What's in our NEW natural egg feed? And why is it in there anyway? LEARN A WHOLE LOT MORE.

Healthy cows means higher prices.

written by

Aaron Miller

posted on

December 1, 2017

You may have noticed that the price of milk went up this week. The reality is that it’s expensive to produce wholesome nutrient-dense milk, especially when you need to buy in feed. The farmer pays close attention to his cows’ diet and health. In the warmer months, this is fairly straightforward and easier to control. Plant the right crops and make sure the cows eat them at precisely the right moment of freshness. In the colder months, when the herd’s diet is supplemented or fully on hay, it becomes more difficult to make sure the cows are getting what they need.

The farmer works with a cow nutritionist, who makes recommendations on how to change the herd’s diet to change the quality, production, taste, ph, vitamin and mineral content, and many other elements of the milk. This year, the farmer was advised to buy in top notch hay from a local farm. The hope is that this hay will increase production to meet our customers’ demand and also ensure that our milk is the best quality possible.

The hay that the farmer is buying has a NDF value of 32-36. NDF stands for neutral detergent fiber. It has to do with the structure of the plant, specifically the cell wall, and indicates the energy and digestibility of the hay. This hay is a bit green and looks like it was baled yesterday. It’s from the mountainous Somerset County. It is dried in cooler temperatures so it keeps its green color (the farmers’ own hay is baled in the warm summer months and is golden or brownish in color). Similar to our hay, this hay is completely chemical-free, grown with care, and has a high nutrient content.

Because the farmer pays such close attention to his feed and how well his cows are digesting it, our milk is very high in nutrition. Because it’s raw, it’s packed with usable proteins, probiotics, and enzymes. It naturally has omega 3 fatty acids, conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), and calcium. It also has an assortment of fat-soluble vitamins and minerals. Raw milk contains vitamins A, B, C, D, E, and K along with minerals such a magnesium, phosphorus, and iron. We don’t fortify our milk, because we don’t need to. All the good stuff is naturally in there by paying close attention to our cows’ diet. You can’t buy this stuff in a grocery store.

The new hay is having an effect on milk production, although not as much as the farmer had hoped. He does notice more yellow color in the milk. I advise you to pour a tall cup of milk. Note the color. A more yellow color indicates that the cows eat grass, which means a higher nutrient content in the milk. Sip the milk. Savor the taste and its unique flavor profile of the winter months and of this hay in particular.

Farm Updates

Raw Dairy

More from the blog

What's in our natural egg feed? And why is it in there anyway?

Our egg farmers recently switched to a new, natural, and 100% honest feed supplier. We are thrilled that they'll work with us to create a corn & soy free feed that fits our natural requirements. Here are answers to common questions about the feed as well as the nitty gritty details about the feed ingredients.

Egg yolk changes. We were greenwashed and are furious! Here's the scoop.

If you've followed our blog for some time, then you know that I do a good amount of muckraking on the food industry - conventional, organic, or otherwise. But, this week, I need to rake the muck on us (more specifically on our corn & soy free eggs)! Here's the scoop and everything you need to know about us formulating a new feed with a trusted source.

The lengths us natural foodies go through for healthy indulgences.

Just because you eat "healthy", doesn't mean that your food tastes bad (in fact, I find that it's quite the opposite with real nutrient-dense ingredients). And, just because you eat "healthy" doesn't mean that you don't indulge once in a while. You with me?I mean, I can't be the only crazy one out there that spends many joyous hours in the kitchen making much healthier versions of well-know brand name snacks for my kids. This week I made Mallomars. I recently took up donut making. And, in the past I've experimented with homemade Oreos, Cheez-Its, chocolate truffles, potato chips, and so much more. When my kids eat them and report that they're better than the storebought stuff they're had at parties and friends' houses... I mean... there's really no better compliment 🤭I know these foods aren't "healthy". But, by having ultimate control over my ingredients, I can make sure to use grass-fed A2/A2 dairy, einkorn or spelt flour, good saturated fats like butter or ghee or lard, and natural sweeteners like honey or maple syrup. And plus, no crazy additives or preservatives or flavors or colors, too. This week I have an easy healthy indulgence for you... that doesn't require hours in the kitchen.A few weeks ago, a local bee farmer stopped by the farm. He gave us samples of his amazingly delicious creamed honey. My mind automatically said, "Yes!!!" Finally, a quick and healthy treat for my family.*In case you didn't know, creamed honey is honey that's vigorously whipped until it's creamy and white. And then, you can flavor it however you'd like.I'm happy to introduce to you 2 NEW RAW CREAMED HONEYS: Cinnamon Raw Creamed Honey: A delicious alternative to jam. Goes well on any crackers, bread, pancakes, and even on mashed sweet potatoes! It can also be used as a glaze on meats or to sweeten your yogurt or oats.Whole Lemon Raw Creamed Honey: A lovely replacement for any frosting on anything baked. Think drizzled on muffins, scones, pancakes…and of course, like all our honey, just by itself for a sweet little dessert. It can also be used as a glaze on meats or to sweeten your yogurt or oats. These honeys are 100% up to our standards. They're raw and unfiltered, GMO and pesticide free, never fed corn syrup, and all that good stuff. Do you have any healthy indulgences? Do you make them of buy them? I'd love to hear from you! Comment below or contact us.