Transition Issues in Organic Dairy Farming
The increasing demand for organic items including organic dairy products has encouraged many farmers to shift to organic dairy production. However, when a farmer intends to shift to organic dairy farming, lack of information prohibits him from taking any action.
Organic Dairy Farming
According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, British Columbia, the financial returns from the organic dairy farming greatly depend on the demand of organic cow milk by consumers. This is even more important given the fact that the demand for organic milk has witnessed great deal of fluctuations in the past few years. The supply from other producers also influences the price, and hence the profitability.
Organic Milk in Schools
School kids consume milk in numerous drinks and dishes in the form of tea, coffee, chocolates, cheese, butter, etc. Imagine the amount of milk your children consume each day through these products in schools. Would you not want your children to have a good eye-sight and strong immune system by asking your child's school to shift to organic milk?
Organic Milk has More Omega3
Organic milk has more Omega3 than non-organic milk. What is Omega3 and why is Omega3 important? Omega3 is an essential fatty acid which is required for healthy growth and its deficiency has been the reason of various health problems recently. Regular intake of Omega3 keeps you away from various diseases and helps you in reducing incidences of heart disease, inflammations (in skin diseases such as eczema), cancer, arthritis, etc.
Organic Milk has More CLA
More Conjugated Linoleic Acid: Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) increases metabolic rate, immunity to diseases and muscle growth. It also reduces abdominal fat, cholesterol, and allergic reactions. It is worth noting that human body cannot produce this substance and most of our CLA intake happens through the milk and milk products that we consume.
Organic Milk has More Antioxidants
More Antioxidants: Organic milk has two to three times higher concentration of antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin than non-organic milk. Lutein is extremely important for eye health and is effective in preventing numerous eye diseases such as macular degeneration and cataract.
Organic Milk has Higher Vitamin Content
Research conducted by the Danish Institute of Agricultural Sciences and the University of Newcastle has shown that organic milk has higher concentration of vitamins such as Vitamin A and Vitamin E than conventional milk. Since organic cows graze on fresh grass and clover, the milk they produce has about 50% higher Vitamin E and 75% higher beta carotene.
Organic Milk Does Not Have Chemicals
No Chemical Contamination: Organic cows are grazed on pastures that are grown through organic means. Hence their milk is not contaminated with harmful chemicals such as residues of pesticides, fertilizers, hormones, etc.
Health Benefits of Organic Milk
The health benefits of organic milk include more Omega 3, more CLA, more antioxidants and more vitamins than conventional milk. Milk is one of the most important components of our diet as its consumption ensures healthy growth and development. The modern dairies, however, use different types of chemicals for milk production.
Access to Pastures: An Important Aspect of Organic Dairy Farming
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has a National Organic Program, which issued a notification that herds in organic dairy farming should have access to open pastures. Thus factory farms which confine the animals to a single place and feed them with organic feed, do not qualify for organic labeling according to these regulations.
Read more: Access to Pastures: An Important Aspect of Organic Dairy Farming
