Grass-Fed

Nutrient Rich

There’s really no debating it. Cows fed on pasture produce milk that is healthier for you than most other store brands. That’s because milk from grass-fed cows contains higher levels of nutrients, like beta-carotene, vitamin A, and vitamin E. It also contains higher levels of two crucial fatty acids shown to fight major diseases - Omega-3s and CLA or “conjugated linoleic acid.” In addition, cows fed on pasture just seem to be happier and have far fewer health problems than cows who are forced to be in barns year-round.

Hartzler’s dairy cows spend a significant amount of time grazing on pasture. During warm weather months, they graze freely on lush, green grasses grown naturally without chemical pesticides. When temperatures drop, and our cows prefer not to venture out of the barn,they are given herbicide and pesticide-free grasses, hay, and silage grown on Hartzler’s own farms. Because our cows are herbicide and pesticide-free . . . so is your milk.

Unfortunately, 85 to 95 percent of cows in the United States are raised in confinement. Their feed consists of mostly pesticide-tainted hay and grains, and they stand all day on barn floors that are a compound of dirt and manure.

The reason for confining cows and feeding them grain is that they produce more milk—especially when injected with hormones. Today’s grain fed cows produce three times as much milk as pasture fed cows. While this drives up volume, quality goes down. Nutrients that should have been concentrated in the milk are diluted due to excessive volume, not to mention that milk from grain fed cows is already lower in nutrients to begin with than milk from pastured cows.

One very important nutrient that suffers from being diluted is CLA. CLA or “conjugated
linoleic acid” is a type of fat that is thought to help fight various forms of cancer. Milk from a pastured cow can have five times as much CLA as that from a grain fed animal. Tests comparing CLA levels in the breast tissues of 360 women showed a 74 percent lower risk of breast cancer in women with high CLA levels, than women with lower CLA levels (Bougnoux et al, Inform, 10:S43, 1999.). Drinking CLA-rich milk from cows grazed on pasture can help lower a woman’s chances of getting breast cancer.

Milk from pastured cows also contains an ideal ratio of essential fatty acids (EFAs) -- omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids. All-natural milk can have up to 71% more Omega-3s than heavily processed milk. Omega-3s are good for the heart as well as for the brain and the bones. Diets containing roughly equal amounts of these two fats, lower your risk of getting cancer, cardiovascular disease, autoimmune disorders, allergies, obesity, diabetes, dementia, and various other mental disorders.

Another pressing health concern caused by drinking milk from “factory” confined cows is that they generally suffer from a variety of health ailments, which leads to antibiotics, steroids and a host of other drugs being given to the cows. Excessive amounts of antibiotics in most milk today is causing widespread concern because it promotes antibiotic resistance among humans.

Hormones given to factory cows also cause infections of the hoofs and udders, forcing even more antibiotic use. One of the more disconcerting effects of this, is that pus from infected udders often ends up in the milk you’re drinking.

When you choose Hartzler milk, you can be sure you are getting a wealth of nutrients and beneficial fatty acids from healthy, happy cows. You can even taste the difference! While our cows may produce less milk, we think the trade-off is worth it!

"..The Cream Rises to the top"