There are many reasons to drink raw milk.Here is some information on a few of those reasons:


What Is Raw Milk and Is It Healthy? 

Health Benefits of raw milk

10 Reasons to drink your raw milk

 Drinking Milk is Worth the Risk, Advocates Say

 

 

 

     Milk Production Practices    

Comparison Chart

The difference between milk production practices can be significant. Below is a quick reference guide clarifying many of the major distinctions between Conventional, USDA Organic, and RAW USA dairy practices.

PRODUCTION PRACTICES

CONVENTIONAL USDA CERTIFIED ORGANIC RAW USA CERTIFIED
HTST pasteurized HTST pasteurized and UHT 282 degrees pasteurized Never pasteurized or heated above 102 degrees.
Homogenized Homogenized (few exceptions) Never homogenized
Standardized Standardized Never standardized
Additives and preservatives Additives for butter fat, protein and vitamins Nothing added
Hormones None permitted None permitted or needed
Antibiotics None permitted None permitted or needed
Zero pasture May have zero pasture under USDA rules Always have access to pasture
Piles of manure Piles of manure None created due to pasture access
Concrete and steel environments Concrete and steel environments Little if any artificial environment
Short life span for cows Longer life span but may be retired to factory farm Live four times longer or more
Artifical breeding Articial breeding Bull bred naturally
Factory farmed May be factory farmed Smaller family or sustainable farm operations
GMO feeds No GMOs No GMOS
Artificial food byproducts/plastics Anything as long as it's organic (i.e. organic donuts ok) Only natural feeds that the cow would choose in nature
Unnatural feeds like soy and cotton seed Unnatural feeds as long as certified organic, including soy, etc. Only natural feeds; never soy or cotton seed
Heavy use of pesticides Only organic pesticides utilized No pesticides used

NUTRITION

CONVENTIONAL USDA ORGANIC RAW USA CERTIFIED
Processing causes lactose intolerance Processing causes lactose intolerance Lactose intolerance not a factor
Missing enzymes cause many other digestion challenges Missing enzymes cause many other digestion challenges All enzymes active
Missing beneficial bacteria weaken the immune system Missing beneficial bacteria weaken the immune system Biodiverse living bacteria
Antibiotics create pathogen development No antibiotics permitted No antibiotics permitted
Antibitoics can cause allergies in sensitive consumers No antibiotics permitted No antibiotics permitted
Hormones may increase cancer risk No hormones permitted No hormones permitted
Poor fatty acid rations omega 3-6 Depending on pasture access may have good ratios but may be damaged by processing Beneficial fatty acid ratios maximized by pasture grazing
Zero CLA values Depending on pasture access may have good ratios but may be damaged by processing High CLA values
Hyperallergenic Hyperallergenic Hypoallergenic

FOOD SAFETY

CONVENTIONAL USDA ORGANIC RAW USA CERTIFIED
Human pathogens present in raw milk 31% of the time Pathogens generally not associated with organic raw milk Pathogens have never been found in RAW USA samples
Pasteurization destroys safety systems Pasteurization destroys safety systems in raw organic milk Natural safety systems in raw milk destroy pathogens
Large scale creamery contaminations could cause massive foodborne outbreaks Large scale creamery contaminations could cause massive foodborne outbreaks Outbreak, if it occured, would be contained because of smaller operations
Emerging pathogens created by over use of antibiotics No emerging pathogens created by antibiotics but may be created by heat-resistant bacteria in factories, and improper use of sanitizers No emerging pathogens created

HISTORICAL

CONVENTIONAL USDA ORGANIC RAW USA CERTIFIED
System has been designed for economy, compromising natural purity and wholesome qualities of milk    Well-intentioned concept has been taken over by factory farms resulting in highly processed mass-market product     Uses natural science as the basis for purity and safety. Product remains whole and safe, as nature intended.
Unsafe factory farm practices of the past are now exacerbated due to antibiotics and hormones, high grain, and no pasture After factory farm interests took over the USDA organic program, pasture access is no longer required Not influenced by factory farming practices. Historic natural methods successfully combined with leading edge testing. Year-round pasture access crucial to operations.
Accountable to FDA inspectors during limited times Accountable to FDA and USDA Organic inspectors during limited times             Accountable to government, community, and end consumer. Anyone may review the lab tests at any time, tour and photograph the farm, and complete and publicize RAWUSA.org checklists.