small scale,

and if you have been on it for a while in the winter months the chances do rise

for problems in summer but there is gaining information that consistent use of

raw milk helps you resist bacteria anyway.

we only test to sastify the state and use it in court to offset the state and

its diatribe about inherent risk of raw milk.

after years of testing several farms no contamination has yet to be found .

We are also collecting information from state run raw milk programs on the

incidence of illness of raw milk over a 20 year period.

We will post that info when we have it.

But do watch for other animals in the milking herd area, pigs and chickens can

cause problems if run together as to the safety of milk.

Tim

Carolyn Gutman-Dey wrote:

> I have a source of raw milk (Guernsey cows). I have seen the farm, talked

to the farmers, and have been drinking the milk for a few weeks. It seems

great: the cows are pastured most of the year, fed some hay in the winter during

bad weather, and never fed grain. However, the cows are not tested at all.

Without getting into the legal issues (the farmers believe they are following

the law in this state) --- what do you all think about the health risks here?

>

> The farm is very clean (it seems to me) and they check for signs of disease,

and they only have two cows -- both of which have cute names and are treated

like pets (not to suggest that cute names are an antidote to disease of

course!). Well, you get the idea. Any thoughts? Should I worry? In NT, Sally

says that if you can find a source of *tested* raw milk, go for it. So I

wonder. Again, the legal issue here is a separate (and complex) issue to me...

I am just concerned about the health part of it at the moment. I have read

earlier emails about this subject, but haven't really nailed down what the

consensus is on if a person should drink untested cows. I guess I could check

out www.realmilk.com some more.... I have read articles there, too, but not for

a while. I guess I just don't know what/who to trust. My gut says not to worry

about it. :-)

>

> Thanks

> Carolyn

>

>

[Guest guest]

We milk 4 cows (soon to be 3). Have never tested any of the cows or the milk.

We milk somewhere between 5 and 15 goats and have not had any of them tested

either. Figuring that the folks milking the cows are drinking the milk you

are probably real safe, safer than the pasteurized stuff in the stores. Just

my opinion.\

Belinda