What to ask when you’re buying a dairy cow

by brenda on May 23, 2013

Buying a dairy cow for the first time is a big deal! We bought 2 cows from trusted friends (thankfully!). Had we purchased from any stranger off of Craigslist, we might have purchased a dud cow. There are so many things to know about a dairy cow and keep the milk safe! Keeping a dairy cow healthy has been a huge learning curve for us. This is what we have learned, and what we will ask the next time we purchase a cow. (By the way, the cow in the picture is Violet, who gives about 6 gallons per day. She’s a Jersey and a good cow!).

Has she been tested for TB (tuberculosis) within the last month?

You will want to see proof that she is free of tuberculosis. You do not want a cow with TB.
She will be contagious and you and your other animals may get it just by breathing the same air or by exposure to her stools.
When TB gets into your soil, it takes about 8 weeks for it to die.
Cows that are poorly nourished, under stress or lacking sunlight have higher rates of TB.
Cows from intensive dairies are a lot more likely to have TB.
Typically, when a cow is found to have TB, it is slaughtered.

Is she free of Johne’s Disease?

Again, ask for proof that she has been tested and is healthy.
Johne’s (Yo-nees) is equivalent to Chron’s Disease in humans. It creates a lot of diarrhea and a lack of mineral absorption.
It is highly contagious to other cows.
It survives pasteurization.
It is rampant in the dairy industry.
Cows are more likely to get Johne’s if they are kept in an unclean environment or are exposed to water sources that contain manure.
There is no cure for Johne’s Disease.

Has she had the Brucellosis vaccine?

Brucellosis is also called “Bang’s Disease” and it is referred to as “contagious abortion.”
Although it is extremely unlikely, some believe that Brucellosis can spread to humans through consumption of raw milk. If you own a raw milk dairy and someone gets Brucellosis from your farm, your operation will be shut down.
It is best to have your cow vaccinated so that if a human who has consumed your cow’s milk gets something like the human form of Brucellosis (Undulant Fever), you can show the proof of vaccination.
Dairy herds in the US are tested once per year for Brucellosis. If they have the disease, they are killed.
There is no cure for Brucellosis in a cow.
A cow should be vaccinated for Brucellosis between the age of 4 and 6 months for best results.
Ask for proof. (The cow may have a tattoo that signifies that she has been vaccinated).

Has she been tested for Staph A?

Staph A is spread from cow to cow by flies.
You cannot have Staph A on your farm and also produce cheese for sale. You will be shut down.
You can potentially clear Staph A with antibiotics, but once it gets to the udders, you are out of luck.
You can keep Staph A out of the milk only by cleaning the cow carefully with a teat dipper and drying her teats off.
If you have any other cows, you’ll have to isolate the Staph A infected cow. You’ll have to use the milking equipment on the Staph A cow last and sterilize everything before using it on another cow.
If a cow has Staph A, it is probably best to butcher her.

Has her milk recently been tested for the following diseases:

E.coli 157H7

E.coli 157H7 is typically due to high levels of grain consumption.
It is spread through the feces of infected cows.
There are no known methods of controlling E.coli 157H7 in cows.
If a cow’s milk contains E.coli 157H7 it is dangerous to drink and can make people very sick.
Culled cows that have E.coli 157H7 are not safe for human consumption.
If a human contracts E.coli 157H7, antibiotics are ineffective and will likely do more harm than good.

Salmonella

Salmonella is usually spread through feces, flies, birds, rodents, pigs, cats and dogs.
Salmonella is typically due to high levels of grain consumption.
It lives for 4 to 5 years in the soil, water and dust!!!
Any crops that are fertilized with the cow’s manure will be dangerous to consume.
Salmonella is found more often in confined commercial dairies.
Animals that are stressed or poorly fed are more likely to get Salmonella.
It causes decreased milk production, lethargy, dehydration, diarrhea and increased salivation.
A cow can carry and “shed” Salmonella for up to 18 months even if she does not show any symptoms of the disease. During this time, she is contagious to other animals that live near her.
Giving the cow antibiotics may extend the length of time that the cow carries the disease or make it worse.
Even though all of this sounds scary, the risk of getting Salmonella from drinking raw milk is low. Between 1998 and 2008 there has not been one single case of Salmonella that was linked to raw milk.

Campylobacter

Camphylobacter is spread when an infected bull mates with a heifer.
Campylobacter is typically due to high levels of grain consumption.
The disease creates low rates of conception (about 40% reduction in the rate of conception) abortions, and long and difficult calving.
Campylobacter in milk can make humans very sick with diarrhea.
There is no cure for Campylobacter in a cow.

