The War on Raw Milk

Americans for a Free Republic ^ | April 7, 2014 | Nelson Hultberg

[GAFreedom]

But their claim is in error, for it ignores the fundamental premise that certain natural laws of existence are applicable to all forms of life. For instance, the law of gravity affects cats and humans equally. And the same goes for certain physiological laws such as the necessity of raw protein for long term, disease-free health among mammals. Both cats and humans are mammals.

No, that's not quite how biology works. But never mind that, let's instead have some facts about the Pottenger experiment.

[greeneyes]

My grand parents had a small dairy operation. They did their milking by hand, and we drank that milk. Their cows were tested regularly.

There was never any junk or poop in the milk to be strained either. What they didn’t use for themselves was sold to the local dairy operation.

The milk tasted like onions in the spring. It tasted great the rest of the time. We used to make homemade butter out of the cream, and it tasted great too.

[greeneyes]

In Missouri, you can go to a farm and buy raw milk if you want to. However, the farmer can not transport the milk or sell it in grocery stores.

Some of the farms actually have “stores”. They have grass fed beef in refrigerators or freezers, eggs, produce, milk etc. in a building on their land. You can go in their and purchase their products.

One of these places also sells huge chickens that they have raised, killed, and processed. They weigh about 10 - 15 lbs. You have to order those in advance. Never tasted a better tasting chicken.

[9YearLurker]

CT has similar laws as well.

I grew up drinking raw milk on my family’s farm.

[9YearLurker]

I agree—it should certainly be allowed. This article is a bit free and easy with the ‘facts’, however. E.g., I don’t believe 3% of the population is drinking raw milk presently.

[Hiddigeigei]

With just two cows, we also milked by hand after washing the udders with a hose of course. Nevertheless, the cows had tails which they swished around, they shook themselves, et c. during milking, which got dirt into the open pail. One cow named Vicky, which was polled (thank God), swung around one time when I was milking her and butted me up against the side of the stall so hard I couldn’t catch my breath for a minute. Yes, dirt got into the milk. We screened out the dirt through a lawn filter. I don’t know how your grand parents avoided it. Machine milkers must be cleaner.

My grandfather was a microbiologist who ran a government animal experiment station in the Chevy Chase area of D. C. during the early past of the last century. His work with Emil Berliner (the inventor of the flat phonograph disc), and others, promoted the pasteurization of milk. His experiments with bovine tuberculosis probably led to his death in his fifties.

By the way, a study in Ireland has raised some questions about the effectiveness of testing cattle for Mycobacterium bovis (http://www.bovinetb.info/testing.php).

[greeneyes]

Well, where there’s will, there’s away. I do recall that the cows tails were not particularly long, and the floor was concrete in the milking room.

Of course, the cows were also given feed during milking. Their head went into a v shaped contraption. After they were in there, the board was moved and secured, so that the space was too small for them to pull their head out.

The door was shut after they came in, and there wasn’t a bunch of dust or wind or anything, so maybe that was the secret. They did milk by hand after the udders were cleaned.

Papa’s cousin had a big operation with machines, and that place was even cleaner, and I recall seeing how the machines worked, there was stainless steel and concrete every where, so I expect that it was even less of a problem.

I personally feel that there are adequate reasons to approach drinking raw milk with caution, but I also believe that adults should be able to make that decision for themselves and their families, and the raids on farms in an abuse of the Federal Government’s power. YMMV

[Hiddigeigei]

The probability of getting exposed to TB from milk from a couple of cows is minuscule. The probability of exposure from mixed milk from hundred of cows is somewhat larger. When you decide to risk yourself and your family, you also decide to risk the health of your neighbors and associates who have not been given a choice in the matter. I am much opposed to the militarization of government agencies, but there are legitimate reasons for public-health laws.

[greeneyes]

Well, so do the immigration laws, and yet we have people coming across with no health screening, and all manner of contagious stuff including resistant strains of TB.

It would make more sense to me to use the resources to stop that, than to raid a dairy farm. Just my view point. Obviously we don’t have to agree.

End of discussion. Have a good night.

[Texas Yellow Rose]

That’s what I do...go to the farm. Texas doesn’t allow the farmer to transport the milk. We have non gmo eggs, beef and chicken available along with the milk. You’d love the building where they sell the milk. It’s a walk in and help yourself store. You just put your money in the can and go on your merry way. So much like my grandmother’s generation.

[McGruff]

Come and get me copper!

[greeneyes]

Yes, that’s great that places like that can still exist somewhere in our country.

[The Californian]

bttt