REGISTRATION NOW OPEN: Feb 5th Pennsylvania Training on Producing World-Class Raw Milk

On Wednesday February 5th in Lancaster, PA, the Raw Milk Institute (RAWMI) will present a 3-hour seminar on Producing World-Class Raw Milk.

Whereas farmers producing milk for the pasteurized market often struggle to make ends meet, raw milk farms are thriving. Raw milk presents a unique opportunity for farmers to move into an expanding market by implementing intentional practices and higher standards to produce low-risk, delicious raw milk.

Raw milk is an exceptional farmstead product that brings all the added value back to the farmer with an incentive to work on quality. By selling directly to consumers, raw milk farmers are able to obtain greater financial rewards for their work, while consumers benefit from the improved flavor and nutrition. It’s a win-win for both farmers and consumers!

About the Training

This training workshop will be presented by the Raw Milk Institute (RAWMI) as part of the PASA Sustainable Agriculture Conference. This class will be from 9am-noon Eastern Time.

This RAWMI presentation will focus on:

• History of raw milk

• Why raw milk farms are thriving

• Health benefits of raw milk

• Benefits of selling raw milk

• Safety and risks of raw milk

• Grass-to-glass raw milk risk management

• Raw milk testing

• Building a successful raw milk market

Where to Register

Registration is now open through the PASA Sustainable Agriculture at: https://pasafarming.org/conference. Make sure to sign up for Wednesday attendance if you are going to attend our raw milk seminar.

Early Bird pricing is available through January 10th. PASA offers sliding scale pricing to attend the conference. If you will only be attending on Wednesday, the Early Bird cost is $70-$160 depending on your selected sliding scale level. Scholarships are also available through PASA.

Overcoming Hurdles for Raw Milk Legalization in Delaware

This article was written by Stephanie Knutsen, the dairy farmer who was instrumental in the successful legalization of raw milk in Delaware.

My journey to the legalization of raw milk in Delaware (DE) is quite unconventional, mainly because raw milk was not on my radar. Raw milk was illegal in DE and in the states around us, with the exception of Pennsylvania. I assumed it was going to remain so for quite some time. I certainly couldn’t make a difference, but wait… I did! Welcome to my story.

I didn’t seek out a legislator to champion the legalization of raw milk, but one found me! I received a phone call explaining that Senator Buckson was hearing from frustrated consumers about the lack of raw milk access in DE. He wanted to sponsor a consumer-driven bill to legalize raw milk sales, but wanted to tour a dairy farm and hear from DE dairy farmers before proceeding further. Little did I know that raw milk research and advocacy was about to take over my life.

We Drank Our Milk Raw, But Was it Safe to Sell to Others?

We have always consumed our own raw milk from G&S Dairy Farms without hesitation. I firmly believe people should have the right to weigh the risks and benefits to choose for themselves which foods to consume and therefore, I supported the idea of legalization. But, how did we feel about selling raw milk ourselves to the public?

I wondered:

• What is the real risk?  

• How many raw milk related illnesses are there?

• Would we be setting ourselves up to lose the farm in a lawsuit while trying to save it with raw milk sales?

• How could we live with ourselves if someone got really sick? 

These were questions I needed answers to.

Raw Milk Connections and Research

I remember sitting at the computer that night and typing “raw milk” into the Google search bar. By midnight I had landed myself on the Raw Milk Institute (RAWMI) website. The next day, I received the first of numerous personal phone calls from RAWMI Chairman Mark McAfee.  I was blown away with the knowledge, support, and guidance that Mark poured into me. RAWMI’s support proved instrumental in this legalization process. I was beginning to build my connections! These connections were a major key to our success story.

Many additional important connections came to me during my countless hours researching data, sifting through the bias on both ends of the spectrum, analyzing CDC datasets, and reaching out to experts across the country.  The more I studied, the more clearly I saw the raw deal that raw milk had been getting! For instance, I had heard that raw milk has "life threatening" risks yet in looking at the data, I could only find 2 confirmed deaths due to raw milk in nearly 20 years. This was despite the fact that millions of people regularly drink raw milk. The CDC estimates there are 3,000 deaths annually from food borne illnesses, yet they have only confirmed 2 deaths related to raw milk in ~20 years so the risks of raw milk were being greatly exaggerated.

With a newfound passion ignited, I no longer questioned if raw milk was a good idea for our farm. I could envision a future in dairy for our children for the first time! I committed myself to making sure that DE, which is referred to as “The First State,” was not going to be known as “The Last State” in regards to raw milk legalization.

Learning From a Failed Legalization Attempt

Once I empowered myself with the knowledge and facts, I needed to gather support. A failed attempt for legalization had been made ten years earlier. A friend, who also happened to be the Senate Policy Director, was able to access the recorded tapes from that failed legislation so we could understand who had opposed it and why.

Ten years ago, dairy farmers were worried someone would get sick and make the industry look bad. The Farm Bureau had been neutral about raw milk legalization, but both the Agriculture Department and Health Department were opposed. This understanding gave us a starting point for building support!

Building a Coalition of Stakeholders

Although there were 44 family dairies in DE during the previous attempt at legalization, there were now only 13 dairies remaining.  I reached out to these 13 family-run dairies in DE to share my research about safe production of raw milk. I also shared that the market for raw milk is growing and creates a path to sustainability for small-scale dairies. This resulted in an overwhelming amount of positive support for raw milk legalization by dairy farmers of Delaware. 