Listeria Monocytogenes

Listeria Monocytogenes is almost exclusively due to the cow eating moldy silage or hay.
It is a disease that typically occurs in the winter and spring in cows that are kept indoors or on feedlots.
It is spread in the feces, the milk and possibly the urine.
If Listeria is caught early, it can be treated with high doses of antibiotics for at least 6 weeks.
If a Listeria is caught after a cow is symptomatic (showing depression, lethargy, facial paralysis, excessive salivation, still births or abortions and/or a fever), or if Listeria gets into the udder of the cow, she will need to be butchered.

The above questions may be all that you need. If you find out that the cow has a serious disease, you will want to stop. Do not buy this cow. Move on, you’ll find another one! If she is free of serious diseases, keep going and ask the following questions:

Has she had Mastitis?

There is a good chance that she has had Mastitis at least once, but you don’t want a cow who gets Mastitis often.
Every time she gets it, you will need to treat her (either with antibiotics or an alternative method) and dump her milk. You will still need to milk her, which means wasted time and energy, and loss of a good product (and money, if you’re selling the milk).
Cows are more likely to get Mastitis if they are undernourished, stressed, or if they are not milked on a regular schedule.

How old is she?

If you are a beginner, you’ll want to purchase a cow that is at least 3 years old and no more than 7 years old.

How many calves has she had?

It is best for a beginner to purchase a cow that has calved once or twice before and has been milked.
A cow should be having 1 calf every year after she is 18 months old, so this will help you determine if her age is correct.
If a cow has not be calving every year, then ask why. She may be difficult to breed (and in that case, probably not the best cow to purchase).

When was she last freshened?

This means, when was she last introduced to a bull or when was she last artificially inseminated?
It is best to purchase a cow that is pregnant.
It is best if she is about 6 months along (so that she will be due in about 3 months, and it has been confirmed that she is carrying a calf).

How much milk does she produce?

This will vary based on her breed. Make sure she is producing a decent amount of milk for her genetics.
Many dairy farmers will sell (or “cull”) the cows that produce the least. This might be an ok cow to purchase for a family who does not intend to sell their milk. Just remember, you will still milk the cow 2 times per day, clean the equipment, feed her the same amount of hay, alfalfa and grain, pay the same amount for her hooves to be trimmed and for her vet bills as you would if she was producing a lot of milk. Consider these factors when deciding to purchase a cow that produces a low volume of milk.

Has she been milked by hand or machine?

The safest, cleanest and least taxing way (for the milker) to milk a cow is with a machine.
Machines are about 30% more efficient at getting milk out of a cow than the human hand.

Does she kick?

You don’t want a cow that is going to be dangerous to milk or to have children around.

Does she require a stanchion?

If so, at least you can have one ready for her. You don’t want to attempt milking without one if she needs it.

What is her temperament like?

This is important. You don’t want a cow that is mean, or belligerent, or even too skittish and shy. You want a gentle, friendly cow.

Are all 4 of her teats normal?

It is possible to milk a cow with abnormal teats, and you will likely find such a cow at a good deal.
However, it will take more time, will not be easy to milk the cow by machine, and the cow may produce less milk because of this issue.
It is best for a beginner to choose a cow with 4 normal teats.

Does her udder have any lumps or abnormalities?

This can be a sign of Mastitis, and you do not want a cow that is prone to Mastitis.

Has she ever had a halter on her?

If you plan to use a halter on the cow, it’s good to know if one has been used with her before.

What kind of feed and supplements has she been getting?

It is good to know this so that you can give her the same feed and supplements as she transitions to your land.
Changing a cow’s feed, supplements and grass/soil (with new bacteria) all at once can be upsetting to a cow’s digestive system.

Why are you selling her?

As with any used item that you’re purchasing, ask honestly why the owner is selling this cow.
The best cow will come from someone who just has too many cows (in Oregon we can only have 3 dairy cows–so somebody who has 4 will need to sell one), or from someone who is getting out of the dairy business completely.

I hope that this information is helpful to you! Good luck and enjoy your dairy cow!

photo credit: DonkeyHotey

{ 0 comments }

Want Crohn’s? Buy milk and beef from the grocery store.

by brenda on May 22, 2013

We just purchased a second Jersey. My husband met the previous owner at the vet, where he had testing done, and where he was able to ask a lot of questions.

