A is for Antibiotics

So what's the deal on antibiotics in milk? It is a frequently asked question. I have always been very honest, open and transparent about what we do on our farm, and I will continue to do so with this topic as well.

As consumers, you and I want to serve our family the safest foods available. We farmers have the same concerns as the people who buy our products. Remember, we at Bremer Farms not only produce milk, we buy it too.

We spend much of our day caring for our animals to keep them healthy (and happy). Healthy cows are a priority with farmers. Unfortunately, just like you and me, even healthy creatures get sick. On Bremer Farms, and other farms too, antibiotics are given only when they are needed to treat and cure illness, just like when you or your children aren't feeling well. When we make the decision to use antibiotics they are given for a prescribed period of time to treat a specific illness so our cows don't suffer. They are NOT routinely given as prevention to keep our animals healthy. They are used on an "as-needed" basis.

If a cow is treated with needed antibiotics to deal with a sickness, the milk from that cow goes directly into a separate milking bucket. It never goes into the bulk milk tank or makes it into the food supply. We continue this procedure until all antibiotic residue has left the cows system. After repeated testing right here on our farm, and only after there is no trace of antibiotics in the milk, will this cows milk be allowed to go into the bulk tank to be picked up by our milk hauler.

Milk heading to the processing plant.

Our milk processing plant also helps to keep milk safe. Every single load of milk that leaves our farm (and every farm) is tested for antibiotic residue before it leaves the truck. Rarely is any found but if it is, the entire load of milk is discarded immediately, and the responsible farmer must pay for the entire load of milk...not just the milk from his farm, but the milk from the other farms that were in the truck too. This can amount to thousands of dollars. Besides financial losses, dairy farmers run the risk of reputation damage and the risk of losing their license to sell milk. Everyone involved in milk production takes antibiotic residue very seriously! I can say with confidence and pride that all milk you purchase from your local grocery store is antibiotic free. 

TV Comes To Our Farm

 

I'm on television! I'm a star...a dairy star! 

Well, perhaps I am exaggerating a bit.

But I am On TV!

 

This week I was visited by Mary O'Brien, our local Community Education Director. I was the featured guest on her monthly television show "Unity Through Community." Mary is an avid follower of my blog, and her goal was to share a glimpse of dairy farming with her viewers. 

 

We talked about the cows, and milking, and caring for our calves. All this , and a farm tour too! We also spoke about my blog and how it all got started. Why do I spend my free time writing this blog? Take a look and you'll find out. 

Thank you Mary, for visiting Bremer Farms. And thanks for the kind words about my blog being an informative, honest, and open resource for consumers. I consider that a huge compliment! 

Stop by Dairy Makes Sense  for more dairy news and recipes too.

A Is For Antibiotics

It's June dairy Month! The barn doors are open, 

so join me on my daily A to Z journey 

to learn more about dairy. 

Today A is for antibiotics.

I am sharing a blog that I posted recently. I don't often repeat content, but the antibiotics and milk question keeps popping up every time folks become aware that I am a dairy farmer. Here is my openly honest reply to "Is there antibiotics in milk?"

As consumers, you and I want to serve our family the safest foods available. We farmers have the same concerns as the people who buy our products. Remember, we at Bremer Farms not only produce milk, we buy it too.

We are producers, and consumers too!

We spend much of our day caring for our animals to keep them healthy (and happy). Healthy cows are a priority with farmers. Unfortunately, just like you and me, even healthy creatures get sick. On Bremer Farms, and other farms too, antibiotics are given only when they are needed to treat and cure illness, just like when you or your children aren't feeling well. When we make the decision to use antibiotics they are given for a prescribed period of time to treat a specific illness so our cows don't suffer. They are NOT routinely given as prevention to keep our animals healthy. They are used on an "as-needed" basis.

Waiting to be milked. (Google image)

If a cow is treated with needed antibiotics to deal with a sickness, the milk from that cow goes directly into a separate milking bucket. It never goes into the bulk milk tank or makes it into the food supply. We continue this procedure until all antibiotic residue has left the cows system. After repeated testing for this residue, only after there is no trace of antibiotics in the milk, will this cows milk be allowed to go into the bulk tank.

Another load of antibiotic-free milk heads to the processing plant.

Our milk processing plant also helps to keep milk safe. Every single load of milk that leaves our farm (and every farm) is tested for antibiotic residue. Rarely is any found but if it is, the entire load of milk is discarded immediately, and the responsible farmer must pay for the entire load of milk...not just the milk from his farm, but the milk from the other farms that were in the truck too. This can amount to thousands of dollars. Besides financial losses, dairy farmers run the risk of reputation damage and the risk of losing their license to sell milk. Everyone involved in milk production takes antibiotic residue very seriously! I can say with confidence and pride that all milk you purchase from your local grocery store is antibiotic free. Any more questions?

Antibiotics And Milk? What's The Deal?

