Avian Flu and Raw Milk: A Common Sense Approach

Breaking News!  There is a concern among dairymen and biosecurity experts about a multistate outbreak of avian flu that is affecting cattle in Texas, Kansas, Michigan, New Mexico, and Idaho. Various Federal and state government agencies are using this cow illness outbreak as a stage to warn consumers against drinking raw milk. 

According to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), in cattle this illness causes decreased lactation and low appetite, but the cattle generally recover without dying. Cows who have contracted this illness have recovered “with little to no associated mortality,” according to the USDA.

The press and media information released by the USDA and others warns against drinking raw milk from affected cows. They further state that pasteurization protects consumers from the illness.  

Raw Milk and Breastmilk are Very Similar

As a premed-trained dairy farmer who is a 12-year member of the UC Davis International Milk Genomics Consortium (IMGC), I have studied viral infections in cows and the immunologic and biomechanics of antibody creation.  Based on what is known about antibodies and raw milk, there are deep flaws in the warnings about consuming raw milk related to avian flu.  

Dr David Dallas PhD is an IMGC researcher who studies milk genomics. At the 2023 IMGC Symposium, Dr Dallas reported that raw milk from cows and goats is “qualitatively similar” to human breast milk.  However, “quantitatively” bovine raw milk and human breast milk have “different levels” of various milk components.  

This is why raw milk from cows and goats is so well-digested and compatible by human consumers. We can thus compare human mammals with bovine mammals in how mothers protect their babies. 

Mammals Protect Their Young Through Antibodies in Raw Milk

In 2004, the state of California Veterinarian visited our dairy to perform tuberculosis testing of our cows. He told me something I will never forget: “Mammals protect their young.”  

What he meant was that, in general, when a mother becomes infected by a virus or bacterial infection, she will produce antibodies in her raw milk that will provide her young with protection from the illness.  This is part of why breastfed babies are known to have stronger immune systems than babies raised on formula.  Antibodies in raw milk are one way that Nature assures the strength and survival of the next generation.  

The CDC readily acknowledges that mothers should continue to breastfeed their infants because “flu is not spread to infants through breast milk.” They know that breastmilk contains “antibodies and other immunological factors that can help protect her infant from flu.” Similarly, studies performed at the UC Davis dairy lab during COVID found that exposing a cow to coronavirus resulted in antibodies to coronavirus in her raw milk.  

These studies were a further confirmation of what doctors and the owners of Alta Dena dairy knew way back in the 1960’s: cows that have been exposed to illnesses create antibodies to the illnesses which are then passed through their raw milk.  Decades ago, Alta Dena dairy would purposely make immune milk for certain consumers and doctors by intentionally exposing cows to specific illnesses. This raw milk was used to help heal sick people.  Now the FDA does not allow this practice and threatens anyone who uses it with criminal charges. They consider it to be equivalent to creating a new drug without oversight, which is a crime in the USA under the Food Drug and Cosmetic Act.  

Further back in history, it was observed that the milk maidens of the 1700-1800s did not catch smallpox because of their exposure to cowpox by being around dairy animals and drinking raw milk.

Common Sense Approach to Avian Flu in Cattle

The warnings against raw milk related to avian flu are clearly fearmongering.  The FDA acknowledges that “there is limited information available about the transmission of bird flu in raw, unpasteurized milk.” Then they go on to use the same fearmongering tactics they’ve been using for decades against raw milk, despite the fact that there is now ample evidence that raw milk can be carefully produced as a low-risk food.  

Conscientious raw milk producers already monitor their herds for illness and ensure that raw milk from unhealthy animals is not used for direct human consumption. Additionally, biosecurity measures such as maintaining a closed herd and quarantining any new animals are implemented.   

These are common sense measures that are already recommended by the Raw Milk Institute and used by diligent raw milk farmers. We have no reason to suspect that any further measures are necessary in the current Avian flu outbreak in cattle.  Mammalian milk is uniquely designed to protect and strengthen the immune system, and those systems will continue on as new threats arise.

