In days of yesteryear, families used to milk their cows in the morning, likely by hand, bring in some fresh milk and serve it for breakfast. The more fat the better. Nowadays, with milk arriving in American kitchens cleaned up (a.k.a. pasteurized), fat skimmed off, stored in a plastic jug from a farm somewhere unknown, the idea of raw milk is a foreign one.
However, lately I have been hearing of more and more folks talking about their delicious, healthy and fresh raw milk. It is intriguing and it makes sense. Why not consume something in its natural form?
Selling raw milk is not legal in the state of Kentucky, but that is where people like Jason Staggers and the Lexington Cow Poolers come in.
Staggers, Cow Poolers’ founder, has six children, and he laughed, “All six of them have survived” consuming raw milk – no illnesses from bacteria or other potential hazards that can plague dairy produced at large farms.
Lexington Cow Poolers basically connects people who would like to legally procure raw milk from a farmer. Through share programs, families can become owners of the animals that are kept at a small farm. Farmers will essentially charge a room and board fee for the cow or herd, but the owners have the say in how they consume the animal’s milk.
I think this sounds like a great idea. This is how people used to survive before the days of big commercial dairy operations. Not to slam big agriculture, because it is what feeds us, but it also requires milk to be pasteurized – since the herds on these farms mostly spend their days ankle deep in the feces from dozens of other cows. Disease and illness is not as easily controlled, so it becomes necessary to pasteurize. Better safe than sorry.
Staggers explains, “Pasteurizing only became necessary when conventional farms grew to the point that they couldn’t control the health of their animals, and the cleanliness of the animals’ surroundings,” he said. “Alternatively when a cow is primarily grass fed and able to roam in the pasture, it’s going to be much healthier.”
So is there a way to keep people healthy from harmful bacteria while providing the most beneficial dairy possible? Probably not. This is where diligence comes in. If you really want it, you need to seek it out. Staggers said his farmer has provided raw milk to families via herd sharing for about eight years, and is currently providing milk to about 150 families. To his knowledge no one has ever gotten sick.
In the case of raw milk, Staggers explained, it’s a matter of retaining nutrients that are native to cow’s milk. Pasteurization kills off the beneficial bacteria contained in raw dairy.
“I can probably only speak for our family – the reason we prefer raw dairy is we believe it’s healthier,” he said, adding that the bacteria is very healthy for digestion and “the gut.”
Also, pasteurization kills a protein in the milk that aids in digestion. He said many people who are lactose intolerant drink raw milk and find that they are not in fact lactose intolerant but were just missing the necessary digestion. And, he said raw milk heals eczema, and he has heard of people who have seen major improvements in their dental health as a result of raw dairy.
Staggers said, in his opinion, the only people who really need to consult with a physician before consuming raw milk are women who are pregnant or nursing.
My suggestion? Go talk to a farmer. Or drop Staggers a line at lexcowpool@gmail.com for more information about herd sharing.