One particularly big concern in buying a dairy cow is Johne’s Disease (pronounced Yo-nees). It’s a disease that is identical to the human disease Crohn’s. Just like a human with Crohn’s, a cow that has Johne’s Disease will have a lot of diarrhea and will not absorb minerals properly. Johne’s Disease comes from the bacteria Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis, which is abbreviated as MAP. It is, according to our vet, tuberculosis in the gut. Johne’s Disease in a cow and Crohn’s Disease in a human looks the same under a microscope.

According to our vet, Johne’s Disease is rampant in the commercial dairy industry.

“A national study of US dairies, Dairy NAHMS 96, found that approximately 22 percent of US dairy farms have at least 10% of the herd infected with Johne’s disease.” –USDA Johne’s Disease Information

This study only includes the farms that admitted to having Johne’s disease within their herd. Johne’s is compared to AIDS in the dairy industry–it’s something you just don’t talk about. In fact, it is talked about so infrequently that many of the farmers are totally unaware of how dangerous the disease is.

MAP (Johne’s Disease, AKA Crohn’s) is in the milk

Most studies done on MAP in milk have been done on raw milk. These studies might be used as a scare tactic by the dairy industry, in an argument that humans shouldn’t be consuming raw milk. Some studies contain statements like this:

“Paratuberculosis was detected at a high frequency in cow and goat milk, which suggests that raw milk ingestion represents a potential risk of Map infection.” –Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis detection in individual and bulk tank milk samples from bovine herds and caprine flocks

This statement implies that MAP was only found in raw milk, and therefore pasteurized milk would be a safe option. That is simply not the case.

“Viable MAP is found in human and cow milk, and is not reliably killed by standard pasteurisation.” –Is Crohn’s disease caused by a mycobacterium? Comparisons with leprosy, tuberculosis, and Johne’s disease

and

“A double-blind study involving two laboratories was undertaken to evaluate retail pasteurized whole milk in the United States…..Of the 22 brands of retail milk tested, 12 (55%) yielded at least one sample positive for viable MAP.” –Detection of viable Mycobacterium avium subs. paratuberculosis in retail pasteurized whole milk by two culture methods and PCR

You definitely wouldn’t want to drink raw milk from a cow that has Johne’s Disease. That would be a dangerous choice. However, the chance of a small dairy having problems with Johne’s disease is very slim. Johne’s disease is rampant in large dairy operations because it’s hard to control with a large number of cows, it spreads easily, and is almost impossible to get rid of once you’ve got it on your farm. I find it interesting that Johne’s is the “gut” version of Tuberculosis. In his travels in the 1930′s, Weston A. Price studied many people groups who had extremely low incidences of Tuberculosis. All of these people were eating nutritionally dense foods (like raw milk and other animal products). The people who had higher incidences of TB were eating refined sugar, white flour and canned preserves (with sugar). Dairy cows from commercial operations are fed a lot of grain (which is nutritionally equivalent to a high sugar, white flour diet for humans), and are more susceptible to all kinds of diseases, including Johne’s. Dairy cows that are fed primarily grass (and only a little grain) do not have the same instance of disease.

What about organic milk?

Organic milk is ultra-pasteurized. I do not recommend that people drink ultra-pasteurized, organic, store-bought milk. Many of the commercial, organic dairies are feeding their cows a high-grain diet, just like the “regular” dairies. Dangerous diseases like Salmonella, E.coli and Campylobacter are typically due to high grain-consumption in a cow (these diseases are not usually found on a farm that primarily feeds their cows grass). Most dairies use antibiotics to deal with these diseases. Organic dairies are not using antibiotics–so to deal with the diseases (that resulted from improper and unhealthy feeding practices), the organic dairies will ultra-pasteurize their milk. It’s not healthier. It’s just more dead, has a longer shelf life, and brings in a higher profit. Still, one study showed that ultra-pasteurized milk has a slightly lower risk of containing MAP. You can decide if a slightly lower risk is good enough for you.

Pretty much ALL grocery store ground beef is from culled dairy cows that very likely have MAP

The vet told my husband that pretty much all ground beef in the grocery store is from culled dairy cows that likely had Johne’s Disease. When I heard this, I immediately started researching.

“MAP can be detected and cultured from muscle of MAP-infected cattle destined for human consumption and suggest a possible risk of exposure of humans to MAP via contaminated meat.” –Isolation of Mycobacterium avium subs. paratuberculosis from muscle tissue of naturally infected cattle

Since dairy cows are not ideal for steak, their meat is ground.

