Oct 29 2008
Dow Jones?! More like COW Jones!
Party trivia of the day: Did you know that humans are the only mature mammals on the planet that consume milk???
“What is milk?” When posed this question I replied, like the innocent lamb being led to slaughter, milk is typically 3.4% fat, 3.5% protein, mostly water and used mainly as sustenance for infant animals. Thinking I hit the nail on the head with that answer (and surprised I remembered the percentages) I was quickly shot down by an answer that included “casein”, “enzymes”, “fatty acids” and the statement “every farm’s milk is different”.
There is a current movement that promotes the consumption of raw milk in relation to the pasteurized milk sitting in our fridge today. They say that pasteurizing diminishes the nutritive value and flavour quality of the milk. Currently (since 1938) in Canada it is illegal to sell and consume raw milk, unless you own the animal that milk comes from.
Now I would be lying to you if I didn’t state that raw milk may (and does) contain bacteria, pathogens, somatic cells, even tuberculosis (though no one has contracted TB from raw milk in half a century) and the list goes on. However, there is a market for raw milk.
Just ask Michael Schmidt, an organic dairy farmer in Owen Sound, Ontario about his success and failure when he sold raw milk to customers. What Mr. Schmidt started was simply ingenious, he didn’t sell the milk to consumers he sold “moo-tual funds” (pardon the pun) whereby consumers were owners of the cows and therefore could drink to their heart’s delight.
This co-operative was brought to a screaming halt by armed officers in November 2006 after a Department of Natural Resources court order was ignored by Mr. Schmidt. This farmer trying to diversify and create a niche market now faces contempt charges and could face a maximum sentence if convicted.
Albeit there are laws against the consumption of raw milk by regular consumers; having tried it on a few occasions I don’t think I would run and buy a quart of it. But is this how we treat small businesses that what to take the bull (or cow) by the horns and get out of the mainstream?
Governments should be trying to help these farmers, if not in a monetary way in a consultation manner, whereby they offer advice as to different alternatives (i.e. pasture-fed milk, cold-pasteurization) that may be available to help their business diversify.
I am happy there are farmers in this country like Mr. Schmidt who are seeing the potential to grow, and are not easily led like cows going to slaughter.
Got milk?
2 Responses to “Dow Jones?! More like COW Jones!”
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The business of protecting the public has gotten way out of hand. Constant testing of cows and milk, plus processing improvements would go a long way toward allowing small farmers to make a contribution to the economy rather than putting them out of business. Of course I would be paranoid to suspect that the dairy industry is behind some of the pressure.
Now that is a good post! Why would something all natural be illegal? Just crazy the way things are put on the books as against the law. I agree that this is why big business keeps growing and the little business is stomped in the ground.