| Is whole raw milk healthy? |
| Absolutely! It is so healthy, it is sometimes referred to as "White Blood". Like your blood, it is loaded with cells and elements to protect it from contamination. Pasteurizing kills the built in protection and the majority of the nutrients. Unlike pasteurized milk, whole milk never spoils. It only changes into other healthy milk based products. |
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| What if the cow gets sick? |
| Remember, a mother's milk very carefully protects and nourishes her baby. The same is true with cows. The myths that started pasteurization were based on the milk being contaminated after it left the cow and sick people doing the milking.
Those infections that can get transferred to the udder are very few and very rare. All of them make the cow obviously ill and the milk stops being used. Cows are also immunized against them by responsible dairies offering healthy milk.
We rarely need a conventional vet. We've found we can usually treat any problems with homeopathy, herbs, and common sense old fashioned remedies. |
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| Where do Jerseys come from? |
| They are old English cows from the island of Jersey. It's a small island in the English Channel. |
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| What is a Jersey? |
| They are a smaller cow, usually gold colored. They do have a lot of color variations. We have a beautiful black Jersey cow. They are known for their easy temperments, great personalities, and rich milk. |
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| How long do they live? |
| A well kept family cow can live up to 12 to 15 years old. |
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| How much does a Jersey cow eat? |
| Milk producing cows eat about 50 pounds of good hay a day. We supplement that with grain treats while milking them. Their diet should not be too rich because they are old fashioned. |
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| How much water do they need? |
| A healthy cow needs approximately 35 to 50 gallons a day. They need to drink more in the Summer. Water should not be rationed and needs to be always available. |
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| How long can you milk a cow? |
| Every cow is different. The best is to give them two months off before the calf is due. They will produce milk after the calf is born for seven to nine months. Some cows will produce milk longer. A few will dry themselves up sooner. |
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| Must they have a calf every year? |
| Yes, or you take the chance of the cow drying up and having no milk. |
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| How much milk does a Jersey cow give? |
| Every cow varies. Our prize Jerseys give three to six gallons a day. It depends on their age, genetics, and where they are in their lactation cycle. |
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| What is ''lactation''? |
| Lactation is when a mother cow starts producing milk for their calf. It will normally continue until their baby calf no longer needs the milk or they stop being milked regularly. They must be milked daily or they get very uncomfortable and stop producing milk. |
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| What is ''Colostrum''? |
| Colostrum (also known First Milk) is the milk produced by the mammary glands in late pregnancy and the first few days after giving birth.
Human and bovine colostrums are thick, sticky and yellowish. In humans, it has high concentrations of nutrients and antibodies, but small in quantity.
Colostrum is high in carbohydrates, protein, and antibodies, and low in fat (as newborns may find fat difficult to digest). Newborns have very small digestive systems, and colostrum delivers its nutrients in a very concentrated low-volume form. It has a mild laxative effect, encouraging the passing of the baby's first stool, which is called meconium. This clears excess bilirubin, a waste product of dead red blood cells which is produced in large quantities at birth.
Calves also require colostrum in order to get their digestive system off to a proper start. Without it, frequent deaths occur.
Please visit the Health Articles section for more information. |
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| What is different about Jersey milk? |
| Jerseys have the highest protein and butterfat content. Other cows produce more volume but don't match the quality or nutrician value. |
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| Can I get T.B. from my cow? |
| No! Human T.B. and bovine T.B. are very different and cannot be transmitted to the other. Only a sick human can contaminate the milk. |
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| Should I worry about E-Coli? |
| No! Refer to the "Health Article" section for "The Right to Raw Milk" or use one of the Search buttons. |
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| What about brucellosis? |
| Brucellosis is all but wiped out in the United States. However, most cows are inoculated for it between 6 Months to a year old. Some state borders will not let you cross without it. |
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| How often do you milk your cow? |
| Twice daily is best. Once a day is possible but not all cows will do it.
It should be as close to 12 hour intervals as possible and the time of day is not important. Big production dairies have cows in the milking rooms 24 hours a day. If a cow has to wait excessively long, it may engorge her and cause Mastitis. The same thing happens to human mothers. |
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| What is Mastitis? |
| Mastitis is an irritation of the milk glands which can lead to infections. It is best avoided through sanitation, complete milking, and adhering to a strict schedule. |
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| How long is a cow pregnant? |
| Their pregnancy lasts nine months. Twins are rare. |
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| What kind of shelter is needed? |
| Nothing fancy is required. A windbreak and some shade for Summer will do. They are surprisingly cold resistant and like snow. The heat of Summer is their least favorite time. They should not be closed in a tight building and they need lots of air. |
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| Do I need a milking stanchion? |
| Not necessarily. Our cows are halter trained and can be tied in a corner or against a wall. We prefer a stanchion, but Jerseys are very friendly and you can usually milk them anywhere. |
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| Where can I get unpasturized milk? |
| If you are lucky, you live in one of the states that has corrected their legislation so it can be sold in grocery stores. If not, you'll need to find a small family dairy near you (like ours) that offers whole milk products or a supplier that will ship it to you. |
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| Where can I learn more? |
| Please visit our Health Articles section or some of the links from our Research Links page. You'll find a massive amount of research supporting whole raw milk as a requirement for staying healthy.
If you don't see it right away, try one of the Search buttons. |
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