FDA Demonstrates Bias Against Raw Milk in Unfounded Raw Cheese Recall

Government agencies in many countries have been biased against raw milk and raw dairy products for over a century.  This is true in the United States as well, even though Dr Henry Coit and the American Association of Medical Milk Commissions demonstrated that raw milk could be produced carefully and hygienically as a low-risk food all the way back in the late 1800’s.

Anti-raw milk smear campaigns and propaganda have been used continually to make people fearful of raw milk and raw milk products. In reality, raw milk can be produced as a low-risk food when farmers are trained and use careful production practices.

Of course, there is no such thing as a perfectly safe food, as evidenced by the ongoing illness outbreaks linked to foods such as cantaloupes, leafy greens, and chicken. Pasteurized milk is not perfectly safe, either, and is implicated in foodborne illnesses and outbreaks every year. For instance, in 2007, there was an outbreak of Listeriosis in Massachusetts which was associated with pasteurized milk.  Overall, there were five cases identified and three deaths occurred.

Nonetheless, only raw milk and raw milk products are targeted by government agencies as being unsafe.

My Family’s Farm is Being Targeted

In the latest example of anti raw milk bias, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recently targeted raw cheese from my family’s farm (RAW Farm). On February 15th 2024, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the FDA urgently demanded to speak with us. We had 30 minutes notice for a call that was attended by about a dozen people from the CDC and FDA.

Our raw cheeses are sold nationally at over 1,300 grocery stores.  We were told that the CDC’s PULSENET database had associated 10 illnesses to our raw cheese products over the last 5 months. The CDC and FDA admitted that, out of these 10 illnesses, half of those who became ill denied ever having consumed our cheese.

Nonetheless, the FDA gave us two alternatives: either 1) voluntarily recall all of our cheese sold in the USA, or 2) they would force a mandatory recall of all our cheeses.

Our own internal tests performed on every batch of raw cheese were all negative for pathogens.  The state of California’s tests on our cheeses were also all negative for pathogens.  Nonetheless, we chose to fully comply with a voluntary recall of all raw cheeses within a specified date range. Although we needed a lot more information and answers to questions, out of an abundance of caution we recalled all of our cheeses on February 16th 2024. 

Searching for Answers to Many Questions

Over a 10-day period during our voluntary recall, we dug into the data to see what we could learn.  We were patient and did not comment, but instead we just collected information and considered every piece of data in our investigation.

We asked the FDA to provide the Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) test data gathered by PULSENET. We conferred with experts from a testing lab who concluded that the WGS data was inconsistent from person to person and did not match as having a single cause. The CDC appears to have picked and selected data to match a narrative and ignored other data and date ranges. 

By February 25th, we had considered all the data from the FDA as well as mountains of internal test data and state test data. There was never any evidence that our cheese contained pathogens.

Clear Bias from the FDA and CDC

In handling this situation, the FDA broke their own rules in numerous ways.  They did not comply with their own Food Safety Modernization Act requirements or procedures. 

The timing of this whole situation was conspicuous considering that it was in the middle of a nationwide recall of pasteurized cheeses due to Listeria.  That outbreak is affecting 11-states and is associated with dozens of illnesses and two deaths. 

Additionally, on February 17th despite lack of evidence, FDA Director Dr Stic Harris posted on his personal LinkedIn page a photo of our cheese along with a warning that “While my personal opinion is you should never drink raw milk or eat raw milk products, you certainly don’t want to eat raw milk cheese linked to an ongoing outbreak.” Raw milk was never even involved in this recall, only raw cheese.  The bias against raw milk and raw milk products is clear.

The Accusations Were Baseless

It is clear from investigating all of the data that the FDA’s accusations against RAW Farm’s cheese were baseless. We stand with our consumers and our test data. The FDA can provide no evidence what so ever of any pathogens in any of our products.

