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.
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 hay and 8 acres of pasture and wetlands. If you’d like to know about the feed ingredients, send us a message and we can provide you with a feed label. Yes, their feed does include corn and soybean by-products. They are currently also given a small amount of O&A (Orchard and Alfalfa) hay once a day as well. You can read more about grass fed milk here.
Is your milk from Jersey cows?
We are currently milking 14 cows: 2 Brown Swiss, 2 Ayrshires, 3 crossbreds, and 7 Jerseys.
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.
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 $10 to $14 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 half of our milking cows milking are A2/A2. When the milk from those cows is bottled separately, you will see “A2” written on the label and cap.
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. 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 healthy. 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. We do NOT give our cattle hormones such as rBST to increase milk production. The current vaccines we are using are Triangle 10 and Covexin 8.
How long does raw milk last?
Our bottles are labeled with best buy date on the label. This date is 14 days after the milk was collected. With proper handling, your milk will be good at least 14 days from the day it was collected from the cow. Keep your milk in the coldest part of your fridge (not the door) and don’t leave it out for long periods of time. This will help keep your milk good as long as possible.
hammertimehollow.com 