Raw Milk

[Nursie_Stacie]

I found a dairly farm close to my home that I can buy fresh milk from.

Does it come drinkable or do i need to do anything to it first?


I know you can make butter and have your own cream from it but no clue where to start

Any suggestions woudl be appreciated !

[clutterbug]

You can just drink it straight up...we do. The only thing different from "store" milk for us is that we shake it before we pour it to mix the cream back in.

Our milk doesn't have enough cream on top to skim for anything. That all depends on the breed of cow and what percentage of cream they typically have in their milk. I wish we could skim our own cream and make butter. Maybe you can....ask the farmer.

[Nursie_Stacie]

Maybe you can....ask the farmer

My DH went, I didnt. They told him he could drink it straight, but some times in these rural areas they may take risk that I may not, hince wanting some advise from people who buy Raw milk. I do not know if it can be skimmed or not, I guess I will see when he brings it home. It is only 1.25 a gallon. I was pretty suprised at how economical it is.

[Indychick829]

Originally Posted by Nursie_Stacie

My DH went, I didnt. They told him he could drink it straight, but some times in these rural areas they may take risk that I may not, hince wanting some advise from people who buy Raw milk. I do not know if it can be skimmed or not, I guess I will see when he brings it home. It is only 1.25 a gallon. I was pretty suprised at how economical it is.

WOW! you're lucky at $1.25 / gallon...it's illegal to "sell" in indiana - so they do have "cow-sharing" programs - basically I found one around the corner from my house it would be $50 downpayment for the farmer that brings it here to indianapolis' to help pay for gas and whatnot - then $7.00 / gallon every monday.

I'd LOVE to do it - but can't spend $7/gallon!!!

[Nursie_Stacie]

Holy Crapola @ $7 a gallon !


We just moved to ar in June and lot of dairy farms here. They sell the raw milk and some even their own organic cheese my DH found for about 4$ lb. Very economical here.

Even free range chickens are 1$ a dozen.

We bought our own Road Island red hens so we have own own eggs now, so it is pretty nice but im trying to get as organic as possible since im in a area now that it is possible, unlike the HIGH prices of Fl where I lived my whole life.


If I could make my own butter and have fresh cream that would be fabulous once I figure out how and the safeness of drinking raw milk. I goggled it but their is so much conflicting info, and methods.

[GennieF]

WOW! That is cheap! There is a place nearby that sells raw milk, in PA they test it for safety but there is still a risk. At least it is legal to purchase though! Yes, you can drink it straight, I wanted to try making yogurt out of it but was a bit leery...maybe I'll try it soon though.

[butters]

Originally Posted by Nursie_Stacie

It is only 1.25 a gallon. I was pretty suprised at how economical it is.

Wow! I pay $4.50 for a half gallon! It's from the farmer's market however, instead of a cow share or something similar. I suppose I could get it cheaper if I could drive to the country to pick it up, but after factoring in gas I might only break even.

[Lillianna]

Originally Posted by Nursie_Stacie

Holy Crapola @ $7 a gallon !


We just moved to ar in June and lot of dairy farms here. They sell the raw milk and some even their own organic cheese my DH found for about 4$ lb. Very economical here.

Even free range chickens are 1$ a dozen.

.

Wow! I need to move down South -- the nearest place I can get raw milk, it's 18.00 per gallon. Local eggs are $4 to $5.00 per dozen, depending on where you buy them. I just bought a pint of raw cream for $6.00.

[2big4mysize]

if that farmer is the one selling the milk each time and he has repeat customers then you could assume his cows are not infected with anything and he uses clean methods to milk his cows.

I will caution you raw milk will taste like what the cow has been eating so find out if the cows are free range grass eating or are they fed a special mix of feed for best milk production. "Green" milk is an aquired taste if you have been drinking store bought your whole life.

[wcwendy]

If you are getting whole milk, if you let your milk sit for 12-24 hours, you will see a ring of cream at the top. The milk that I get is in plastic jugs which are inconvenient for spooning cream from the top. I pour the milk into wide-mouthed containers and leave them in the fridge overnight. The next day, I use a ladle to skim the cream into another container, then pour the milk into glass milk bottles.

I have on order a gallon glass jar w/ a spigot toward the bottom. My plan is to pour the milk into that, then the next day, I can use the spigot to pour the milk into milk bottles, and pour the cream into pint-sized bottles. This will be SO easy! Not that using a ladle is difficult.


Here are some threads that will probably answer most of your questions:

raw-dairy-30-day-impressions

making raw butter

paneer and more

[Lillianna]

[QUOTE=2big4mysize;12546916I will caution you raw milk will taste like what the cow has been eating so find out if the cows are free range grass eating or are they fed a special mix of feed for best milk production. "Green" milk is an aquired taste if you have been drinking store bought your whole life.[/QUOTE]

Thank you for that... I noticed that my raw cream tastes kind of different. Not bad, just different. It will take some getting used to--also the yellowish color is kind of off-putting. I'm trying to tell myself that this is the way dairy products are SUPPOSED to look...

[FitnessWanabee]

Nobody is concerned about e. coli, listeria?