As of February 26, we have now lifted our Voluntary Recall on our cheeses. You can read our full press release here:

Suffice it to say that as pioneers in the raw milk movement, we wage many battles.  Some are scientific, some are political, and some are educational. In this case, the FDA refuses to acknowledge science and is protecting themselves and big industry. They are demonstrating extreme political bias and continue to refuse to become educated about how raw milk can be produced as a low-risk food.

Welcoming Two Goat Milk Farms in Texas and British Columbia to RAWMI Community

The Raw Milk Institute (RAWMI) sends a warm welcome to two more farmers who have completed our Listing program!

RAWMI offers free mentoring to all dairy farmers. Whether they are milking one cow, a handful of goats, or a large herd, the principles of safe raw milk production form a foundational toolset that benefits all dairy farmers and their customers. 

Some of the farmers we mentor choose to keep it casual, and are satisfied to just ask us a few questions before continuing their raw milk journeys. There is another set of farmers, though, that is not content to just dip their toes in the water; they want to dive right in and take their entire milk process to the next level. 

For these farmers, we offer our (free) RAWMI Listing program, wherein we assist farmers in developing their own unique on-farm Risk Analysis and Management Plan, documenting their processes with written Standard Sanitary Operating Procedures, and identifying the Critical Control Points that are essential to their production of safe raw milk. RAWMI Listed farmers test their milk at least monthly for ongoing assurance that their processes are working well to produce low-risk raw milk. RAWMI Listing is the gold standard for raw milk producers.

Two goat milk farms have recently completed the RAWMI Listing process, and we extend them a warm welcome into our growing community!

Lomah Texas: Dallas-Fort Worth Area

Lomah Texas is operated by Jennifer Daniels and her family. It all started over a decade ago with a goat for Jennifer’s daughter.  Their herd quickly grew such that their farmstead was supplying goat cheese, yogurt, and bath-and-body products by 2010.  Finally, in 2021 the Texas state law was changed to allow raw milk sales off the farm. This created a realistic opportunity to sell and deliver raw goat milk and yogurt, and with that, “Lomah Texas” came to be what it is today.  

Jennifer’s farm produces delicious low-risk raw milk for her community with the use of intentional risk management practices and on-farm lab testing.  

You can check out Lomah Texas' Risk Management Plan and test results here: https://www.rawmilkinstitute.org/listed-farmers/#lomah

British Columbia Dairy: Canada

This is a functioning farm on a small patch of land. Several La Mancha goats live on the property along with a handful of chickens and ducks. Raw milk is illegal in Canada, so even though this farmer is achieving low-risk raw milk, she cannot publicly list her farm name or location.

This farm follows permaculture and regenerative agriculture practices, thereby allowing an abundance of blackberry bushes, grapevines, fruit trees, and vegetables. For this farmer, raw milk safety is more than peace of mind; it’s an innate desire to produce the best product for organic goat milk soap and delicious, nutritious milk and milk products.

This dairy is the second hand-milking farm that has been able to achieve RAWMI Listing. Hand-milking poses some extra risks because it is an open system, but this farmer has shown diligence and persistence in optimizing her processes to reduce the risks, as evidenced by her stellar milk testing results.  

You can check out this farm's Risk Management Plan and test results here:

https://www.rawmilkinstitute.org/listed-farmers/#BC3

Welcoming 6 Farms to RAWMI Community in Illinois, Iowa, Tennessee, Texas, and New York

The Raw Milk Institute (RAWMI) sends a warm welcome to six more farmers who have completed our Listing program! RAWMI offers free mentoring to all dairy farmers. Whether they are milking one cow, a handful of goats, or a large herd, the principles of safe raw milk production form a foundational toolset that benefits all dairy farmers and their customers. 

Some of the farmers we mentor choose to keep it casual, and are satisfied to just ask us a few questions before continuing their raw milk journeys. There is another set of farmers, though, that is not content to just dip their toes in the water; they want to dive right in and take their entire milk process to the next level. 

