Cow giving to much milk What are laws about selling milk?? i live in california

greenspun.com : LUSENET : Countryside : One Thread

I have a holstine cow who I just weaned 4 calves off of. Rite now she is giving about 5 gallons of milk a day. but if I up her food she'll go up to 12 gallons a day!! really she is a top quality cow.... we have many people who want milk but I've heard you can't sell it raw . whats the deal here?? Could I just tell the people if they bring a bale of alfalfa I'll "give" them a few gallons?? Any help would be great . My cow would apreciate it too ...

-- SharRon (turnaquete@aol.com), October 19, 2000

Answers

Believe it or not, 12 gallons is pretty low for a Holstein. I grew up on a farm with Guernseys, and when I went to get one about 10 years ago, the only one I found was one a dairy was culling because she "only" gave 120 lbs. a day (15 gallons) the ones they were keeping gave 22+ gallons. Breeding programs have VASTLY improved not only the output, but also the feed efficiency. And Holsteins are bred to give a lot more than Guernseys. Which is why I now have goats! Wish I lived near you, I would love some cow's milk, there are just some things that aren't as good with Goat's milk. The cheese is good, but totally different, and I stil haven't been able to make cottage cheese, and it is SO EASY with cow's milk. But to your question...Assuming CA is the same as WA, you can't legally sell ANY milk, raw or pasturized, unless you're a grade A dairy. However, if youare selling it as "PET milk" it is fine. And, of course, if someone you sell "pet milk" to drinks it, then it is out of your control. So if you've got people who want it, and I'm sure you could sell ALL your excess if you were around here, then just explain it's for pet's only, and go for it. Incidentally, I get $1.50 a quart for pasturized goat milk for "pets". Good Luck!

-- Kathie in Western Washington (twinrosefarm@worldnet.att.net), October 19, 2000.

In texas you can sell milk for animal consumption but not for people. I know several folks that advertise milk for sale for raising calves. As long as whoever buys it doesn't say they are going to drink it themselves you are on the sunny side of legal. I don't know specifically about california but I think it is similar in most states. I'd just be real careful about advertising. Word of mouth would be best.

-- Amanda S (aseley@townsqr.com), October 19, 2000.

I know people who sell egg cartons for $1.00 and give you the eggs, or give you a rabbit and charge you $5.00 to clean it...Maybe you could sell mike cartons?

-- Grant Eversoll (thegrange@earthlink.net), October 19, 2000.

I know people who live near us [ in calif] Who sell milk to as pet milk!

-- kathy h (saddlebronc@msn.com), October 20, 2000.

Go to www.realmilk.com

They have a listing of states and also briefly their laws.

-- R. (thor610@yahoo.com), October 20, 2000.



It's funny the differences in laws between states -- here in NH we are allowed to sell up to twenty quarts of raw milk a day without being grade A or licensed or inspected. I don't know if I would be willing to sell milk, though, as too many people are lawsuit happy and any food product would be a risk. That's pretty impressive production for Holsteins, but I'd rather have a cow (or goat) that gave less and didn't need to have bought feed. I think the net would be greater on smaller production with less purchased inputs, as in animals that can produce on well-managed grazing alone (in summer).

-- Kathleen Sanderson (stonycft@worldpath.net), October 20, 2000.

Another loop hole in Texas is the sale of raw milk to others who process it legally. Here in Cleveland is a cheese plant who buys milk from unliscensed non Grade A producers, which is legal, though we can't sell the same milk to individuals legally. The biggest thing is competition here, take sales away from a Grade A dairy and the USDA inspector will be here in a snap, live in the woods and go about your merry way, not stepping on any toes and we can sell milk every day. Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), October 20, 2000.

You could use it to slop some hogs. That way you could recycle it locally and get some meat out of it.

-- Chris Stogdill (cstogdill@rmci.net), October 20, 2000.

No matter what you do with the milk, 15 gallons a day represents a lot of squeezing. If it were me, I'd keep a couple of calves on her all the time, and just take what I needed. Day old calves can be had for $20 or less, and are worth far more after they're weaned.

-- Dan G. (stagecoach@hotmail.com), October 20, 2000.

Out here in the boonies of MO., you can sell it but it must be listed for animal consumption..can also put a sign out listing it with same on it. No Holsteins in this neck of the woods..no dairy cattle in this immediate area, all beef cattle..

-- Lynn (mscratch@clnet.net), October 25, 2000.


Hey, I know a LOT of people who sell raw milk here in Virginia. It's just kept hush hush, thats all. Mennonites and Amish are good at keeping such naughty activities within the well-known community secret archives. They wouldnt tell anyone outside their church membership.

I have a Jersey cow producing probably 6 gallons a day, the calf takes about a gallon, and I milk out 5 a day. We and 3 other families ahve all we can use. I "give" them the milk, and they "give" me whatever it is worth to them. I figure some very well-known non-profit religious organisations get by the laws this way, why cant I?

I am "recieving" between $2 and $3.50 per gallon. ..Which makes keeping the cow quite profitable. Actually, the cow provides far more than her feed requirements cost, just in the amount of milk we as a family use.

-- daffodyllady (daffodyllady@yahoo.com), May 02, 2001.


Maybe you could find a "Milk Fairy" to leave you a clean jug and $2.00 in the frig.

-- Thumper (slrldr@aol.com), May 02, 2001.

Moderation questions? read the FAQ