Next was the Farm Bureau, to see if they would potentially be willing to support raw milk legalization instead of keeping their previous “neutral” position. After meeting personally with the Farm Bureau administrator, we reached out to every county Farm Bureau and asked to speak at each of their board meetings. The timing was perfect since every Farm Bureau county hosts a legislative breakfast to inform legislators of upcoming bills and policies affecting farmers.

I presented on raw milk at each of these legislative breakfasts while the bill was still being drafted. The breakfasts allowed me to reach many legislators at once in a personal way. Much of our bi partisan support stemmed from these early face-to-face meetings where legislators could hear the whole story before they even knew about the coming bill. Soon we had every county board and then the state board of the Farm Bureau voting in support for raw milk legalization.

Building Bridges with the Opposition

We knew that the Agriculture Department and Health Department had previously opposed raw milk legalization. Instead of hiding what we were doing, we hoped to bring them along and give them the chance to learn more. This strategy proved successful over and over again.

With farmers and Farm Bureau on board, we were now well-positioned to meet with the Agriculture Department. Despite their longtime stance against raw milk, our Secretary of Agriculture was open to listening. I explained about consumer demand for raw milk, the economic impact to DE dairy farmers, the true risks of illness for carefully produced raw milk, and how we could further reduce health risks through regulations including bacterial testing with on-farm labs to ensure milk meets post-pasteurized standards for bacterial counts. By the end of the meeting, the Secretary of Agriculture was no longer opposed to raw milk legalization. We invited him to have input into the bill language and he eventually became our biggest and most powerful advocate!

We knew the Health Department was likely to be a tougher-sell on supporting raw milk due to entrenched beliefs about raw milk being dangerous. Senator Buckson called a meeting with the Health Department where he shared the “why” behind the legalization bill and mentioned that the bill might be passed due to bipartisan support. The Senator then invited the Health Department to provide input into the bill language to address their concerns. Although I would love to take credit for what happened in that room, all the credit goes to God. Miraculously, the Health Department agreed to be neutral on the bill!

Legalization Success

With farmers, Farm Bureau, and our state agencies on board or at least neutral, we introduced the bill with bi-partisan support in both the house and senate.  I could write a novel about every step of the way and the twists and turns we encountered, including the discovery of Bird Flu crossover to dairy!  Maybe I will someday, but that isn’t the purpose of this piece. We were successful and raw milk is now legal in Delaware!

Keys To Success

For those who want to advocate for legalization in other states or countries, I want to encourage you. Know that YOU can make a difference. Some of the keys to our success were the following.

• Raw milk is no longer just farmer-driven. It is consumer-driven by the countless people and families who deserve access to this special food.

• It was important to do the research and have fact sheets available with real data, including comparisons to other foods.

• It was crucial to reach out to stakeholders early on, especially to those who were opposed. It was scary and would have been easier to ignore the opposition and hope for the best, but with lots of prayer and bravery I sought after conversations with such people.

• An important approach that worked time and time again was to first just listen, show understanding for the concerns, find the common ground and move forward from there. By meeting people where they were, letting them feel validated and heard, and acknowledging that I too had felt that way, we were no longer enemies and we could have meaningful conversations where they were open to learning how my thoughts had changed.

• It was also important to build a strong team. Some of the key players on our team were the bill sponsor (Senator Buckson), his policy director, the agriculture advisor to the governor, Raw Milk Institute, Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund, Pete Kennedy (Weston A Price Foundation), and especially Peg Coleman (who provided scientific backing on risk assessment and valuable information related to the bird flu).

• I learned that emails proved to have very little impact and personal interaction was the winning ticket. My advice is to build as much support as possible early on, even before bill writing is complete.

• And lastly but most importantly pray! I saw God’s hand at work in this so many times and drew strength from that when I felt weary. He slayed some mighty giants for us along the way and I have to give him the praise and glory. Don’t be complacent. I knew very little about raw milk and look at what was accomplished. You can make a difference! If I could do it, you definitely can too!

SAVE THE DATE: Feb 5th Pennsylvania Training on Producing World-Class Raw Milk

On Wednesday February 5th in Lancaster, PA, the Raw Milk Institute (RAWMI) will present a 3-hour seminar on Producing World-Class Raw Milk.

Whereas farmers producing milk for the pasteurized market often struggle to make ends meet, raw milk farms are thriving. Raw milk presents a unique opportunity for farmers to move into an expanding market by implementing intentional practices and higher standards to produce low-risk, delicious raw milk.

Raw milk is an exceptional farmstead product that brings all the added value back to the farmer with an incentive to work on quality. By selling directly to consumers, raw milk farmers are able to obtain greater financial rewards for their work, while consumers benefit from the improved flavor and nutrition. It’s a win-win for both farmers and consumers!

About the Training

This training workshop will be presented by the Raw Milk Institute (RAWMI) as part of the PASA Sustainable Agriculture Conference. This class will be from 9am-noon Eastern Time.

This RAWMI presentation will focus on:

• History of raw milk

• Why raw milk farms are thriving

• Health benefits of raw milk

• Benefits of selling raw milk

• Safety and risks of raw milk

• Grass-to-glass raw milk risk management

• Raw milk testing

• Building a successful raw milk market

Save the Date

You can’t register for this workshop quite yet, but save the date and we hope to see you in Pennsylvania!