“Given the prevalence of MAP in U.S. cattle herds, ground beef may be a potential source of MAP.” –Assessment of food as a source of exposure to Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP)

The chance of eating MAP is not 100%, every time w bite into a burger. Still,

”Currently available data suggests that the likelihood of dairy and meat products being contaminated with MAP on retail sale should not be ignored.” –Contamination of food products with Micobacterium avium paratuberculosis: a systematic review

and

“…the processing of cows with paratuberculosis in abattoirs without any precautions (restrictions) and the usage of meat for human consumption should be rethought.” –Correlation of Mycobacterium avium subs. paratuberculosis counts in gastrointestinal tract, muscles of the diaphragm and the masseter of dairy cattle and potential risk for consumers

Not only are these cows infected with MAP, but they are unhealthy, nutritionally deprived cows. Johne’s Disease causes malaborption. That means, these cows are sick…And they’re processing sick cows and feeding them to humans, on a regular basis.

So it’s in milk and ground beef–does that mean that humans are getting Chron’s Disease from it?

If you ask your doctor about the connection between Johne’s Disease and Chron’s, you will likely be told that the connection is “unestablished,” or that there needs to be further research done. Yet, there are many studies that show a definite connection.

“Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis is a candidate pathogen in the causation of a proportion of cases of irritable bowel syndrome as well as in Crohn’s disease.” –Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis infection in cases of irritable bowel syndrome and comparison with Chron’s disease and Johne’s disease: common neural and immune pathogenics

Any doctor who claims that there is no connection ought to read the following study:

“The search for risk factors in Crohn’s disease has been frustrating. However, epidemiologists have gathered enough information that points to an association between M. avium subsp.paratuberculosis and Crohn’s disease.” –Epidemiological evidence for Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis as a cause of Chron’s disease

The incidence of Crohn’s Disease is significantly greater if a person eats meat. Don’t y’all go and become vegetarians on me now–that’s not what I’m saying. Eat the right kind of meat (pastured, from farmers who won’t be feeding you sick animals) and you’ll be fine.

“Meat intake (per kg/month: OR = 1.40, 95% CI: 1.17, 1.67) was associated with a significantly increased risk of Crohn’s disease…” –A case-control study of drinking water and dairy products in Chron’s Disease-furthre investigation of the possible role of Mycobacterium avium paratuberculosis

Sufferers of Chron’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis tend to relapse between the months of August and January.

“The timing of ulcerative colitis relapse showed a clear seasonal pattern with 26 patients relapsing from August to January and only nine from January to July (p less than 0.001).” –Why do patients with ulcerative colitis relapse?

Studies have shown that pasteurized milk has higher levels of MAP between July and September.

“More MAP-positive samples were identified during the third quarter of the year (July through September).” –Detection of viable Mycobacterium avium subs. paratuberculosis in retail pasteurized whole milk by two culture methods and PCR

A coincidence? Maybe, but not likely.

I am not a doctor or a scientist, but I am a researcher. All I had to do was search medical studies, and I found plenty of evidence to connect Johne’s Disease in dairy cows and Crohn’s Disease in humans. Please read the studies for yourself and make an informed decision.

What do you think? Are you willing to consume milk or ground beef from the grocery store?

photo credits: Danielle Scott and Muffet

{ 3 comments }

Well Fed Wednesday 5/22

by brenda on May 21, 2013

Welcome to Well Fed Wednesday! Every week you can come here to:

Share your Real Food recipes and posts.

&

Check out other people’s Real Food recipes & posts.

The rules of this carnival are simple:

1. Make sure your recipe & post is about Real Food, meaning nothing processed, with unsoaked stale grains (like packaged flours), or with refined sugars.

2. Post your link below.

3. Share a link back to this post on your site (on the recipe or post that you’re sharing).

4. Leave a comment below.

That’s all!

And come back Saturday to check out my favorite posts in my Weekly Wrap Up!

{ 4 comments }

Compost Tumbler Give Away! Worth $179.99!

by brenda on May 20, 2013

Do you have kitchen scraps? I bet you do! What do you do with them? Run them down the garbage disposal? Throw them away? Gasp! But that’s not GREEN! All humor aside, really, truly, those veggie scraps can be a seemingly magical additive for your garden–if they’re composted. Do you own a composter?

I just bought one, and I am SO excited to use it. I was thinking, this is a PERFECT item to give away to one of YOU, also! This particular composter holds 80 gallons and it turns and aerates the compost. It is called the Lifetime 60058 Compost Tumbler, and it’s worth approximately $179.99! It’s got a lot of really positive reviews on Amazon. I think you (and your kitchen scraps) are going to like it!

Just throw your kitchen scraps and weeds inside, rotate it, wait, and you’ll have something that looks like this (and a cute hair cut too!):

*Compost sold separately, hair cut not included.

Here is the scoop!

