Just thought of another question

Is there any concern about vaccines "coming thru" the milk? I mean for human consumption.

-- Tracy (zebella@mindspring.com), January 30, 2002

Answers

Response to Vaccines "coming thru" milk?

This site may answer your question: PRODUCING QUALITY GOAT MILK, http://www.inform.umd.edu/EdRes/Topic/AgrEnv/ndd/goat/PRODUCING_QUALIT Y_GOAT_MILK.html Pasteurization does not decrease the risk from contaminants such as antibiotics or other undesirable chemicals. Those materials must be kept out of milk; proper management practices must be followed to prevent such contamination.

-- BC (desertdweller44@yahoo.com), January 30, 2002.

Response to Vaccines "coming thru" milk?

I think the increase in height of our kids has to be in part to the growth hormones that come through our food chain via dairy, egg and meat products.

-- Gary from Mn (hpysheep@midwestinfo.com), January 30, 2002.

Not to mention early puberty. Menses at 7 years old? I think there may be more to this hormone thing than they'd have us believe.

-- Laura Jensen (lauraj@seedlaw.com), January 30, 2002.

Husband and I were just talking about this same thing the other day. Forced to buy "cows" milk, goats are waiting to kid, and the women in the store said did I want to pay 50 cents more and get the milk without the chemicals or take the "plain" milk that might have the hormone in it ??? I thought the growth hormone that they give cows had to be listed...but guess not. She wasn't really sure about it. Have read a few books about children developing sooner than in the past due possibly to these same things. What are we doing to ourselves for the sake of a few more dollars in profit ?? Guess time will only tell.

-- Helena (windyacs@npacc.net), January 30, 2002.

I had to look into the growth hormone thing a wee bit, as I have fibroid tumors and was supposed to be operated on...I did not want the hysterectomy..so I opted to started reading on things that would deter the growth of these fibroids. Among other things to help..I learned that the growth hormone that ends up in our food is also a stimulant to tumors. Every alternative medicine book that I read said to stay away from the hormones. While reading about them I also learned that people, especially children, can greatly deminish their asthma condiditons by avoiding said same foods.

When we are without goat milk, I purchase my milk from Walmarts. It is Horizon organic milk. The last time I was in a Hy Vee...they also were carrying it. It costs a bit more..but for me and my family..it is well worth it.

-- Sher in se Iowa (riverdobbers@webtv.net), January 30, 2002.

Dairy cows are very highly regulated on this. Samples are taken from every bulk tank (farm) and milk is tested from the truck at the milk plant. If there is any contamination, the whole load is dumped, and the source of the contamination is traced & they pay for the spoiled milk. Every drug has a withdrawl period especially for dairy cows, and one would be a fool to cheat on this! The risk is too big.

So yes, most certainly for the home dairy person, any medication you give your critter, read & follow the label on this.

As to the dairy hormone injection mentioned by others: This is syntheticly made, but identical to the 'natural' hormone found in every cow. It is nearly impossible to identify it in milk, so labeling & all that would be impossible to enforce. This hormone is not as widely used as people first thought. It does not help unless you have _all_ the other things done about 100% perfect - feed, herd health, cell count, genetics, etc. Without all those items in place & top of the game, the hormone injections cost more than they return.

I believe Helen said it is people chasing the profits, chasing a dollar. I believe it is the consumer chasing a cheap product. While this group might be less than 'average' in this regard, we Americans seem to chase after the lowest priced option. Well, farmers need to meet the demand of the consumer - we gotta produce ultra cheap food. Buy something else (food, clothes, cars, batteries - whatever) on things other than cost, and we will produce what you want. Blaming the producer (whether a business man, software giant, or dairy farmer with 40 cows) isn't going to change the product! We consumers control it all - we say we want cheap, cheap, cheap, no matter the outside costs. So, that is what we get. Berating dairy farmers or Bill Gates or Wallmart is going after the wrong target. It's a lot easier than looking at ourselves, but isn't that really where it all starts & stops? Not someone else's fault.

(Sorry for the soap box. Hope I gave a bit of info along with my speech! Sorry. Hit a nerve!)

--->Paul

-- paul (ramblerplm@hotmail.com), January 30, 2002.