FREE Raw Milk TRAINING: RAWMI Risk Management Training Video Series

The Raw Milk Institute (RAWMI) has trained hundreds of farmers through in-person workshops around the USA and Canada.  For those who cannot attend our training in-person, we have a free web version for you!

RAWMI’s Risk Management Training Workshop is now available to watch on Vimeo here. This 4.5 hour course is broken into 17 segments for easier viewing. There are direct links to each of the 17 segments towards the bottom of this post.

About the Training

This RAWMI training focuses on:

• benefits of raw milk,

• grass-to-glass identification of risks,

• development of a risk management plan, and

• lessons learned from other raw milk dairies.

It includes lots of practical tips for the production of safe raw milk. This training has been shown to reduce outbreaks and illnesses, increase safety, and lower insurance costs.

Links to Specific Segments

The overall training course is 4&1/2 hours long, but we have broken that down into 17 smaller segments so that you can easily find the sections you want to watch.  

WORKSHOP OVERVIEW: 

PART 1 – Introductions and About Raw Milk Institute  

PART 2 – Raw Milk History and Opposition 

PART 3 – Raw Milk Benefits 

PART 4 – Raw Milk Risks and RAWMI Method 

PART 5 – Introduction to Grass-to-Glass Risk Management   

PART 6 – Small-Scale and Large-Scale Raw Milk Production 

PART 7 – Risk Minimization: Grass, Pasture, and Water 

PART 8 – Risk Minimization: Animal Health and Biosecurity 

PART 9 – Risk Minimization: Milking and Udder Prep 

PART 10 – Risk Minimization: Management 

PART 11 – Q&A for Parts 1-10 

PART 12 – Risk Minimization: Management (cont.) 

PART 13 – Risk Minimization: Management (cont.) 

PART 14 – Risk Minimization: Glass, Bottling, and Inspections 

PART 15 – Raw Milk Testing 

PART16 – Why to Become RAWMI LISTED 

PART 17 – Conclusion and Final Q&A

What Attendees Have Said

Here is some of the feedback we received from attendees at this training: 

“Excellent presentation that every single person who dairies for themselves and their family should take and learn from. Thank you very much.”

“This has been excellent!  ONLINE was so helpful as it’s hard to travel and be away.”

“For me, the combination of technical information and anecdotes is very effective for explaining why the RAWMI methods are important and how they solve a raw milk producer challenges. I came away with practical solutions to increase the quality/value of our milk and farm. Thank you." 

“I left the Zoom meeting with a very clear understanding of what we are doing right and where we need to make changes. Beyond that, though, I left inspired to pursue excellence and cast a clear vision to everyone who is joining me in this endeavor.”  

“The information was also rich and informative. I learned a ton and the systematic way you presented it was easy to follow and comprehensive.” 

“I cannot wait to move forward with you in becoming RAWMI Listed. We will be making some changes as we form our RAMP plan. We have already adjusted our milk chilling and have seen an improvement in flavor and longevity.”  

“Thank you for all you do. I have no doubt history will look back at the RAWMI as having played a crucial role in reforming raw milk production, health, and nutrition.”

How to Clean Your Milking Equipment for Low-Risk Raw Milk

Whether you are a farmer using a simple bucket milker or a more complex pipeline milking system, cleanliness of equipment is a top priority for low-risk raw milk. Improper cleaning of milking equipment can lead to increased bacteria counts in the milk, off flavors, shortened shelf life, and increased likelihood that there will be pathogens present in the milk. Milking equipment needs to be cleaned after every milking.

Clean milking equipment is part of an overall goal for ensuring that there will be very little bacteria growth in the milk.  When bacteria counts are low and the milk is kept properly chilled, raw milk will stay fresh for at least 2-3 weeks, with the delicious flavor that keeps your customers coming back over and over again.  

Example of an Effective Cleaning Process for Milking Equipment and Bulk Tanks

Cleaning Process	Purpose	Notes
1. Flush with lukewarm water	Rinse away milk and organic debris	It is very important that the first rinse is done with lukewarm water. Otherwise, the milk may coagulate and stick to the equipment surfaces.
2. Hot alkaline wash	Remove bacteria, protein, fat, and biofilms from the equipment surfaces	Dairy detergent and most soaps are alkaline cleaners. Bucket milkers and tank valves should be disassembled and scrubbed clean with hot soapy water. Pipeline systems rely on turbulent flow of hot soapy solution through the clean-in-place system. The temperature of the soapy water needs to be at least 120 F at the outlet of the system to prevent milk solids from re-adhering to surfaces.
3. Warm acid rinse	Lower the pH of the equipment surfaces to create an environment that is unfavorable for bacterial growth	Most bacteria grow best in neutral pH environments. Using an acid rinse as the last cleaning step makes bacterial growth less likely to occur in-between usage of the equipment. Ideally, the acid rinse should have a pH of 3-4.
4. Dry	Remove moisture to make it hard for bacteria to grow	Invert equipment such as inflations and milk buckets to allow them to drip dry between uses. Completely dry milk tanks and valve parts between uses. Avoid having low spots where moisture can accumulate in pipeline systems.
5. Sanitize just prior to milking (optional)	Inactivate any bacteria that have grown in the system in between milkings	Pipeline systems, and especially pipeline systems being used only once per day, may necessitate the use of a sanitizer rinse just prior to milking. Simple bucket milker systems and pipeline systems being used more than once per day may not need to use a sanitizer prior to milking. This can be confirmed through coliform and Standard Plate Count testing. Some states require a sanitizer be used on milking equipment just before milking. Care needs to be taken to ensure that no more than the proper amount of sanitizer is used, to ensure that no undesirable residues end up in the milk.

