Guernsey Milk Cow:

Meet Sally.  She is a registered Guernsey dairy cow tested to only produce the A2/A2 protein, which she passed on to her calf.  She came to us all the way from Wisconsin and is my favorite animal on the whole farm.  Guernsey is a rare breed that is listed as threatened on the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy list of rare breeds.  She was pregnant when we purchased her and gave birth to a little heifer in September.  We feel honored to have such a wonderful specimen to assist our efforts at preserving endangered livestock and we look forward to raising this precious little calf. 

We do things a little different here on the ranch so instead of going to the store to buy dairy products, we choose to raise our own.  There is a reason for that.  We believe raw milk from healthy Guernsey cows raised on grass is far superior in taste and nutrition.  It is of course a controversial subject but I ask you to remain open minded until you have researched both sides and then decide what is best for you and your family.  As the months go on, I will try to add more information and links so you can learn even more.

There are several breeds of dairy cows but we prefer the Guernsey.  The Guernsey is known for their "golden" color milk resulting from an abundance of carotene.  Carotene is what makes carrots orange and is responsible for vitamin A production.  Guernsey's are excellent at converting grass into a rich milk high in butter fat and rich in minerals and nutrients.  Since we prefer not to grain feed our dairy cows, we felt the Guernsey was our best choice.  They are also known for their gentle disposition and I can attest to that.  She simply loves human attention and has a heart of gold.

It is our desire to eventually make raw milk available right here in the valley.  I've been told the nearest raw dairy is near San Antonio (although there may be some goat dairies closer).  We are in the process of updating our barn in order to pass the rigorous inspections before we can be licensed to sell raw milk.   Fortunately Texas allows the sale of raw milk but from the farm only, not at farmers markets or delivered so we will need to build a small store too.  If you would be interested in purchasing raw milk in the future, please send me an email and I'll add you to our list to keep you updated on our progress. 

FEEDING DAIRY COWS:

Cows were never meant to eat large amounts of grain.  Bovine were developed thousands of years ago on long stem grasses.  The only grain they consumed was the seeds of the grass in the field.  Cows have a rumen which is one of a 4 part stomach common to many grazing animals (goats, buffalo, sheep, etc.).  The cows digestion system efficiently extracts the nutrients from a high fiber diet by fermentation in the rumen.  This breaks down non-digestible cells into nutrients.  Because of the rumen, a cow can turn grass into a high protein mineral rich milk that is the most complete and perfect food known to man.   When a dairy cow is fed more than a few pounds of grain a day, it lowers the PH (becomes acidic) and kills fauna in the digestive system.  Without the natural beneficial bacteria in her system, all sorts of ailments common in modern dairies begin to appear.  The most nutritious and top quality milk is that from a cow grazing on lush grasses from organically managed pastures.  Since a dairy cow is such a high producing animal, her diet is very important to provide her with everything she needs for her own body as well and the nutrition she passes on through her milk.  We are lucky in that Sally can find that on our fertile soil and lush irrigated Bermuda grass.  

Since an imbalance, or lack of minerals, can cause health problems very fast in dairy cows, we provide Sally with a daily amount of sea kelp.  Sea kelp has probably every mineral needed in the body and is balanced by the ocean.  It contains trace minerals as well as important vitamins.  Along with that we give her a small amount of apple cider vinegar poured over a small amount of oats to keep her interested.  As a result, she stays in tip top shape and has had no health problems.           

RAW MILK: 

Check out the web site www.realmilk.com for some great information about raw milk.  Even better is a book The Untold Story of Milk.  It tells the story of raw milk through the ages and compares certain cultures that live mainly on raw milk to modern society that drinks pasteurized milk.  It also compares the increase in certain diseases and health problems associated with pasteurized milk.  At times the book gets very technical when it explains the chemical changes that happen when milk is heated.  Basically, it destroys the bacteria, including beneficial bacteria, vitamins, renders some of the minerals unusable (unable to be absorbed), and creates an unbalanced state of calcium, phosphates and other important life giving elements.

Raw milk on the other hand is alive with enzymes, probiotics, complete and balanced minerals, and natural vitamins.  Throughout history, raw milk has been used to restore health and strengthen immunity.  Not just any raw milk will do though.  Just as we are affected by what we eat, cows can only produce quality milk on quality feed.  Nothing is better for a cow than fresh green grass growing on organically managed pastures.  Cattle were not designed to live on grain but are equipped with a rumen to digest grass and forage.  A small amount of grain can be tolerated but a grain based diet will change the PH of the digestive system and bring on a number of health issues so common in commercial dairies.  Living green grass is full of living enzymes and that is passed on to you when you drink her raw milk.  That golden sweet raw milk from a grass fed Guernsey is natures most perfect and complete food.   

THE MILK INDUSTRY:

Here is an article that explains how your milk is produced and the affects on our environment.  I would much prefer every community have their own small grass based dairy.

http://thefern.org/2011/11/milk-and-water-dont-mix/