So what's the deal on antibiotics in milk? It is a frequently asked question when I share my life as a farmer with groups and individuals. I have always been very honest, open and transparent about what we do on our farm, and I will continue to do so with this topic as well. 

As consumers, you and I want to serve our family the safest foods available. We farmers have the same concerns as the people who buy our products. Remember, we at Bremer Farms not only produce milk, we buy it too.

We spend much of our day caring for our animals to keep them healthy (and happy). Healthy cows are a priority with farmers. Unfortunately, just like you and me, even healthy creatures get sick. On Bremer Farms, and other farms too, antibiotics are given only when they are needed to treat and cure illness, just like when you or your children aren't feeling well. When we make the decision to use antibiotics they are given for a prescribed period of time to treat a specific illness so our cows don't suffer. They are NOT routinely given as prevention to keep our animals healthy. They are used on an "as-needed" basis.

Waiting to be milked.

If a cow is treated with needed antibiotics to deal with a sickness, the milk from that cow goes directly into a separate milking bucket. It never goes into the bulk milk tank or makes it into the food supply. We continue this procedure until all antibiotic residue has left the cows system. After repeated testing for this residue, only after there is no trace of antibiotics in the milk, will this cows milk be allowed to go into the bulk tank.

Another load of antibiotic-free milk heads to the processing plant.

 Our milk processing plant also helps to keep milk safe. Every single load of milk that leaves our farm (and every farm) is tested for antibiotic residue. Rarely is any found but if it is, the entire load of milk is discarded immediately, and the responsible farmer must pay for the entire load of milk...not just the milk from his farm, but the milk from the other farms that were in the truck too. This can amount to thousands of dollars. Besides financial losses, dairy farmers run the risk of reputation damage and the risk of losing their license to sell milk. Everyone involved in milk production takes antibiotic residue very seriously! I can say with confidence and pride that all milk you purchase from your local grocery store is antibiotic free. So that's the real deal about antibiotics and milk. Any more questions?

 

 

I need your help in preparation for June Dairy Month. Each June I write an
A to Z Dairy blog-a-day celebrating dairy farming and dairy foods. I'm looking for topic suggestions for each letter of the alphabet. What would you like to know? So leave me a comment, click on the contact me tab, tweet me or use Google+. Thanks for your help!

Don't Get Mad...Get Even?

“Farmed and Dangerous,” Chipotle’s new online-only television series, launched this week. In typical Chipotle fashion, it does not speak kindly of current farming practices. It promotes the idea that today's food system is controlled by "corporate agribusiness" and therefore it is unsustainable and unhealthy. "Much of our marketing is aimed at making consumers more curious about where their food comes from and how it is prepared," said Mark Crumpacker, chief marketing and development officer at Chipotle. 

O.k., Mr. Crumpacker, it's my turn. I watched your satire, "Farmed and Dangerous." I realize it is supposed to be funny, but I also realize you are trying to make a point about what you and your company feel are questionable farming practices. I could get mad, or try to get even, but I have chosen to educate instead. Since your goal is to "make consumers more curious about where their food comes from" I have chosen to write about what I know about our farm. My hope is that it satisfies some of that "consumer curiosity."

* Our farm is family owned.  Farms can be smaller or larger than ours, but according to the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) 97% of U.S. dairy farms are family owned and operated. Our children are sixth generation farmers, and proud of the fact that they can carry on the same values of caring for the land and animals.

* Although farms may not look like they have in the past, cow comfort is still our top priority. We are committed to providing you with safe, high quality milk and dairy products, and it all begins with taking good care of our cows. Our cows are housed in our free-stall barn which allows them to move about to eat, drink and rest whenever they like.

* Our cows receive good medical care, including the use of antibiotics when necessary. Just like people, cows sometimes need medicine when they are sick. Milk from cows treated with antibiotics is separated from the rest of the milk supply, and tested repeatedly on our farm. It is again tested at the dairy plant since it cannot be sold to the public.

* Our farm chooses to not use supplemental hormones, therefore our milk is sold to Land-O-Lakes and packaged under the label "rBST free" in response to consumer requests for choices in the dairy aisle. All milk naturally contains very small amounts of hormones and even farms that chose to use supplemental hormones for their cows produce the same safe, wholesome product.

* Yes, our animal feed does contain genetically modified organisms (GMO's). This biotechnology is found in most of the corn we plant to feed our cows. This allows us to grow more crops using the same amount of land, water and other natural resources since we care about and respect our land. We follow strict rules in regard to the amount of GMO's we can plant.The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Environmental Protection Agency, and the Food and Drug Administration have all confirmed the safety of food and animal feed containing GMO's.  

No, I'm not mad at Chipotle. No, I'm not trying to get even with Chipotle. My family and I are just going to continue to be the hard-working, honest, responsible farmers that my family and I have been for generations. 

Consumers...still curious? The best way to learn about farming, 

is to ask a farmer. What would you like to know?