Biofilms Provide a Place for Bacteria to Grow

Biofilms are symbiotic colonies of bacteria that can adhere to the inside of the milk lines, valves, crevices, etc. Through a process called quorum sensing, bacteria within biofilms are protected with multi-species cooperation. This makes the bacteria in biofilms hard to remove and destroy.

Biofilms can provide a safe haven for the growth of pathogens such as E. coli 0157:H7, Campylobacter spp., Listeria monocytogenes, and Salmonella spp. As biofilms grow larger, pieces of biofilm can break off when milk flows through the system, leading to contaminated milk. 

Cleaning to Prevent Biofilms

Preventing biofilms in bucket milker systems is fairly simple since the components can be disassembled and scrubbed clean after every milking.  However, milk pipeline systems require extra care to ensure that biofilms do not grow in the system. Since it is not possible to manually scrub the internal surfaces of the pipeline system, the cleaning process relies on turbulent flow of hot liquid cleaning solutions to wash away any bacteria in the lines. 

Valves, gaskets, low points, and bends in the system create opportunities for biofilm growth. Pipeline systems need to be designed to minimize bends and ensure there are no low points where moisture can accumulate in the system.  Valves and gaskets need to be completely disassembled and cleaned often to prevent biofilm growth.  This includes the valve on the bulk tank, which should be completely disassembled and cleaned every time the milk tank is emptied.

Periodically Change Cleaners to Prevent Biofilm Growth

The use of both alkaline and acid cleaners will help prevent biofilm growth. Nonetheless, over time biofilms can become resistant to specific cleaners, especially in pipeline systems.  Therefore, it is recommended to periodically “shock” the system by using different alkaline and acid cleaners about once a month. Simple bucket milker systems may not need to periodically alter their cleaners since they are completely disassembled and manually scrubbed after each use.  

NOTE: Quaternary ammonias are not recommended for cleaning milking equipment because they are difficult to fully remove and can linger on the equipment. 

Aim for “Kitchen Clean”

The main goal when cleaning milking equipment is to achieve “kitchen clean.”  There is no need to go overboard by using high concentrations of harsh cleaners. If you overdo it, your cleaning processes can lead to early degradation of your milking equipment as well as unhealthy residual components in the milk. 

Aim instead to find a good balance where you are cleaning your milking equipment enough to be clean and dry like the dishes in your kitchen.

Lukewarm Water First, Then Hot Cleaner

Make sure that the first rinse of the milking equipment is performed with lukewarm water.  This will allow the residual milk to wash away without coagulating on the internal surfaces of your milking equipment.  Using water that is too hot or too cold can result in the milk adhering to the internal surfaces of the milking equipment.

Once the initial rinse is completed, it is important to use hot alkaline cleaning solutions to ensure that fats and bacteria are washed out of the system. Bucket milkers and tank valves should be disassembled and scrubbed clean with hot soapy water. A pump can also be used to circulate the hot cleaning solution through bucket milker systems.

For clean-in-place systems, the temperature of the cleaning solution needs to be measured to ensure it is still at least 120 F at the outlet of the system.

Acid Rinse

Using a warm acid rinse as the last step in the cleaning process is important for minimizing bacteria growth in the system in-between milkings.  Most bacteria grow best in neutral pH environments, so ending with an acid rinse creates an environment in which bacteria are less likely to proliferate. Ideally, the acid rinse should have a pH of 3-4 for the greatest effectiveness.

Drying

Allowing milking equipment, buckets, and tanks to fully dry in-between uses is another important step in limiting bacteria growth in-between milkings. Milk buckets, hoses, and inflations should be inverted to allow them to drip dry.

Complex pipeline systems may not be able to be dried completely between uses. These systems will need to rely on acids and sanitizers to ensure that bacteria counts remain low. Additionally, these systems should be designed to avoid low points where moisture can accumulate.

Sanitize Prior to Milking (Optional)

Some systems, such as pipeline systems being used only once per day, will need to use a sanitizer rinse just prior to milking in order to keep bacteria counts low.  Summer humidity and heat, which can contribute to bacterial growth and prevent dairy equipment from drying properly between uses, may also necessitate the use of a sanitizer rinse just prior to milking. Additionally, some states (such as Vermont) require that a sanitizer be used on milking equipment just prior to milking.

Studies have shown that when sanitizers are used in greater-than recommended amounts, there can be unhealthy levels of sanitizer residues and by-products in the milk.  Therefore, care needs to be taken to ensure that no more than the proper amount of sanitizer is used.

If bleach is used as a no-rinse sanitizer, by federal regulations it needs to be used at a ratio of no more than 1 Tablespoon of bleach per gallon of water (assuming the bleach has a content of 5.25% sodium hypochlorite). Alternatively, chlorine test strips can be used to verify that the chlorine concentration is correct.  Be aware that some bleaches (such as Clorox Disinfecting Bleach) have a higher concentration of sodium hypochlorite and therefore need to be used in smaller amounts.

