Voices, I pretty much agree with you that raw whole pasture-raised milk is the way to go. It's better for the cow as well as the person consuming her milk. Unfortunately, agriculture isn't always going in that direction when it's more profitable to do the conventional dairying. This is in no way a slam on farmers- they are very hard-working and doing the best they can to survive and thrive. I don't agree with the hormones...yes, they're the same as what the cow naturally produces, but there is such a thing as too much.
You can find here in Michigan milk from dairies which don't use such hormones. In fact, that is the vast majority of the milk around here, but that could easily be just a regional thing. I do not agree with the way antibiotics are often used, but when you put animals in an unnatural environment, you have to or it presents a very serious welfare concern.
Most dairies around here feed a TDR mix which is basically pellets and grain mixed with a lot of silage. It's supposed to be a balanced ration. There is usually some hay fed as well.
I'll drink pasteurized, homogenized milk from the store, but it's far from ideal. It may be the only way that farmers can support the population's demand for milk and dairy. If it matters very much to you, buy organic milk when you can- raw if legally for sale- or get your own cow, doe, or ewe, or make friends with somebody who has them.
I find the fat-free, 1%, 2%, etc. to be yucky. Even the whole milk you buy from the store isn't usually whole- generally at least some of the butterfat is removed so that it meets the minimum standard (3.25% I believe) and not much more. The excess cream is used for other products.
I can't personally stand the vegetable milks like rice and almond and coconut. I know many people enjoy them though.
Raw milk is a delicious and nearly perfect food (as long as one isn't sensitive to milk!). I had to laugh during one of my dairy lectures because the prof had an incredibly long list of microorganisms that make raw milk a VERY dangerous thing to drink...I haven't died nor gotten sick yet, nor my family either.
I wasn't trying to pick on you- just wanted to point out some common misconceptions about milk and dairy farming. I happen to actually agree with your main point.
God bless!
Topic: Milk (Read 9402 times)