| Since the end of the Second World War, milk has | | | | impact of this practice is rife, affecting wildlife and |
| been mass-produced using intensive farming | | | | soil quality. Nitrates from fertilisers leach into our |
| methods. It has been touted as good for us by | | | | waterways, leaving water companies with millions |
| health professionals and the dairy industry for | | | | of pounds worth of clean up costs each year in |
| decades, the average Britain guzzles over 86 litres | | | | order to ensure the safety of drinking |
| of it each year and children love it, so it makes | | | | water.Organic dairy farming does not permit |
| sense to ensure we are getting it from a good | | | | synthetic chemicals to be used on pasture and |
| quality source.More and more people are willing to | | | | relies on clover as fertiliser. Its implementation of |
| dig a bit deeper into their pockets to find the | | | | more traditional farming methods, such as crop |
| extra few pence (or pounds) to pay for the | | | | rotation, helps to restore the balance of wildlife |
| healthier option, and for many, that means going | | | | and improve soil.Animal welfare is a topic that hits |
| organic. Milk is no exception.OMSCo (the Organic | | | | a nerve with many people. Standards in which |
| Milk Suppliers Cooperative) confirms milk to be | | | | animals are kept vary from farm-to-farm. For |
| the largest single organic product in the UK. Its | | | | example, on conventional dairy farms, cows do |
| increasing availability and falling prices make it a | | | | not have to be given bedding or much room; |
| popular choice for the consumer. On average, a | | | | some farms never allow their cows to graze |
| pint of organic milk will cost just 14 pence more | | | | outside and instead they remain inside in stalls and |
| per pint than its non-organic counterpart, and | | | | the grass is brought to them. Calves may be |
| buying multi-litre cartons as many households do, | | | | kept isolated from their mothers and other calves |
| means it works out even cheaper. Supermarket | | | | and thus experience great distress.Organic dairy |
| shelves reserved for it are often bare, reflecting | | | | cows spend the spring and summer months |
| its demand.So why the sudden mad rush for the | | | | grazing on pasture and are housed comfortably |
| organic white stuff? Consumers have become | | | | during the winter with bedding and plenty of |
| increasingly worried about artificial chemicals, | | | | space. Calves are allowed to socialise which is part |
| antibiotics and pesticides that are required to | | | | of their natural behaviour. Organic dairy farming |
| prevent disease and maximise milk production. | | | | requires higher standards of welfare for its |
| With the average cow being excessively milked | | | | animals.When dairy cows are given nutritious, |
| to produce the highest yield possible, which can be | | | | natural food and a better quality of life, this |
| over 11,000 pints of milk per year (more than 10 | | | | reflects in the quality of their milk. Research has |
| times as much as they would naturally produce | | | | shown organic milk contains higher levels of |
| for their calf), mastitis is common.Affecting 30 | | | | omega 3 fatty acids, beta-carotene and other |
| per cent of dairy cows, mastitis is a painful | | | | cancer-fighting antioxidants than non-organic milk. |
| infection of the udder routinely treated with | | | | Organic milk is more natural as it does not contain |
| antibiotics. The Dairy Council of the United | | | | potentially harmful pesticide residues or originate |
| Kingdom states that milk collected from cows | | | | from cows fed genetically modified food.This is |
| treated for mastitis in this way is not sold for | | | | not to say non-organic milk is bad. Not all farms |
| human consumption, but some people still have | | | | are created equal; animal welfare standards and |
| concerns about residues ending up in milk.Although | | | | farming practices vary considerably. Organic dairy |
| antibiotics are still used in organic dairy farming, | | | | farming is nothing new; it is simply geared |
| they are kept to a minimum and only used when | | | | towards age-old farming methods used before |
| absolutely necessary, with priority being given to | | | | the Second World War, and not all organic farms |
| homeopathic and herbal alternatives.The diet of | | | | adhere to the same principles.If you want to drink |
| dairy cows consists of grass, silage (pickled | | | | milk that is organic because you believe it is |
| grass), and hay. Large amounts of protein are | | | | healthier or simply for your own peace of mind, |
| required to ensure milk demands can be met. One | | | | how can you be sure the milk you drink is |
| way of achieving this is to supplement the diet | | | | produced to high organic standards?Supermarket |
| with high protein concentrates that can be given | | | | own-label brands are likely to be supplied by |
| in variable proportions, sometimes at unnaturally | | | | OMSCo. If the OMSCo logo is displayed on a pint |
| high levels. This often takes the form of imported | | | | it means a farmer registered with a UK organic |
| genetically modified cattle feed, which helps to | | | | certification body has produced the milk. |
| keep feeding costs down.There are strict | | | | Certification bodies include The Soil Association, |
| regulations in place regarding the feed of organic | | | | Organic Farmers & Growers, The Organic Food |
| dairy cows, and GM is a no-go area. Instead the | | | | Federation and Demeter, all of which demand high |
| bulk of the diet is made up of grass, silage, hay | | | | organic standards of their members. There are |
| and other green plants rather than concentrates. | | | | also independent brands, which comply with strict |
| Whenever concentrates are given they must be | | | | organic regulations; a couple to look out for include |
| GM-free and not animal derived.It stands to | | | | Rachel's Organic and Yeo Valley.Some farming |
| reason that whatever cows eat, ends up in their | | | | principles are still the same throughout organic and |
| milk; animals absorb chemicals just like humans. | | | | non-organic milk production, but if you have |
| Pesticides and artificial fertilisers are sprayed on | | | | decided to go down the organic route it would |
| pastures and chemical traces of pesticides have | | | | seem to be a step in the right direction. |
| been found in milk. The negative environmental | | | | |