Test to Verify That Cleaning Process is Working Well

Every farm is unique, so there is no one cleaning process that will work in all cases.  For instance, complex milk pipeline systems require different cleaning processes than simple bucket milker systems. Coliform Count and Standard Plate Count (SPC) tests can be used as verification tools to determine whether the cleaning process is working properly.

Ideally, these tests should be performed at least once a month, or more frequently such as weekly or daily.  These tests can be performed inexpensively and conveniently with the use of an on-farm lab. (The Raw Milk Institute is still offering grants to offset the costs for on-farm lab materials to farmers who are completing our free Listing program.)

Testing more often allows farmers to identify trends and trouble spots. Whenever the cleaning processes or equipment are being changed, coliform and SPC testing can be performed to ensure that the new processes and equipment have been optimized for low-risk raw milk.

Daily Cleaning Habits for Success

Once you’ve optimized your cleaning processes and verified that they work well through bacterial testing, you can settle in to creating the daily cleaning habits that will keep your milk production running smoothly.  You may also find that the shelf-life of your milk has increased and that the flavor is even better.  

If you need help optimizing your cleaning processes for low-risk raw milk, contact us for free mentoring.

NOW Available: Farmer Training Booklet

Raw Milk Institute is pleased to announce that we have released an introductory farmer training booklet! We developed this booklet to meet the needs of farmers who prefer written materials or cannot access our online training resources.

Our introductory booklet about production practices for low-risk raw milk includes information about:

• Managing the Conditions for Low-Risk Raw Milk

• Udder Preparation for Low-Risk Raw Milk

• Rapid Chilling of Raw Milk To Reduce Risk of Pathogens and Improve Shelf-Life

• Managing the Risks of “Fresh” Cows and Does

• Managing the Risks of Calf-Sharing

• How to Clean Your Milking Machine

This booklet is offered in two formats:

• A spiral-bound, 43-page booklet, printed in full color

• A 41-page, full-color PDF digital download

You can get the RAWMI Booklet here: https://www.rawmilkinstitute.org/shop

Managing the Increased Risks of Calf-Sharing on Raw Milk Farms

Calf-sharing, i.e. allowing a cow’s offspring to nurse directly from its mother, is a common practice on small dairy farms.  Many farmers and consumers think that calf-sharing is ideal for the health and well-being of both the cow and calf, and it does present an idyllic picture of farm life. Calf-sharing can also reduce the workload for farmers, who don’t have to bottle-feed the calves.   

However, farmers who are producing raw milk need to be aware that calf sharing increases the risk of pathogens being present in the raw milk. The same is true for kid-sharing with goats.

Pathogens, Calves, and Kids

You may wonder: Why do calf-sharing and kid-sharing increase the risk of pathogens in raw milk?  Just like human babies, calves and kids explore the world with their mouths and can then directly transfer harmful bacteria to the udders as well as to the inside of the teat canals. Calves and kids have immature immune systems and are therefore more likely to harbor pathogens themselves.

Although pathogens in well-produced raw milk are rare, they are still an important consideration and we encourage all raw milk farmers to take pathogens seriously.  Pathogenic bacteria that can be carried by calves and kids include E coli 0157:H7, Salmonella spp., Campylobacter spp., and Listeria monocytogenes. Illnesses from these pathogens can be serious or even fatal. 

Many scientific studies have verified that calves and kids are more likely to carry pathogens than their fully-grown counterparts. Below are a couple of the studies; additional studies are listed in the references section at the end of this article.

• A longitudinal study of Shiga-toxigenic Escherichia coli (STEC) prevalence in three Australian dairy herds -

  https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S037811359900173X?via%3Dihub -

  "In concurrence with previous studies, it appears that cattle, and in particular 1–14-week-old weanling calves, are the primary reservoir for STEC and EHEC on the dairy farm."

• Age related differences in phylogenetic diversity, prevalence of Shiga toxins, Intimin, Hemolysin genes and select serogroups of Escherichia. coli from pastured meat goats detected in a longitudinal cohort study - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7391229/ - "Overall, virulence genes and STEC [virulent e coli] were detected in isolates from goat kids in higher proportions than adult animals. Additionally, isolates with 2 or more virulence genes were significantly higher in pre-weaned and goat kids around weaning than in adult goats."

Illness outbreaks from petting zoos provide further confirmation that calves and kids can transfer pathogens in real-world conditions.

• Animal petting zoos as sources of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli, Salmonella and extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Enterobacteriaceae -   https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33382208/ - “Animal petting zoos and farm fairs provide the opportunity for children and adults to interact with animals, but contact with animals carries a risk of exposure to zoonotic pathogens and antimicrobial-resistant bacteria... Of 163 faecal samples, 75 contained stx1, stx2 or stx1/stx2 genes, indicating the presence of STEC. Samples included faeces from sika deer (100%), sheep (92%), goats (88%), mouflons (80%), camels (62%), llamas (50%), yaks (50%), pigs (29%) and donkeys (6%)…”

This information makes some farmers and consumers uncomfortable, yet it is still important to consider in developing a plan for minimizing the risk of pathogens from raw milk.   