For these farmers, we offer our (free) RAWMI Listing program, wherein we assist farmers in developing their own unique on-farm Risk Analysis and Management Plan, documenting their processes with written Standard Sanitary Operating Procedures, and identifying the Critical Control Points that are essential to their production of safe raw milk. RAWMI Listed farmers test their milk at least monthly for ongoing assurance that their processes are working well to produce low-risk raw milk. RAWMI Listing is the gold standard for raw milk producers.

Six farms have recently completed the RAWMI Listing process, and we extend them a warm welcome into our growing community!

• ACM Grace Hill in Washington, Iowa

• Flowered Cow Dairy in Penfield, Illinois

• LanaRosa Dairy in Leicester, New York

• Shady Paddock Farm in Paige, Texas

• The Lucky Star in Iowa City, Iowa

• Whispering Willows Farm and Dairy in Thompson’s Station, Tennessee

ACM Grace Hill – Washington, Iowa

ACM Grace Hill is operated by Andy and Christy Meader in the historic Grace Hill community. Their home is the original Grace Hill store, mentioned in the book Iowa Outpost written by Katherine Buxbaum who grew up in the home.

Since 2006, the Meaders have used raw milk for their own family and found it helpful for many of their health concerns. They started out with a small hand-milked herd of goats, but have now moved into machine milking with cows. They believe in the importance of quality local nutrition and produce A2 raw milk from registered Guernsey cattle. They are proud to follow the RAWMI framework for producing the best quality raw milk products.

You can learn more about ACM Grace Hill here: https://www.rawmilkinstitute.org/listed-farmers/#acm

Flowered Cow Dairy – Penfield, Illinois

Flowered Cow Dairy is operated by Elizabeth Hesterberg on her family’s farm in Illinois. Elizabeth grew up on her family’s farm and originally started producing milk for her own family before growing her herd to provide milk for her community.  Elizabeth is very passionate about providing healthy, clean, low-risk raw milk for her community and bridging the gap between farm and consumer. Coliform and Standard Plate Count tests are run twice per week in the on-farm lab to ensure milk quality and safety.

Each of the Jersey cows in the milking herd at Flowered Cow Dairy is given a floral name to reflect the beauty, femininity, and individual personality of the cow. The small herd is rotationally grazed on pasture throughout the growing season and supplemented with a small ration of non-GMO grain at milking time.

You can learn more about Flowered Cow Dairy here: https://www.rawmilkinstitute.org/listed-farmers/#flowered

LanaRosa Dairy – Leicester, New York

LanaRosa Dairy is operated by Lana and Wayne Scofield on their 100-acre farm in New York. Wayne and Lana have a scrap metal recycling facility and Lana has transitioned to working full time on the farm. Lana originally sought raw milk to help with healing her health problems, and they decided to get a Jersey cow since there were no local sources for raw milk. Once their community saw the cow out in the pasture, people were clamoring for raw milk so their herd grew from there.

Lana and Wayne decided to take the step of becoming permitted by the New York Department of Ag and Markets in 2022 and just celebrated their first year in August 2023.  They are happy to share delicious Jersey milk with their community. They are a boutique dairy which only allows them to serve a limited number of consumers. 

You can learn more about LanaRosa Dairy here: https://www.rawmilkinstitute.org/listed-farmers/#lana

Shady Paddock Farm – Paige, Texas

Shady Paddock Farm is operated by Tammy and Dennis Gallagher on 13 beautiful acres in Central Texas. Tammy is a former Registered Nurse and Dennis is a retired Marine. After originally producing raw milk and cheese for their own family, Tammy and Dennis fell in love with Nigerian Dwarf goats and the farming way of life.

The Gallaghers believe that the very best food products come from healthy, happy, and stress-free animals. With this in mind, their animals are raised with a compassionate care philosophy. They are excited to share delicious and creamy goat milk provided with their community. 