[GennieF]

From the place our store gets their raw milk:

Q: What is the difference between the raw milk and pasteurized milk that you sell?
A: Raw milk is milk that has been harvested from the cow, cooled, and then bottled. It has not been processed in any way. To sell raw milk in the state of Pennsylvania additional lab testing is required for safety, as well as a label that warns people with weakened immune systems against consuming raw milk. Pasteurized milk is milk that has been heated and then cooled to kill any harmful bacteria that may be present in the milk. We use a High Temperature Short Time system (HTST) so we can rapidly heat and cool the milk to retain its taste and integrity. We also offer milk called cream line, or non-homogenized, milk.

[clutterbug]

Originally Posted by FitnessWanabee

Nobody is concerned about e. coli, listeria?

Nope! Sterilized, pasteurized milk is more likely to be infected with dangerous pathogens because it doesn't have any good bacteria to duke it out with that nasty stuff. In raw milk, the good guys usually win. There have been more outbreaks with pasteurized milk than raw. Plus, farmers who supply raw milk are usually more fastidious than their counterparts. The scary thing to me is farmers who know their milk will be pasteurized so they feel they can take shortcuts with food safety and cleanliness. "Aww...a little manure in the milk. Oh, well, it'll be sterilized when it's pasteurized." Ewwww! Not saying it happens a lot, but it could. A raw milk farmer is *usually* super clean and careful. The real answer to this is: "Know your farmer and where your milk originates."

[rene50]

Originally Posted by 2big4mysize

I will caution you raw milk will taste like what the cow has been eating

Yes, I remember drinking milk from my grandmother's cow after the cow had eaten some bitter weads. Ick! Normally, I loved the farm fresh milk at her house though. I think clutterbug is right about the farm fresh milk being healthier. I haven't had any in years, but I always liked it very cold. (yum) We raise beef cattle and they wouldn't take too kindly to someone trying to milk them!

[Blood Sugar 101]

You do need to know where it is coming from. Not all state regulate, and not all farmers who are selling what is essentially black market raw milk do the testing needed to keep it clean.

Pasteurized milk is extremely safe. I was reading recently about the high rate of child death from milk before the regulations were made that require pasteurization. My own grandmother told me that bottled milk killed babies--that was her and her friend's experience in the decade of 1900-1910.

If you know the farm and farmer it's one thing. If you are buying it from mysterious sources, it's something else. So do use your head.

[fawn]

How fun Stacey! It sounds like you're enjoying it and for $1 a dozen for the eggs? WOW!

Here's another reference for you.
A CAMPAIGN FOR REAL (RAW) MILK!

[rene50]

Arkansas is rural, and farmers will often sell/trade to friends and neighbors and may not even be aware, or care, about regulations. We don't consider this practice "black market," and usually, the milk/produce/meat/eggs we are sharing is the same food we serve our families. It may seem old fashion and unregulated to some, but I think it is certainly healthier that what is purchased in stores. I do agree that you shouldn't purchase/trade from a mysterious source. I love the veggies and eggs and that I get from local farmers, and I am happy to trade our hormone-free, antibiotic free beef for their home grown stuff! Kinda old school, but it works for us!

[pegpub]

For a lot of info.

A CAMPAIGN FOR REAL (RAW) MILK!

Scott

[InspiredBlue]

Originally Posted by rene50

Arkansas is rural, and farmers will often sell/trade to friends and neighbors and may not even be aware, or care, about regulations. We don't consider this practice "black market," and usually, the milk/produce/meat/eggs we are sharing is the same food we serve our families. It may seem old fashion and unregulated to some, but I think it is certainly healthier that what is purchased in stores. I do agree that you shouldn't purchase/trade from a mysterious source. I love the veggies and eggs and that I get from local farmers, and I am happy to trade our hormone-free, antibiotic free beef for their home grown stuff! Kinda old school, but it works for us!

My thoughts exactly. What the farmer sells is probably also what their family is eating. It's so odd to me to hear unpasteurized milk be discussed like this weird dangerous uncontrolled substance.

[fawn]

you renegades....

Good for you!

[Tasmania]

I miss raw milk. Used to get it as a kid at a farm next to ours in PA. Best milk ever.

[Nursie_Stacie]

WOW LOL


While im certainly no expert on raw milk, my goal is to work toward transitioning my family as close to whole natural foods as possible and whole raw milk offers multiple options. The local dairy's here sell the to the general public but are inspected as they sell to out side sources as well as make organic cheese. Their are also some local farms who keep milk cows for them self that will sell the excess to locals.

I watched the milking process a few nighst ago ( they milk twice a day) and I must say it was facinating and they walked me through the process . It is a totally closed system and the clean the cow udders with different solutions before and after the milking.

Everything is a learning process but having this option is great. Fresh cheese and butter are yumm and it is a good feeling to know that something so good is so healthy.

Still havent drank the milk yet but working on it LOL

[Indychick829]

Nurse Stacie - listen to the podcast found here:

Raw Milk - Underground Wellness

it just makes me want raw milk even more!!!!! but again - $7/gallon...maybe come spring I will!

[FitnessWanabee]

Yet I can't get around the idea that I can get sick from drinking raw milk. There is no evidence that shows E-coli or salmonella is killed by the enzymes in raw milk. I'll stick to pasteurized but not homogenized.