Staph aureus, Calves, and Kids

In addition to pathogens that can cause human illness, calf-sharing (and kid-sharing) can increase the chance that Staph aureus will be widespread in the dairy herd.  Staph aureus is a type of bacteria that colonizes inside the mammary tissue, thereby increasing the risk of recurrent mastitis. The presence of Staph aureus can also cause scar tissue in the udder, which may result in lower milk production over time.  Cows and dams can transfer Staph aureus to suckling calves and kids, such that Staph aureus can become widespread in the dairy herd.  

Bottle-Feeding Has the Lowest Risk for Pathogens

At the Raw Milk Institute, our goal is to help farmers better-understand the potential risks in raw milk production so that they can then take steps to minimize the risks.  We are not the raw milk police, and we do not forbid anyone from calf-sharing. However, we want to make sure that farmers are aware of the risks and can then plan for how to reduce the risks.  

To achieve the lowest risk-profile, calves and kids would be bottle-fed.  It is nonetheless very important to ensure that the calves and kids receive the colostrum in order to help build up their immune systems. Be aware that the manure from calves and kids can also be a source of pathogens.  

Studies and farmer experience have shown that early separation (within 24 hours of birth) reduces the stress of the separation on both calves and cows. Leaving the cow and calf together for longer periods increases the stress related to separation.

• Effects of early separation on the dairy cow and calf: 2. Separation at 1 day and 2 weeks after birth - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11179551/ - “Behavioural observations were conducted on 24 Holstein dairy cow-calf pairs during the first 24h after separation. Before separation, cow-calf pairs were generally inactive. After separation, cows from the late-separation treatment group showed higher rates of calling, movement and placing the head outside the pen, than cows in the early-separation group.”

Calves who have been separated from their mothers will do best if they are kept with at least one other calf rather than in isolation. 

• The effect of individual versus pair housing of dairy heifer calves during the preweaning period on measures of health, performance, and behavior up to 16 weeks of age - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33358809/ - Pair housing of dairy heifer calves during the preweaning period helps meet the natural social needs of the calf and has been shown to improve growth and starter intake during the preweaning period as compared with individual housing.

Raising calves can be time-intensive, so some farms choose to instead have their calves raised offsite at farms that specialize in calf-rearing.  

Managing the Risks of Calf-Sharing

For farms that choose to calf-share or kid-share, below are some risk management strategies that have been employed successfully in small dairy farms that have participated in the Raw Milk Institute’s Listing program.  

• Apply extra diligence to udder preparation and stripping.  Ensuring that the teats are well-cleaned, pre-dipped, and stripped prior to milking will reduce the chance of pathogens being present. (See our Udder Prep for Raw Milk article for more information.)

• Closely monitor the calves/kids for any signs of illness.  If the calves/kids are ever showing signs of illness (such as diarrhea, runny nose, etc.), the milk would potentially have a greater risk of pathogens.  The milk should then be either diverted and not used for direct human consumption or the calves/kids should be separated from the herd until the illness has cleared.

• Perform regular milk culture testing of your herd for Staph aureus to make sure it is not present. Staph aureus can show up intermittently so one test does not necessarily clear the herd.

• Have a "nurse cow" or “nurse dam” to feed the calves or kids, whose milk is not used for human consumption.  This method needs to be utilized carefully, as too many calves/kids per nurse cow/dam can result in a loss of body condition and health problems for the nurse cow/dam.

• As they grow to a few months old, some calves/kids can be especially hard on the teats when nursing.  This can result in damage or injury to the teats. If this occurs, it is best to separate the offspring from their mothers.

It is also worth noting that calf-sharing (or kid-sharing) will reduce the amount of milk that is available to sell to customers. This can become especially problematic as the calves/kids reach 5+ months of age.

Choosing not to calf-share or kid-share is a good option for farmers who want to have the lowest risk of pathogens in their raw milk.  However, calf-sharing and kid-sharing can be done successfully when farmers acknowledge and manage the risks. The techniques listed above will reduce the likelihood of anything going wrong, for the benefit of both the customers and farmers.

A less-detailed version of this article was published in the June-July 2023 issue of Graze Magazine.

References

1. Age related differences in phylogenetic diversity, prevalence of Shiga toxins, Intimin, Hemolysin genes and select serogroups of Escherichia. coli from pastured meat goats detected in a longitudinal cohort study - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7391229/ - "Overall, virulence genes and STEC [virulent e coli] were detected in isolates from goat kids in higher proportions than adult animals. Additionally, isolates with 2 or more virulence genes were significantly higher in pre-weaned and goat kids around weaning than in adult goats."

2. Role of calf-adapted Escherichia coli in maintenance of antimicrobial drug resistance in dairy calves - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14766551/ - "The prevalence of antimicrobial drug-resistant bacteria is typically highest in younger animals, and prevalence is not necessarily related to recent use of antimicrobial drugs. In dairy cattle, we hypothesize that antimicrobial drug-resistant, neonate-adapted bacteria are responsible for the observed high frequencies of resistant Escherichia coli in calves."

3. Antibiotic resistance and transferable antibiotic resistance of Escherichia coli isolated from Swedish calves 5 and 30 days old - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1094406/ - "In comparison with the 30-day-old calves, the 5-day-old calves had significantly more strains with transferable antibiotic resistance (95.8 percent as against 63.4 percent)."

4. Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli Infections in Newborn Calves: A Review -

   https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7130746/pdf/main.pdf - "Diarrhea caused by enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli is an infectious bacterial disease of calves that occurs during the first few days of life. The Escherichia coli that cause the disease possess special attributes of virulence that allow them to colonize the small intestine and produce an enterotoxin that causes hypersecretion of fluid into the intestinal lumen. These enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli are shed into the environment by infected animals in the herd and are ingested by newborn calves soon after birth."

5. Prevalence of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in range beef calves at weaning -

   https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/epidemiology-and-infection/article/prevalence-of-escherichia-coli-o157h7-in-range-beef-calves-at-weaning/EBD00C9EB16D36476F75D825C05139B0 - "This study was designed to determine the prevalence of Escherichia coli O157:H7 infection of beef calves at weaning, prior to arrival at the feedlot or mixing with cattle from other sources. Fifteen range cow-calf herds, which weaned calves in October and November, were sampled in Kansas, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska and South Dakota... Thirteen of the 15 herds (87%) were found to have at least one positive isolation of E. coli O157:H7 in faecal samples...This study indicates that E. coli O157:H7 infection before weaning, prior to entry into feedlots, is widespread. Furthermore, serologic evidence suggests that most calves (83%) and all herds (100%) have been exposed to E. coli O157.

6. Diversity, Frequency, and Persistence of Escherichia coli O157 Strains from Range Cattle Environments -

   https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC152399/ - "The number of XbaI-PFGE subtypes, the variable frequency and persistence of subtypes, and the presence of identical subtypes in cattle feces, free-flowing water sources, and wildlife feces indicate that the complex molecular epidemiology of E. coli O157 previously described for confined cattle operations is also evident in extensively managed range cattle environments."

7. A longitudinal study of Shiga-toxigenic Escherichia coli (STEC) prevalence in three Australian dairy herds -

   https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S037811359900173X?via%3Dihub -

   "In concurrence with previous studies, it appears that cattle, and in particular 1–14-week-old weanling calves, are the primary reservoir for STEC and EHEC on the dairy farm."

8. Comparison of Diversities of Escherichia coli O157 Shed from a Cohort of Spring-Born Beef Calves at Pasture and in Housing - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1065151/ - "Overall, there was no demonstrable difference in shedding between calves when housed and at pasture. However, when shedding occurred, the rate of shedding was greater among calves in pen S (0.025 < P < 0.05) and pen N (0.05 < P ≤ 0.10) than when at pasture"

9. Persistence of verocytotoxin-producing Escherichia coli O157:H7 in calves kept on pasture and in calves kept indoors during the summer months in a Swedish dairy herd -

   https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11407548/ - "The objective of this part of the study presented here was to examine the persistence of VTEC O157:H7 in calves that were kept on pasture and indoors, respectively, during the summer...The faecal samples from the calves kept on pasture were negative during the whole period...This suggests that calves on pasture may be less exposed to the bacteria or that they clear themselves. In the pen group, there were between one and six culture positive individuals per sampling occasion. One of the calves that was housed indoors was positive in faecal culture on four consecutive samplings." (One big limitation on this study is the very small sample size. There were only 6 calves in each group, which is a very small number so that makes this data somewhat less able to be used to draw widely-applicable conclusions.)

10. Animal petting zoos as sources of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli, Salmonella and extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Enterobacteriaceae -   https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33382208/ - “Animal petting zoos and farm fairs provide the opportunity for children and adults to interact with animals, but contact with animals carries a risk of exposure to zoonotic pathogens and antimicrobial-resistant bacteria. The aim of this study was to assess the occurrence of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC), Salmonella, extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Enterobacteriaceae and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in animal faeces from six animal petting zoos and one farm fair in Switzerland. Furthermore, hygiene facilities on the venues were evaluated. Of 163 faecal samples, 75 contained stx1, stx2 or stx1/stx2 genes, indicating the presence of STEC. Samples included faeces from sika deer (100%), sheep (92%), goats (88%), mouflons (80%), camels (62%), llamas (50%), yaks (50%), pigs (29%) and donkeys (6%), whereas no stx genes were isolated from faeces of calves, guinea pigs, hens, ostriches, ponies, zebras or zebus. Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Stourbridge (S. Stourbridge) was detected in faecal samples from camels. A total of four ESBL-producing E. coli strains were isolated from faeces of goats, camels and pigs... This study provides data that underscore the importance of hygiene measures to minimize the risk of transmission of zoonotic pathogens and MDR, ESBL-producing E. coli to visitors of animal petting venues.” 

11. Investigations on Transfer of Pathogens between Foster Cows and Calves during the Suckling Period - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8469241/ - “The present study aimed to compare the pathogens detected in the mammary glands of the foster cow with those in the oral cavities of the associated foster calves and to evaluate the resulting consequences for udder health, calf health and internal biosecurity... Transmission of P. multocida and S. aureus probably occurred during suckling. For S. sciuri and Sc. suis, environmental origins were assumed. Transmission from dam to foster cow with the suckling calf as vector could not be clearly demonstrated.”

12. Effects of early separation on the dairy cow and calf: 2. Separation at 1 day and 2 weeks after birth - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11179551/ - “Behavioural observations were conducted on 24 Holstein dairy cow-calf pairs during the first 24h after separation. Before separation, cow-calf pairs were generally inactive. After separation, cows from the late-separation treatment group showed higher rates of calling, movement and placing the head outside the pen, than cows in the early-separation group.”