You can learn more about Shady Paddock Farm here: https://www.rawmilkinstitute.org/listed-farmers/#shady

The Lucky Star Farm – Iowa City, Iowa

The Lucky Star Farm is operated by Susan Young on a 20-acre diverse homestead in Iowa. Susan is an educator and her family started their farm back in 2011.  Susan milks Nigerian dwarf goats and her customers appreciate the delicious sweet milk, high in protein and butterfat.

The goats are machine milked once-a-day and milk is tested weekly in the on-farm lab to ensure all milk is up to RAWMI standards. Susan is committed to producing the highest quality raw milk possible for her community and dedicated to sharing local food, education and farm experiences with others.

You can learn more about The Lucky Star Farm here: https://www.rawmilkinstitute.org/listed-farmers/#lucky

Whispering Willows Farm and Dairy – Thompson’s Station, Tennessee

Whispering Willows Farm and Dairy is operated by Jennifer and Brad Wilson in middle Tennessee. Brad was a management consultant and Jennifer was a PhD biophysics researcher prior to homeschooling and starting the farm.

Whispering Willows originally started out as a rabbit farm, but that soon grew to include chickens, goats, and cows. The Wilsons are passionate about providing nutritious foods for their community. They produce both cow and goat milk, as well as raw yogurt and a variety of hard and soft cheeses.

You can learn more about Whispering Willows Farm and Dairy here: https://www.rawmilkinstitute.org/listed-farmers/#willows

New Raw Milk Research From the 2023 IMGC Symposium

A Farmer’s Takeaways from the 2023 Symposium of the International Milk Genomics Consortium (IMGC)

“If you are the smartest person in the room, you are in the wrong room.”

Introduction

Well…I was in the right room at IMGC with a huge opportunity to learn and grow. Just like all prior years.

The 20th International Milk Genomics Consortium (IMGC) Symposium was held on September 6-8 2023. This was the 12th year that I have attended the IMGC Symposium. For the last several years, the Raw Milk Institute has been an official Bronze Level Sponsor of the conference. These conferences have taken me all over the world, including Cork Ireland, Quebec Canada, Aarhus Demark (twice), Sydney Australia, and UC Davis in California several times. I am nearly always the only farmer in the room filled with dairy processing scientists, PhD students, dairy science professors and university professors, and other milk researchers.

Over 12 years, I have made some great friends and created some important collaborations and alliances. I am approached by PhDs, especially after I speak at the microphone after a particularly engaging presentation that begs questions. They say things like, “Keep on asking those great questions!”  I am the only one that can ask those questions because everyone else would potentially lose their NIH or industry grants if they dared to asked those kinds of questions.

Time and interest are ushering in a new generation of open-minded PhD researchers, many of whom are women. They all want to talk about raw milk and its bioactive elements. Raw milk is truly a miracle of nature.  Being an event sponsor has allowed greater access to insider information about all things milk.  Below are my main takeaways from three intensive days of meetings, interactions, meals and dinner parties, and presentations in Cork Ireland at the University of Cork.

Raw Milk Institute was a Bronze Level Sponsor of the 2023 IMGC Symposium

Raw Milk Nourishes, Protects, and Directs

Raw milk is incredibly complex and perfectly designed to nourish, protect, and direct. We all know that raw milk is designed as the first food of life for babies to thrive and grow, yet as researchers continue to study raw milk, they discover many more benefits.

For instance, raw milk serves as a delivery system for immune-bioactive proteins. Peptides (which are chains of amino acid proteins) are protective of the baby by not allowing pathogens to cause illness. These functional proteins serve many roles, including protection of the baby.

Other specialized-proteins in breastmilk include natural mRNA, which provide the genetic information to direct cellular metabolic processes in the baby.  Breastmilk also contains stem cells for repair of damaged cells or tissues.

