Happenings on the Ranch

It’s been a debate for a long time; what are the benefits of drinking raw milk versus the pasteurized version?  There is a small number of the population that seeks out and drinks raw milk, but their voices are loud and strong.  Proponents say raw milk contains more essential nutrients than its heated counterpart which kills those beneficial elements.  Opponents say it’s too risky to sell unpasteurized milk because of the risk of illness from bad bacteria.

In the 1940’s , states began to require milk to be pasteurized and, according to health officials and advocates, the number of milk-borne illnesses dropped.  Pasteurization is now the industry standard.

But, raw milk advocates say the process has taken vital enzymes and beneficial bacteria from our diets and that’s what is causing a rise in digestive disorders.  Many people are convinced pasteurization of our dairy products is behind the increase in everything from autism to allergies to ADD.

Sally Fallon Morrell leads the Washington-based Campaign for Real Milk.  ”Raw milk is superior for growth, development, bone density, protection against cavities and infections, protections against allergies and building the immune system,” she says.  But public health officials say the dangers of raw milk far outweigh the potential of any benefits and say studies supporting the raw milk debate are flawed.

According to federal figures, from 1998 to 2008 there were 1,614 illnesses, 187 hospitalizations and two deaths linked to raw milk.  Raw milk advocates contend that many of these illnesses, and the two deaths, are actually from raw cheese, often produced in peoples’ homes out of raw milk bought at conventional dairies.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration requires that any milk sold between states be pasteurized and says unpasteurized milk and milk products put too many people at risk of potentially deadly poisoning.  But as more people become raw milk drinkers, dairies that produce raw milk have seen their demand skyrocket.

Some form of nonretail sales of raw milk is allowed in 33 states. Only 10 states allow milk sales at the retail level, while nine states and Washington, D.C., ban it. Missouri bans retail sales at stores, but allows sales direct from the farm and by prearranged delivery to individuals.  But it’s difficult to find raw milk producers because they’re not allowed to advertise.  Most consumers find the dairies by word of mouth.

I’ve been able to find some sources of raw milk but have to travel pretty far to get it.  There is a producer here locally that sells direct from the farm but, since I’ve never actually met the owner, I don’t know if it’s been pasteurized.  I only know it’s not homogenized and I get it straight from the tank.

Do you prefer raw milk over pasteurized?  Have you found any local sources for raw milk?  Personally, I think it should be up to the consumer whether they drink pasteurized or unpasteurized milk.  I’m tired of the government telling me what I can and cannot eat or drink.  I think the information from both sides should be out there so consumers can make their own informed decision.

What do you think?

~Karin

I had planned on continuing the greenhouse saga today but something else has my blood boiling so I’ve decided to talk about it instead.

First, let me start by saying I will not even be posting the link to this video.  It’s very disturbing and I don’t think any purpose will be served by sending you to it.  If you really want to see it, just do a search for Conklin Dairy Farms.  You’ll find it.  Consider yourself warned.

Second, I don’t agree with the organization that did this “undercover investigation.”  Mercy For Animals pushes an agenda of total veganism because they say using animals for food causes them nothing but misery.  I obviously not only don’t subscribe to this idea but vehemently argue against it.  I have issues with the way Mercy For Animals conducts business, but I’ll save that rant for another day.

Thirdly, the “farm” I’m about to discuss is not a farm.  It’s not even a dairy operation.  It’s a livestock wholesaler specializing in dairy cattle.  Even though factory farming is disgusting to me on a whole, these people don’t fall into that category.  So to say this type of abuse is prevalant throughout the dairy industry is wholly incorrect and misleading.

Now, the video I’m referring to shows workers at this company violently punching calves in the face, body slamming them to the ground, pulling and throwing them by their ears, using pitchforks to stab cows in the face, legs and stomach, beating restrained cows in the face with crowbars, twisting cows’ tails until the bones snapped and bragging about stabbing, dragging, shooting and beating cows and calves to death.  The workers featured are malicious and sadistic.  There is no excuse for what they did, but there also isn’t any excuse for the amount of footage the “investigators” from Mercy For Animals taped before they decided to turn it in.  One day’s worth would have been enough, but they let this torture go on in order to bolster their cause.  That’s almost as criminal to me as what the workers themselves were doing.

Regarding Conklin, they should be immediately shut down.  There is no way the owners of this company (one of whom was shown beating a cow in the video) couldn’t have known this cruelty was happening and should be arrested right along side their employees.

But the bigger point is this: this is what happens when “farming” becomes industry.  These workers, regardless of whether this is a dairy operation or not, have grown to see these animals as just another cog in the machine of producing our food.  The cows and calves are no longer seen as deserving of any proper treatment or compassion for what they are doing for our food supply.  We’ve seen it time and again in other operations, whether beef, dairy, chicken, eggs, or pork.  It’s disgusting and is exactly why we do things the way we do on our own farm and in our lives.

The sensational journalism aside, I hope this video and the reports of what was happening there helps consumers to re-evaluate where and how they get their food.  There is no reason for someone to go vegan purely for these reasons.  It’s a personal choice and my choice is to raise animals with dignity and respect, be thankful to them for the food they provide and ensure they live as healthy and natural a life as possible in my care.  I also search out companies that do the same and buy only from them.  Believe me there are plenty of farms and large operations out there that treat their animals the right way, from start to finish.  You just have to seek them out and actively buy from them and them only.

This goes right back to the acronym I teach people when I do presentations about buying local and eating sustainably.  KURVE.

K – Know Your Source
U – Understand the Differences (between sustainable, organic, naturally raised, etc.)
R – Read About Their Practices
V – Visit the Farm (when possible)
E – Enjoy the Products

Bottom line is try to know where your food is coming from and make educated decisions.  And be thankful to these animals for what they are giving us.

We’ve suspected health problems from pesticide use for years and now we’re getting some proof.  Several previous studies by the Harvard School of Public Health have previously linked neurodevelopmental and behavioral disorders to exposure to pesticides.  But those studies generally focused on children of farmworkers and others exposed to abnormally high levels of the chemicals.  Now the school has published an article in the Journal of Pediatrics linking pesticides used on certain fruits and vegetables to the development of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in children in the general public.

This new study is the first to focus on “a population sample more representative of the United States, and not one selected for being at high exposure,” said epidemiologist Marc G. Weisskopf of Harvard University’s School of Public Health, the senior author of the paper.  The study followed more than 1,100 children and found those with the highest levels of residue from the pesticide malathion in their urine were the ones most likely to suffer ADD or ADHD.  The researchers concluded that a tenfold increase in metabolite levels in urine — still a very low level — was associated with a 55% higher risk of having ADHD.

The conclusion?  That these commonly used pesticides are toxic to a child’s developing brain.

There are forty different pesticides similar to malathion registered for use in the U.S.  In this study, the fruits with the highest concentration of pesticides included strawberries, raspberries and frozen blueberries.

So, what’s a parent to do?  Same thing I’ve always talked about.  Buy organic when possible.  Buy local, even if it’s not organic, since less pesticides are needed when fruit doesn’t have to be shipped long distances.  And try to buy fruits that have to be peeled or washed before eating them, like bananas and oranges.  I suspect this will be the first of many studies to prove the use of pesticides causes more health problems than the chemical companies and FDA has been willing to admit to.

Until next time.

~Karin