We are often asked many of the same questions about our products. Some have been addressed more thoroughly in our blogs, but you can find the answers to many commonly asked questions here.
What are your hours? Can I pickup from the farm?
Over a year ago, we moved the farm to Lake Panasoffkee; an hour+ away from our Tampa address. We do not keep products on hand at our Tampa home and don’t have the set up to accommodate pickups or tours of the farm. It is difficult to schedule pickups at the farm due to extremely busy schedules and sometimes limited availability of products. We also have to be cognizant of liability and insurance issues that come with having strangers on our property. We hope in the future to have some sort of farm stand set up at the farm and possibly our Tampa address. We currently make home deliveries to all of Pinellas County and select areas of Pasco and Hillsborough counties. Visit our shop page to see if you are in one of our areas.
Are your cows grass-fed?
Yes, they eat grass, but that is not their sole diet. They are fed a dairy ration mixed specifically for them by Knights Feed twice a day and have 24/7 access to 80 acres of pasture. We do not spray any chemicals on our pastures. Their feed does include corn by-products. You can read more about grass fed milk here.
Is your milk from Jersey cows?
We are currently milking 30+ cows and 6 major dairy breeds, but the majority of our cows are Jerseys. Number and breeds of cows we milk vary throughout the year.
Why does your label say “For Pet Consumption Only?”
Although our cows are healthy and we stand by the cleanliness of our process, per Florida law, all raw milk and products made from raw milk must be labeled “For Pet Consumption Only” because they are not pasteurized.
Is your milk organic?
No, to be labeled organic, a product must adhere to specific, strict regulations. The primary reason we cannot be considered organic is because our feed is not labeled organic. We do not treat our pastures with chemicals.
If you’re not processing the milk, why is it so much more expensive?
Several reasons, it costs a small producer, milking a handful of cows, more to produce a gallon of milk than a larger commercial dairy. For example, we can’t buy things in bulk like larger operations can, and it’s more labor and time intensive for us to milk the cows and bottle the product. Raw milk has a shorter shelf life which can lead to more product loss. In most areas, raw milk is hard to come by, so the simple laws of supply and demand create a market where people are willing to pay a premium for the product. In addition, as of recent, fuel, feed, and other input prices have skyrocketed, creating a need to increase our prices.
Current average raw milk prices in the US, range from $12 to $15+ per gallon.
Does raw milk taste different from store bought milk?
Since our milk is labeled for pet consumption only, we can’t really speak to taste without jeopardizing our license, but we can say that raw milk is creamier and has more fat than store bought milk. Also, because it is not homogenized, don’t be surprised when the cream rises to the top. Just give it a good shake before use!
Is your milk A2/A2?
Currently about 3/4 of our cows milking are A2/A2. When the milk from those cows is bottled separately, there will be a separate A2/A2 label. Even if it is not labeled A2, there is a good chance the majority of the milk in the jug you purchased came from an A2 cow.
Are your cows given antibiotics, hormones or other drugs?
Antibiotics are an important tool that can be used when an animal is sick. We ONLY give antibiotics as a last resort and follow all withdrawal times so that antibiotic residues will never show up in your milk (i.e. the milk is thrown away and not used). We work closely with our veterinarian to ensure that the animals are treated only when necessary and in the proper dosages.
In an effort to avoid using antibiotics, we are very focused on prevention and keeping the cattle well. Our cows are vaccinated once a year when they are dried off (not milking) and they are also treated for parasites approximately every 4 months with a product approved for use in lactating dairy cattle. Products they are vaccinated with are Covexin 8 and Triangle 10. We do NOT use any mRNA vaccines.
Our cows are NOT treated with rBST (recombinant bovine somatotropin) to increase milk production or any other growth hormones, synthetic or otherwise.
How long does raw milk last?
Our bottles are labeled with the collection or milking date on the label. On average, with proper handling, raw milk will be good for 10 to 14 days after milking, but often times longer. Keep your milk in the coldest part of your fridge (not the door) and don’t leave it out for long periods of time. When transporting it from the market, bring a small cooler with you and don’t set your milk on the hot floorboard. This will help keep your milk good as long as possible.
What happens to the calves?
Any female calves born are kept as we are involved in showing cattle and exhibit them at fairs and shows throughout the Southeast. They will eventually become milk cows on our farm. Bull calves are either sold privately (usually to people wanting a bull for breeding or to greenbelt their property), steered and raised for beef, or a select few we will keep as future herd sires. The calves are fed fresh milk from the cows or we will sometimes designate a “suckle” cow to raise all the babies. They are not fed milk replacer.
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