Raw milk also contains everything needed for its digestion. Raw milk has proteases, peptidases (for digesting proteins), lipases (for digesting fats), and bacteria that make lactase (for digesting lactose).

Additionally, when people drink milk, over time there are changes in the composition of the gut bacteria that make milk digestion easier. Lactase-producing bacteria found in the gut become the probiotic and as they feed on lactose, that becomes their selected prebiotic (food that bacteria chose to digest or eat). Over time the populations of these lactose-loving probiotic bacteria increase when they are fed lactose from dairy products.

The various milk proteins, immunoglobins, enzymes, fats and sugars are “qualitatively similar” between human breastmilk and cow milk. However, they are “quantitatively different” and appear at different levels and amounts in cow milk versus human milk. The same would be true for other bovine milks. The similarities are why humans can drink raw milk from cows, goats, and other animals. 

Milk’s Benefits Can’t Be Extracted

Many raw milk researchers are focused on finding ways to extract beneficial elements from raw milk. However, these elements are designed to work together with the full complement of many different macro- and micro- nutrients, enzymes, probiotics, etc in whole raw milk.

New products made with bio-actives extracted from raw milk will likely be met with suspicion, as well they should. The health benefits from whole, raw milk are the result of a complex interplay of bio-actives. Outside of the whole food matrix, those bio-actives are incomplete and not as effective as in their natural state.

Milk Fat is Essential to Its Beneficial Properties

Butterfat in milk is an essential part of milk’s overall beneficial properties. This fat is known to benefit brain development, immune system development, intestinal development, and the composition of the gut microbiota.

Butter fat globules are three-layer thick capsules that come in different sizes. The three-layered capsules are used by the gut as fiber; they also provide butyrate and butyric acids which are highly beneficial and healing to the lower gut. 60% of the bioactive elements found in raw milk are “carried on or inside” the fat globule. This says so much about skim milk, which has lost much of its beneficial value with the removal of the fat.

Researchers discovered that the fat globules in the milk are smaller in cows fed a high energy diet with high stress levels, such as cows being kept in concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs). The smaller fat globules in the milk do not contain bacteria inside that could ride through the stomach to the lower gut.

In contrast, the fat globules are larger in cows fed a low energy diet and under low stress levels (such as cows in pasture-based operations).  These larger fat globules carry bacteria inside of them. It is thought that the fat cell may act as a protective carrier vessel to carry bacteria though the stomach acid environment into the lower gut where they may be beneficial.

Pasteurization Damages and Denatures Milk

Pasteurization damages milk such that it becomes oxidated, highly allergenic, and hard to digest. It is a common protocol to pasteurize milk up to 3 or 4 times to achieve longer shelf life and assure that the milk is completely dead, with no regard for the essential and beneficial bio-actives that are destroyed in the process. 

Raw milk contains everything it needs to digest itself. Raw milk contains enzymes and bacteria that help create more enzymes to digest raw milk and all the sub elements. Milk maldigestion has been over simplified. It is not just lactose; it is the proteins and fats that also need help with digestion.

After pasteurization the bioactive elements needed for milk to digest itself are missing! Fats, proteins, and sugars all need digesting, but their enzymes and digestive bacteria are denatured or dead.  Without active enzymes, digestion of fat (via lipase) and proteins (via protease) is inhibited. This results in maldigestion in some consumers. 

Whereas raw milk helps to build immune system strength, pasteurized milk does not build up the immune system. Heat denatures the functional proteins and does not allow cellular direction. This can result in cellular confusion and chaos.

Raw whey proteins are highly anti-inflammatory and have many health benefits. The raw whey health benefit findings are consistent with other researchers in the Netherlands, including Dr. Ton Baars’ research on whey proteins showing that they stabilize MAST cells, control histamine release, and reduce allergies.