By Entering & Commenting, you are agreeing to the following rules & conditions:

No purchase necessary.
The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning.
Winner will receive a Compost Tumbler worth approximately $179.99.
Giveaway is only open to those 18 or older and who reside in the Continental United States.
Contest ends on 5/26/13 at 12 am Pacific Time.
One winner will be chosen using Rafflecopter. If I find an entry to be invalid (they did not do what they said they did), a new winner will be chosen using Rafflecopter.
Winner will be announced here on the blog on 5/27/13. The winner’s name will be published in the post (email address will not be published) and the winner will have 48 hours to contact me so I can mail you the blender!
By the way, this is technically called a “sweepstakes” not a “giveaway” because the winner is chosen at random based on an entry.
Void where prohibited by law.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This post was shared at Fat Tuesday.

{ 41 comments }

Weekend Wrap Up 5/19

by brenda on May 19, 2013

Happy Weekend! I’m starting a new tradition here at The Well Fed Homestead, where I share with all of you what my favorite resources were from the week. I’m going to be posting this on Saturdays. First, I will always share a few of my favorite posts from my Well Fed Wednesday blog carnival. If you’d like to participate in Well Fed Wednesdays, you can come enter your links starting 6 pm Pacific Time on Tuesday night! I will also share some of my other favorite resources from the web.

Favorite Posts from this week’s Well Fed Wednesday Blog Carnival:

Agave Syrup is Bad for You! I totally agree! Agave syrup is not the healthy, alternative sweetener that is is touted as.
Chocolate Banana Pops because these look totally amazing! My kids will love me forever if I make these!
Health Benefits & Recipes for Apples and Asparagus I love this kind of information! It’s good to be educated about real foods!
No-Fail No-Pound Sauerkraut I SO want to try this. Last time I made 6 heads of cabbage worth of sauerkraut at one time–talk about WORK! I would have loved to know about this no-pound version!
Paleo Smoked Turkey & Crunchy Vegetable Salad Looks like a yummy salad!

Favorite Posts from around the Web this week:

Raw Milk Diet Experiment This is so intriguing to me, since we have so much raw milk! Hmmm…maybe worth a try!?
Does your kiddo need a bath every day? I have never been an every-day bather with my kids, and early on I wondered if I should feel guilt over that. Like maybe I SHOULD give my babies a bath every single night before bed, or I was a bad Mom. Wrong! It turns out, maybe I was doing something right.
Finding the Best Vitamin D Supplement This is a great post. Vitamin D is so important for good health, and unfortunately, many of us are totally depleted in Vitamin D. You can get blood tests to check this. The 2 people in my family who have had this test (myself and my 9 year old son) were very low in this essential vitamin. I think this is the case for a lot of people, who don’t even realize it!
It Ain’t All Pretty I love this post because our farm is not all pretty, either. It’s messy. That’s life. Oh well, we’re keeping animals alive and producing good food!
I’m Starting a Farm This is so cute. I love the Farm Dream, and watching it unfold in other people’s lives!

Come back on Wednesday to enter your posts into Well Fed Wednesday!

{ 3 comments }

Well Fed Wednesday 5/12

14 May 2013

Welcome to Well Fed Wednesday! Every week you can come here to: Share your Real Food recipes and posts. & Check out other people’s Real Food recipes & posts. The rules of this carnival are simple: 1. Make sure your recipe & post is about Real Food, meaning nothing processed, with unsoaked stale grains (like [...]

5 comments Read the full article →

What age should a child be to mow the lawn?

7 May 2013

I love the things that I learn from all of you on Facebook. If you’re not following, you’ll want to make sure to join in on the conversation! I want to start sharing some of the things that I’ve learned with you right here! This week on Facebook, I asked “Do your kids mow the [...]

2 comments Read the full article →

Well Fed Wednesday 5/8

7 May 2013

9 comments Read the full article →

How to have a Real Food Star Wars Party

4 May 2013

Today is May 4th, and if you’re a Star Wars fan, you won’t be able to get through the day without at least watching 1 movie. Maybe an entire marathon. Ready, set, go! May the 4th be with you! I married a Star Wars fan. He owned a duplex (he lived in half and rented [...]

0 comments Read the full article →

Weekend Wrap-Up 5/4

3 May 2013

Happy Saturday! I’m starting a new tradition here at The Well Fed Homestead, where I share with all of you what my favorite resources were from the week. I’m going to be posting this on Saturdays. First, I will always share a few of my favorite posts from my Well Fed Wednesday blog carnival. If you’d [...]

1 comment Read the full article →

← Previous Entries