Raw Milk Safety
Is Raw Milk From Sweet Grass Dairy Laboratory Tested for Safety?
Yes. Our Raw Milk for herdsharing is third-party tested for:
1. (SPC) Standard Plate Count bacteria test. This is not a pathogen test per se, but is more of an indicator test to confirm general hygiene. (sample taken every other day from bulk tank)
2. (PI) Preliminary Incubation bacteria test. This is also an indicator test to confirm general hygiene, but the sample is actually incubated for about a day to further heighten the sensitivity to perhaps catch something that the SPC may not have shown. This sample helps us verify our sanitation protocol. (sample taken every other day from bulk tank)
4. (TCC) Total Culiform Count. This count must be <10 culi/ml. This is the same standard that public drinking water, bottled spring water, or any other for-sale-to-the-public drink must pass. (sample every other day from bulk tank)
5. Salmonella (sample taken from final packaged bottle.) - zero tolerance3. (SCC) Somatic Cell Count is another indicator test which is reflective of the health and well-being of the cows and the strength of their immune system. (sample every other day from bulk tank)
6. E.coli-O157:H7 (sample taken from final packaged bottle) - zero tolerance
7. Listeria monocytogenes (sample taken from final packaged bottle) - zero tolerance
8. Campylobacter jejune (sample taken from final packaged bottle) - zero tolerance
Of these 8 milk sanitation and herd health tests, only the first 3 are required in order to sell milk to the pasteurizer. The other 5 are extra that our farm does to go beyond the norm for safety precautions. In December 2016 the ODA issued a health alert about the farm's herdshares. Before the alert was issued we heard rumor in November that the state was trying to blame the farm for some cases of campylobacter food poisoning. In response we began pathogen testing specifically for Campylobacter jejune in mid November. Our milk samples have never had a positive result for Campylobacter jejune. The ODA never procured samples directly from the farm for testing which would be done under normally for issuing a health alert.
Since that time we have instated weekly pathogen testing. This standard goes above and beyond testing done on pasteurized milk(No pathogen testing is required on pasteurized milk). In Pennsylvania the raw milk testing requires pathogen testing twice a year. We do pathogen testing 26 time more often then the PA raw milk law requires. To our knowledge no other Ohio farm is testing as often or for as many criteria that we are testing.
Can any food ever be declare completely safe? No, not really because all food has the possibility of containing harmful pathogens. Samples are taken from many food types, but the only way to declare complete safety is to test every last bit of it and then their would be nothing left. We do all that we can to insure a clean healthy environment for our cows. Our family believes this is the safest and healthiest milk around, and we drink milk from each batch before our herdshare owners receive their shares. We have never had but positive experiences with our cow's production.
Herdshares: How do they work?
We do not sell Raw milk.
However, we do participate in herdsharing in accordance to Ohio state law. Herdsharing is a serious commitment and should be well researched. Below are some great links and more information to help you along in your journey to living foods.
http://www.realmilk.com/key-do...
http://www.raw-milk-facts.com/...
Here is and excerpt from http://www.ohiorawmilk.info/
Herdshare boarding contracts are private agreements between individuals who collectively own the animals in a dairy herd and the farmer hired to manage that herd. What that essentially means is that if you purchase a set number of shares in a dairy herd and sign a boarding contract to pay for the care and management of your portion of the herd you are then entitled to receive a corresponding amount of the herd's milk production, depending on seasonal availability. It may sound complicated but it runs pretty smoothly in practice and it is not difficult to buy into a herdshare. On the other hand, buying into a herdshare should not be done casually and requires an ongoing commitment to the herd, the farmer hired to manage the herd and the other shareholders.
Herdshare contracts are not a smoke-and-mirrors trick to get around state laws - boarding contracts are technically called agistments, such arrangements are common in agricultural communities and are rooted in English common law. It is very typical for farmers to lease extra land for running cattle, or to set up contracts for others to manage their cattle. Additionally, shares can be sold in virtually any enterprise - companies, time-share condominiums, boats, etc. The very words "stock" and "stock market" come from the buying and selling of livestock - cattle, pigs, sheep, goats, etc. Buying shares in a dairy herd is no different from buying shares in anything else - those shares represent legal ownership and responsibility. It is your responsibility to pay your monthly boarding fee, and your responsibility to pick up your share of the herd's milk production. If you don't pick up your milk when it is available then you lose that distribution, but you still pay your monthly fee. You can buy or sell shares, and shares can even appreciate in value.
The per-share price and monthly boarding fees are determined by the individual herd manager and can vary throughout the state depending on local conditions and competition. A typical per-share price for cow herdshares may be in the $40 to $80 range, and a typical boarding fee may be $20 to $30 per-share. (There are also goat herdshares available, and the per-share price may be a little less although the boarding fee will probably be similar.) The money paid to initially purchase your shares represents your investment in the herd and establishes your legal ownership. The monthly boarding fee covers the farmer's costs of managing and milking the animals for you. The herdshare contract also typically spells out the manager's responsibility for testing and maintaining sanitary conditions, but these are your animals and it is your right to inspect the farm yourself. Many people find that they develop a close bond with their farm family and bring their children to the farm to experience rural life. The ability to "shake the hand that feeds you" is a direct benefit of the herdshare contract, allowing you to know and see how your food is produced.
In conclusion,
If you believe a herdshare arrangement with Sweet Grass Dairy is desirable for you and your family, please contact us to set up a time to tour the farm and fill out a herd share agreement together.
Jacob Coleman
317-258-3864
Test Results
DateColiform(CC)Standard Plate
Count(SPC)
2015 Average130002016 Average12000January 201712000February 201712000Every day our goal is to provide a clean environment for our cows where they are well fed and cared for. In turn, they provide some of the best nutrients on earth that people have been using for thousands of years to nourish their families.