However, all whey is required to be pasteurized in the USA as per the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Pasteurized Milk Ordinance. Whey proteins are destroyed by processing and are highly sensitive to heat. One researcher has been frustrated in trying to extract the beneficial components from pasteurized whey. The heating of whey makes the components “sticky” such that they plug up the ultrafiltration micropores. Therefore, ultra filtration cannot be used to extract whey components from pasteurized whey.

New Pasteurization Technologies Cause Less Damage Than Traditional Heat Pasteurization

As an alternative to heat-based pasteurization, researchers are studying other methods such as high pressure (HPP), ultrafiltration, and ultraviolet (UV) light. These methods are effective at inactivating bacteria and less harmful to milk than heat-based pasteurization. For instance, both high pressure processing and ultraviolet processing preserve some of the bioactive milk proteins better than heat-based pasteurization.

Nonetheless, milk processors in the USA are resisting the use of these new technologies. In some other countries, UV and HPP are being successfully used, but in the USA the FDA continues to represent processors’ interests and thereby block the ability to innovate with these alternatives to heat processing. This failure to innovate with HPP, UV or Ultrafiltration is creating a loss of consumer interest in pasteurized milk as people continue to suffer from maldigestion when consuming pasteurized milk.

In Studies, 20,000+ Kids Drank Raw Milk With NO Milk-Related Illnesses

The pioneering PARSIFAL and GABRIELA studies of more than 55,000 kids in Europe really set the international high bar for studies on raw milk. The overall findings included reduced rates of asthma, eczema, respiratory illnesses, fevers, allergies, and ear infections in children who drank raw milk.

At the symposium, it was emphasized that during all of those studies and over twenty years of research, there was never a “red flag event.” A red flag event would be a reported illness from raw milk consumption. The studies included data from more than 20,000 children who drank raw milk, and there was not a single red flag event!

Yet, at the end of each of the peer reviewed and journal published articles, there is a disclaimer that says something such as, “even though there are health benefits to consuming raw milk, the researchers can not recommend raw milk because of the risks of raw milk consumption.” This disclaimer was included because peer review and journal publication political pressures demanded it, despite the fact that there was no basis in the research data.

Dr. Markus Ege MD and Mark McAfee, in Cork Ireland at the IMGC symposium 2023

Raw Milk Provides Sustainability for Farmers and Superb Nutrition for Consumers

Farmers have been denied fair markets for their dairy products for more than a century. All of the value-added efforts are happening after products leave the farm. Milk processors continue to ensure that farmers are paid low prices for their milk, resulting in the loss of thousands of family farms. However, raw milk provides a pathway to sustainability and life satisfaction for dairy farmers.

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-win for farmers and consumers!

Raw milk that is carefully and intentionally produced for direct human consumption is a low-risk food. This type of raw milk is wholly different from raw milk being produced in unhygienic conditions. Raw milk intended for direct human consumption is produced in sanitary conditions, with much care to ensure that the animals are healthy and that the milk is clean. This type of raw milk is tested often and held to rigorous standards to ensure that it is being produced in a way that discourages pathogen growth.

By combining nature’s blueprints, the bio-actives found in whole raw milk, standards for good production practices and modern testing systems, RAWMI Listed farmers are nourishing consumers safely. Congrats to all of the RAWMI Listed pioneers! 

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.

Iowa: The Path to Legalization of Raw Milk

After a 17-year battle, raw milk is now legal in Iowa.  The recent legalization efforts to get this passed into law through the Iowa legislature were led by Esther Arkfeld and her group, Iowa for Fresh Milk.

Esther is a homeschooling mother and small-scale dairy farmer who was mentored by the Raw Milk Institute. Esther’s De Melkerij micro-dairy achieved Listing status in the Fall of 2022. This allowed Esther to use her own farm as an example of how low-risk raw milk can be achieved.   

For the many others who are still fighting for legal raw milk elsewhere, we wanted to share with you Esther’s tips on how she was able to shepherd this legislation through successfully.  The following is an interview with Esther.  

