Organic milk

[enismirdal]

What's the verdict on organic milk and other dairy these days? Is it still grossly unfair on our poor, modern immuno-deficient Holstein Friesians, or have they sorted things out now so it's OK?

In other news, East London has snow. Yes, I can hardly believe it either.

Comments

[emperor]

I still stand by my organic milk rant (which is helpfully tagged "organic milk" and "rant" :)

[enismirdal.livejournal.com]

Thanks! *goes and rereads for reference purposes* I remember you and girlofthemirror explaining the drawbacks of organic milk around that time and took note then, but at the time was less interested in organic food, etc. than I am now so it didn't affect my buying habits anyway. Now I'm getting more stuff that is organic, I thought I should reconsider my position and check that the situation is still the same as before.

I didn't read the comments in much detail at the time... Looking now, I guess I should try searching for milk from actual cows, not milk factories on four legs...

(As an aside, the prompting for all this was that I recently had flatmate bring me back a litre of milk from the shop as he was going anyway, and he got me organic, and I noticed it didn't seem to taste as good or keep as well as the regular stuff.)

[emperor]

I would expect it to have a shorter shelf-life, yes.

Sadly, I don't think you can get milk from sensible cows. I'd love to be proved wrong, though!

[enismirdal.livejournal.com]

Do Guernsey cows count as sensible, or has the market for gold-top meant they've been overbred for production almost as badly?

Duchy Originals milk claims to come from Ayrshire cows, so maybe worthy of more research...

[emperor]

I'm not sure, TBPH. I'm not sure where I can expected yield figures from.

Ayrshires are certainly a more plausible breed.

[girlofthemirror.livejournal.com]

I am almost changing my mind on organic milk actually. We are still streatching all cows beyond their physiology and the cell counts are still higher BUT I do think organic farming encourages farmers to use better practices. Organic farmers tend to be more involved and switched on to better management.

I think that it is tricky - what do you want from your milk? Animal welfare or environmental sustainability? The reduced use of fertilisers in organic farming is certainly good for the environment (on the feed they eat as well as pastures). If it is animal welfare that worries you then mastitis is a serious concernt and organic herds have more of that, but I've read that they have lower levels of lameness (one of the other main welfare problems of dairy herds). I think that a lot of the reccomendations of the soil association are really sound practice but I'm not sure how I really collate all those thoughts to a decision!


I think 'specialist' breeds are likely to be a bit more sensible. Channel Island breeds are certainly more hardy and less skinny so perhaps they are better.

[enismirdal.livejournal.com]

That's really interesting, thanks! I'm now weighing up relative plusses and minuses - I see what you mean about what I want from the milk. Bah, I guess I need a little Highland cow in the back garden. *giggles*

[girlofthemirror.livejournal.com]

I want a Dexter - they're so cute and miniature sized!

[enismirdal.livejournal.com]

Oh, they're cute! Proper cows that seem to know what they're doing! :D

[girlofthemirror.livejournal.com]

By the way - Hello! I haven't said hi to you in forever. I hope London is treating you well.

[enismirdal.livejournal.com]

London is amazing and I love it (funny how I can love Cambridge passionately, then move to the East End of London, which is more or less polar opposite, and love that just as much!).

I hope you're still enjoying Cambridge, being a vet, and that sort of thing! Last year's your final year, right? Oooh, exciting! :D Do you get to do practical vet stuff these days?

[girlofthemirror.livejournal.com]

It's strange isn't it, how you learn to like places. I'm still with that American girl, I think you met her she's called Stephanie. Well she lives in Boston (East coast of America not Boston in Lincolnshire) and I've grown to love it there. I'm actually looking for things to do there after I graduate! I'm pleased you're enjoying London though. It sounds quite an exciting place to live.

I am still enjoying Cambridge though I think I'm old enough to want to get paid now! Next year will be my last one and I'll be working up at the vet school full time in the clinics. I'm quite excited about it (though a little scared I'll accidentally kill something!).

[enismirdal.livejournal.com]

Ooh, yes, I remember Stephanie. Awesome that you two are still together! My flatmate is from Massachusetts as well so I hear lots of good things about that part of the world so I'm sure living there would be fantastic.

I'm sure you'll do great next year!