| 9 nzdairy People travel from all over to buy raw milk Tracey Edwardes Neil and Glenda Gray’s regular customers travel from all over to buy fresh raw milk from Buttercup Dairies. The cows are milked each morning at Turua, on the Hauraki Pains, where unpasteurised ‘white gold’ is sold from their self-serve vending-machine. “People can bring containers, or we sell glass bottles,” says Neil. ”Zero processing is involved, so our production carbon footprint will be low. There’s no transport costs, because we can only sell on farm. Around 200 litres are sold each day, equating to 100 recycled bottles not being bought from the supermarket. That ticks the sustainability box. “Natural raw milk is unpasteurised, non- processed, non-standardised and non-homogenised - nothing is ‘ised’! We just pass it through a paper filter, then cool it down immediately, and sell it within 24 hours of being collected. Whatever fat or protein content from the cow that day, is what you get. Our cow’s milk composition at the start of lactation is 8.5-9 percent milk solids, increasing to 10 percent near the end, with daily variations.” Buttercup Dairies website has links to a Microbiologist’s presentation analysing raw milk’s beneficial bacteria and enzymes, and arguments against pasteurisation with healthy cows, and instead keeping raw milk ‘cool clean and covered.’ And a synopsis of Keith Woodward’s book The Devil in the Milk, explains how A1 milk contains a protein fragment, BCM7, associated with dairy intolerance and autoimmune disease. “We’ve been DNA testing our KiwiCross cows for over 10 years, 90% are A2, and all our 20 raw milk cows are 100% genetically profiled as producing the A2 protein,” says Glenda. “Working alongside our commercial dairy farm, it’s impossible to get to organic status, but we farm very closely to organic. Our raw milk cows are only fed home-grown pasture and silage. Imported feed or supplements are just for our 480 commercial cows. We farm ethically, with no intentional harm to our animals, our land, or our people. That is our commercial dairy farm’s mission statement and the way our family has farmed for over 100 years. Our daughter will be the 5th generation.” Strict rules and regulations are required to be a registered raw milk provider. “Registering with MPI protects our customers and us. Raw milk was completely unregulated and sold out of vats, until MPI placed new rules in 2016. DAIRY PEOPLE » Buttercup Dairies Buttercup Dairies website has links to a Microbiologist’s presentation analysing raw milk’s beneficial bacteria and enzymes, and arguments against pasteurisation with healthy cows. This ensures raw milk from farms is clean enough to drink. Those with existing raw-milk businesses had until 2018 to meet minimum standards, or shut down. We opened in 2017 and happily accepted those rules. The process is much easier now. We follow procedures everyday to supply a product we can stand by. Should any challenges arise, we’ll shut down until confident our milk is very clean again. We have zero tolerance for any pathogens, which pasteurisation normally removes.” The couple say quality natural milk should be attainable to the average New Zealander. When they started the business seven years ago, they made raw milk affordable at $2.50 per litre, only increasing it to $3 last October. “It is a profitable and simple model for us, better than selling to a processor, even with the extra hoops,” says Neil. Ready for peace of mind with a reliable effluent system? Contact us today for a customized solution to fit your farm's needs. Farm Effluent Equipment | Installation | Full System Design | Service 0800 4 EFFLUENT www.williamsirrigation.com Proudly supporting Buttercup Dairies P & J HARRISON LTD HAY AND SILAGE CONTRACTORS Phil Harrison 0274 726 456 | 07 867 5130 | ita@xtra.co.nz | 429 Piako Road, Turua • 2 Baler Wrappers • Big Sq Bales • Round Hay & Silage Bales • Conventional Bales • Hay & Silage - 4 Sale • Lime & Fert Spreading Specialising in - • Tractors & Trailers 4 Hire • Stack Silage (2 Loader Wagons) • Power Harrowing • Under Sowing • Digger Hire • Wrapping • Mowing • Ripping • Discing “We promote a positive image for the dairy industry, showing how we look after our cows. We enjoy educating school groups and customers. People are regaining interest in the back story of where their food comes from, and how it is produced.”
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NDc2Mzg=