What was the status of raw milk in Iowa previously?

Before this law was passed it was illegal to sell raw milk in our state.  We were 1 of 7 states in our country who still made this illegal.

What does the new law change with regards to raw milk in Iowa?

With the new law, as of July 1st farm-to-direct-consumer transactions are now legal.  Raw milk farmers can have up to 10 milking animals and they must perform bacterial tests monthly. Consumers can either pick up from the farmer or the farmer may deliver.  

How will this law change things for your family's farm?

We have operated as a herdshare for the last year. Even though Iowa did not have a law for or against herd shares, it was at times a bit worrisome. The new law will be a huge relief in a sense. We will be able to advertise and speak of our business more freely.  Our family looks forward to the opportunity to normalize the raw milk conversation and share our products with our local community.

What were the most successful strategies you used towards getting raw milk legalized?

I believe there were several important things that made us successful.

Persistence was key. Because we had been fighting this for 17 long years and came back each year, the legislature realized we were NOT going away. As a matter of fact, our voices were only growing louder as we gained more supporters each year.

Very clear "Call To Action" campaigns for our supporters were another important part of the strategy. When we sent out "Call To Action" alerts by email or on social media, we explained briefly what needed to be done and why.

We made the actions easier to accomplish by giving template verbiage for people to use (and personalize if they wished) and also gave them email addresses of legislators that needed to be contacted. This in turn made it easier for our supporters to accomplish because they could cut and paste and customize as they needed. 

How did you gather legislator support?

Education on raw milk standards was part of our success.  Legislators were simply not aware of the current data in regards to raw milk.  They weren't aware of ways one could produce low-risk raw milk and weren't aware of the health benefits.  Because I was a RAWMI certified farmer, not only was I able to show them research data, statistics, and Pubmed articles but also my own data and test results from my farm.  By educating them on the current research and data we were able to build legislator support.

Our grassroots efforts allowed us to reach legislators across the state. When we did "Call To Action" campaigns, volunteers would reach out to their local legislators to ask for their support. As more emails and calls came to their desks, the legislators began to realize that this affected their local constituents. People across the state also attended legislative meetings in their local areas which allowed them to meet with their legislator in person. 

The grassroot efforts were critical in this area. Their calls, emails, in-person meetings were vital. Then, as some of us went to the capitol to meet with legislators in person they would already be aware of the topic and know someone in their local community that this would impact. This really legitimized the issue. We also built a relationship with a lobbyist from Americans For Prosperity, Tyler, who supported us. 

How did you gather grassroots support?

We gathered grassroot support through a variety of ways. First, we continued to encourage our community that had been fighting this from the early days. We talked to our neighbors and used social media as well as email campaigns. Most people, even if they did not consume raw milk themselves, couldn't understand why this was such an issue. Many saw this as government overreach and supported our cause.

Were any groups working in opposition to you? 

Every lobbyist at the capitol who had remotely anything to do with our food system was registered as opposed except 1. This was an uphill battle but in the end the peoples' voices drowned them out. We were heard, and we won.

More Tips for Success from Esther

A quote that really stuck with me during this fight is, "Freedom requires participation" by Joel Salatin. 

Get involved with your local legislators, even if you don't like politics. Go to events that they may be hosting and make it a point to introduce yourself. Then ask them where they stand on the issue. If they aren't sure or seem to be opposed, ask them why. 

Kindly ask them what information you could provide that may answer their questions. Build this relationship.  In turn it legitimizes your issue.

Speak to other supporters within your area and across your state and encourage them to do the same.  Your voice matters and this issue matters. 

And remember in all of this, honey goes down better than vinegar. 

Another tip is to reach out to the folks at Raw Milk Institute, Weston A Price/Real Milk, and Americans For Prosperity.  I cannot say enough about their support during this fight.  Having them in our corner made a huge impact.  They helped with resources, data, reviewed the language of the bill, and testified in favor of our cause.