What is organic milk?
Organic milk, or raw milk, is a product that has been produced without the use of antibiotics, synthetic hormones, and feed additives. Raw cow’s milk can be either pasteurized or unpasteurized. It is certified as organic by the USDA which means that it has been produced according to federal standards for organic production. Organic raw cow’s milk cannot contain any added ingredients or preservatives such as antibiotics and growth hormones. It must be produced without the use of synthetic pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, or fertilizers. Organic raw cow’s milk is produced from cows that have been fed an organic diet, with no growth hormones, antibiotics, or other animal by-products. It is pasteurized at lower temperatures than conventional milk to ensure that it retains more of its natural flavor and nutrients.
If you’ve been thinking about giving up dairy, you might be interested in switching to organic milk instead. There are many benefits to choosing this option such as better taste, better for your health and our environment, a lower carbon footprint, and higher animal welfare standards. Keep on reading if you want to learn more about the benefits of organic milk.
What Are The Benefits Of Organic Milk?
Organic milk is an excellent source of protein and provides a wide range of vitamins and minerals. It contains as much calcium as cow’s milk and less than half the fat. It contains no cholesterol, saturated fat, or lactose. According to Michael Schmidt, a veterinarian and information specialist for the dairy industry at Cornell University, organic milk is a good source of protein, B vitamins, vitamin D, and omega-3 fatty acids.
Published research shows that consuming organic milk provides several health advantages over conventional milk such as a reduced risk of developing type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Research also confirms that organic milk does not contain unsafe levels of antibiotics, hormones, and pesticides. There is no difference in fat, cholesterol, or lactose content between conventional and organically produced milk.
Eating organic foods provides many benefits for your health. Simple food preparation techniques like cooking from scratch and blending your meals can provide you with better nutrition. The nutritive value of organically produced foods can also be very different. Eating organic dairy may also reduce your exposure to growth hormones and antibiotics, a factor that can alter the effectiveness of other medications you are taking.
For The Environment
When you choose organic dairy, you will help to benefit the environment in several ways. For example, organic farmers often keep their animals without housing and they also use fewer pesticides and chemicals in their products. It is also little or no emphasis on conventional breeding techniques which can cause large amounts of waste from cows with unwanted pregnancies.
By following organic farming methods, organic dairy cows produce more cow manure that must be composted and incorporated into farm fields, use fresh water instead of polluted runoff water and limit greenhouse gas emissions through more efficient animal husbandry practices.
Organic milk contains no antibiotics, no hormones, and no pesticides. “Milk benefits the environment in several ways,” says Steve Meyerowitz (Associated Press). “It can be returned to the soil to help control erosion, or used as feed for cows and other animals. Or it can be used as a food ingredient or in other products.”
According to a 2009 report by the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy (IATP) called “Living with the Land,” organic milk uses up to 19 times less energy, produces 30% less nitrogen fertilizer, and has only half as much pesticide residue, and causes no contaminated water pollution. Organic dairy farms not only require a third of the land but also about half the water that conventional operations use. And fewer cows are needed to produce the same amount of milk. It’s this kind of fact that prompted Stuart McNulty, author of “The Organic Dairy Handbook: The Complete Guide to Raising and Marketing Organic Dairy Foods,” to pitch organic milk as a drink that benefits the environment (Carolanne).
For The Animal Welfare Standards
Many people are turning to organic food for various reasons. One of the main benefits of organic milk is that it helps the cows living on such a diet produce greater quantities of milk for their calf.
In addition to being healthier, it has been proven that cows who had pasture-based diets produce more antibodies and omega-3s, as opposed to animals fed a typical diet which led them to become sick more often. Additionally, organic milk contains 20% more vitamins and minerals than the typical commercially produced milk, which is mainly due to the better diet of the cows who are fed on pasture.
Organic cows are also able to produce a healthier digestive system, which has been proven to help fight off common illnesses such as diarrhea. In addition, it leads to more even fat content in the milk itself, since cows on pasture-based diets have a better chance of developing healthier and more satisfying diets.
A common misconception about organic milk is that it contains more antibiotics and hormones than other types. While there are antibiotics and hormones which are required to be used in the commercial production of milk, these are only used as a last-ditch effort to treat illnesses caused by the typical diet of cows. However, because organic cows live on pasture which gives them a healthier lifestyle and leads to healthier diets and living conditions, they rarely need such medication.
Organic milk costs in comparison with ordinary milk
The quick answer to this question is “it depends”. The costs of organic milk are dependent on several factors: 1) What you’re buying, how much you’re buying, and how often; 2) How much chocolate or vanilla you plan on adding to it (because organic brands usually don’t have high amounts of this); and 3) Your place of purchase.
If you’re a small family that only uses milk for your cereal, organic milk will most likely cost more than ordinary milk because organic brands tend to be higher priced. This is the case in our household. We buy organic milk for our cereal and we buy supermarket milk for our coffee and tea. If we need chocolate milk, I usually just make it from the supermarket milk and add chocolate syrup to it. This saves us money that way.
If you’re a family that uses a lot of milk or has children in school who need their “milk money” regularly, then this is where the cost comparison between organic and ordinary milk comes into play. On average, there isn’t much of a difference in price between the two depending on what store you purchase them at. The price difference becomes more clear if you buy your milk in bulk or if you’re adding chocolate to your ordinary milk.
As far as the costs of organic and ordinary milk go, a cheap, one-pound bag of conventional or non-organic milk costs about $2-$4 at the grocery store. An equivalent organic one-pound bag will set you back about $4.50-$8 depending on where you purchase it.
Is It Possible To Find Dairy-Free Substitutes?
Although organic milk is typically less expensive than non-organic products, some people would rather choose non-dairy milk if possible. This is often because of dietary preferences but even vegans and lactose-intolerant people who want to reduce their dairy intake can try an alternative milk substitute to see how it affects their health and diet.
The most common milk substitutes include soy, almond, coconut, rice, hemp, cashew, and oat milk. Soy milk can be found in supermarkets and it is often the most affordable alternative. Unfortunately, soy milk contains lots of added sugar and is not suitable for people with lactose intolerance. It can also potentially get very pricey if you buy a lot of it. Almond milk has a decent flavor, but it tends to be more expensive than soy milk and there are limits as to how much you can produce from almonds at home before you become too expensive to maintain or as nut-free schools. Coconut milk is a great alternative if you want to avoid soy as it also has a decent flavor but can be very expensive to purchase. Rice milk is a good choice for people who want a nut-free and soy-free option. Cashew milk is another nut-free alternative and it is usually cheaper than rice milk. Oat milk and hemp milk are similarly priced to rice and cashew, respectively, and these non-dairy products are also suitable for lactose-intolerant people.