13. The effect of individual versus pair housing of dairy heifer calves during the preweaning period on measures of health, performance, and behavior up to 16 weeks of age - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33358809/ - Pair housing of dairy heifer calves during the preweaning period helps meet the natural social needs of the calf and has been shown to improve growth and starter intake during the preweaning period as compared with individual housing. 

Sept 23rd TEXAS Training: Producing World-Class Raw Milk

On Saturday September 23rd in Mount Pleasant, TX, the Raw Milk Institute (RAWMI) will be presenting a full day workshop on Producing World Class Raw Milk.

Whereas farmers producing milk for the pasteurized market often struggle to make ends meet, raw milk farms are thriving. Raw milk presents a unique opportunity for farmers to move into an expanding market by implementing intentional practices and higher standards to produce low-risk, delicious raw milk.

Raw milk is an exceptional farmstead product that brings all the added value back to the farmer with an incentive to work on quality. By selling directly to consumers, raw milk farmers are able to obtain greater financial rewards for their work, while consumers benefit from the improved flavor and nutrition. It’s a win-win for both farmers and consumers!

About the Training

This training workshop will be presented by the Raw Milk Institute (RAWMI) in conjunction with Northeast Texas Community College (NTCC). This class will be from 8am-4pm Central Time, and it will count for Continuing Education (CE) credit, too!

This RAWMI presentation will focus on:

• History of raw milk

• Why raw milk farms are thriving

• Health benefits of raw milk

• Benefits of selling raw milk

• Safety and risks of raw milk

• Grass-to-glass raw milk risk management

• Raw milk testing

• Building a successful raw milk market

We'll spend the morning and early afternoon at the NTCC Agriculture Center at 2886 FM 1735, Mount Pleasant, TX. Then we’ll head over to a raw milk dairy on campus for a hands-on experience.

How to Register

The registration fee is just $25, which will include the full day of training plus a boxed lunch!

You can register here: https://dynamicforms.ngwebsolutions.com/Submit/Start/6250b435-49b6-49a6-b6d9-f200b00c9eb3?SSO=N

THRIVING with Raw Milk Webinar: FREE Video Seminar with Focus on Iowa

Whereas farmers producing milk for the pasteurized market often struggle to make ends meet, raw milk farms are thriving. Iowa’s new law presents a unique opportunity for farmers to move into an expanding market by implementing intentional practices and higher standards to produce low-risk raw milk.

Raw milk presents a unique farmstead product that brings all the added value back to the farmer with an incentive to work on quality. By selling directly to consumers, raw milk farmers are able to obtain greater financial rewards for their work, while consumers benefit from the improved flavor and nutrition. It’s a win for both farmers and consumers!

Watch Our FREE 1.5 Hour Seminar

Below is our 1.5 hour video seminar, Thriving with Raw Milk, presented by:

• Mark McAfee - Raw Milk Institute President and Founder

• Sarah Smith - Raw Milk Institute Vice President

• Joseph Heckman, PhD - Raw Milk Institute Board Member and Soil Scientist from Rutgers

• Esther Arkfeld - Iowa Dairy Farmer and Advocate for Raw Milk Legalization

• Fred Hall - Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Dairy Field Specialist

• Senator Jason Schultz - Legislative Sponsor of Bill to Legalize Raw Milk in Iowa

This Raw Milk Institute seminar focuses on:

• Iowa’s new raw milk law

• How raw milk farms are thriving

• Health benefits of raw milk

• Benefits of selling raw milk

• Safety and risks of raw milk

• Introduction to raw milk risk management

• Building a successful raw milk market

August 12th FREE Iowa Raw Milk Webinar

Raw milk is now legal in Iowa! Whereas farmers producing milk for the pasteurized market often struggle to make ends meet, raw milk farms are thriving. Iowa’s new law presents a unique opportunity for farmers to move into an expanding market by implementing intentional practices and higher standards to produce low-risk raw milk.

On Saturday August 12th at 11am Central, the Raw Milk Institute (RAWMI) will be presenting a free 1.5-hour Iowa Raw Milk seminar. This presentation will be livestreamed online, so farmers from across Iowa will be able to conveniently attend from their own location.

Raw milk presents a unique farmstead product that brings all the added value back to the farmer with an incentive to work on quality. By selling directly to consumers, raw milk farmers are able to obtain greater financial rewards for their work, while consumers benefit from the improved flavor and nutrition. It’s a win for both farmers and consumers!

About the Training

This 1.5 hour webinar will be presented by the Raw Milk Institute (RAWMI) in collaboration with Esther Arkfeld (RAWMI Listed farmer who was instrumental in the legalization of raw milk in Iowa).

This RAWMI presentation will focus on:

• Iowa’s new raw milk law

• Why raw milk farms are thriving

• Health benefits of raw milk

• Benefits of selling raw milk

• Safety and risks of raw milk

• Introduction to raw milk risk management

• Building a successful raw milk market

We'll be providing lots of practical tips for farmers who are interested in switching to raw milk as a sustainable business model.

How to Register

This webinar is open and free for farmers in Iowa as well as elsewhere.

SORRY, we had to close registration for this event at 100 attendees. Let us know if you missed this but want to attend a future event.