Herd Share 101

Hi there, and welcome!

I went from eating 95% dairy free to owning my own grass-fed, A2A2, Brown Swiss cow in less than a year. Raw milk has transformed my health, and I’m eager to share this treasure with others who would benefit from it!

There’s a lot of info here, but if after reading it all you’re ready to join me, then fill out this form asap to let me know! If the herd share is full, we will be adding names to a wait list.

When I started really digging in to the behind-the-scenes of the raw dairy industry, I was surprised to find that even incredible owners who care about their cows to the moon and back were routinely feeding conventional grain at milk time. This is a standard practice that is often not mentioned, even among predominantly grass-fed cows.

The more I learned about cow nutrition, I came to understand that while “exclusively grass-fed” is the ideal, in practicality, it may not be sufficient for a high production cow without multiple acres of lush pasture available at all times. Today’s cows have been bred differently than cows of the past. They’re genetically inclined to make lots of milk, and will do so at the expense of their own health and condition if they’re not getting the appropriate balance of nutrition.

With this realization, I settled into the reality that I didn’t want to compromise my cow’s optimal health for the exclusively grass-fed ideal, and that I would likely need to feed her a little bit of grain to keep her in good condition.

But if I was going to feed her grain, I was determined to feed the best quality possible: all organic, soy free, and non-GMO. This has a huge impact on my monthly expenses, as it costs upwards of $800 to feed her each month. But quality means a lot to me, and I got a cow so that I would have access to the very best.

I truly believe that you cannot find this quality milk unless you have your own backyard cow, or join a herd share like this one. Believe me, I looked!!

HOW DO I GET THE MILK??

Due to Texas regulations, you must be a share owner in our cow herd in order to have access to the milk. When you become an owner, you get to enjoy the benefits of Goldie’s nourishing, perfect production!

In order to purchase a part of the herd, a one-time $125 fee is required. Think of it as if you were buying a cow, though it would cost a lot more than that if you were! You are buying a part of a cow. This one-time fee helps to cover the cost of administrative efforts, jars for milk, and of course, the actual cost of the cow.

Each month you will have a monthly fee that will contribute to the ongoing cost for her top-quality hay, organic feed, upkeep to the property, quality confirmation testing, and cleaning supplies to keep your milk in tip top shape.

In exchange, you get the freshest milk every week, but without any of the effort of milking or cleaning!

SHARE OPTIONS:

Full Share: average 4 gallons / month = $75 / month

Half Share: average 2 gallons / month = $40 / month

When organic milk is $12 per gallon at the grocery store, and conventional GMO raw milk is $11, I know these prices can seem high. But I can assure you, a large farm can’t even compare to the quality, personalized attention, and LOVE that Goldie receives here! On top of that, raw milk truly is a completely different product than what you can purchase at the store. It's a living food, deeply nourishing, and incredibly delicious!

CHEESE SHARE:

I have also recently launched a CHEESE SHARE! The cost is the same, $75 / month for a full share and $40 / month for a half share, but instead of receiving gallons of milk in exchange for your ownership, you will have access to a variety of raw cheeses! A full share is worth 3 cheese credits and a half share is worth 1.5 cheese credits.

Cheese credits can be redeemed as follows:

1# cheese = 1 credit (on average; longer aging cheeses will be closer to 1/2-3/4# per credit due to lower yield, and more specialty cheeses like brie may be in smaller portions)

16oz quark cream cheese = 1/2 credit

16oz cottage cheese = 1/2 credit

32oz greek yogurt = 1/2 credit

16oz cream = 1/2 credit (limit one per week)

Looking for a simplified option?

Consider the Streamlined Cheese Share: 1# gouda and 1# butter cheese per month for a discounted rate. No substitutions please.

SPACE IS LIMITED:

Shares are reserved on a first-come-first-serve basis. If all shares are sold, we will add you to the waitlist and notify you when more shares become available.

PICKUP:

Pickup will be in the Weatherford area. Exact timing and location TBD.

Please consider this your invitation to join me in this movement of organic homesteading and regenerative agriculture!

If you have any questions at all that aren't addressed in the following section, email me back so that I can address them! As a potential part owner of this herd, you have a right to know every detail.

SOME OTHER DETAILS:

DIET:

We know that what we eat influences our health, and it’s the same with cows. Goldie’s diet is composed primarily of grass and hay, but may also include:

Organic non-GMO Alfalfa

Organic non-GMO Beet Pulp

Organic Garden Scraps (kale, apples, beets, turnips, pumpkins, etc)

Organic non-GMO Grain (soy free), as needed to maintain optimal health and condition

Organic Kelp

Organic Apple Cider Vinegar

Loose Minerals and Salt

Goldie also has access to clean, fresh water at all times, as well as shade and shelter.

NOTE: As I’m sure you’re aware, the supply chain has been experiencing issues over the past year. If for any reason her usual feed is not available, I will substitute with a non-GMO local feed, the best quality that I can find. If the substitution looks like it will need to last more than a couple of weeks, I will let you know!

CLEANLINESS & BOTTLING:

Milk goes into an ice bath immediately after milking to drop the temp drastically. This is where the most bacteria growth is shown to occur, when milk is not chilled properly. Milk will go from the milk machine, through a paper strainer, into sterilized glass jars. Lids are screwed on immediately & chilled. After a chill period, milk is refrigerated for you! All equipment is cleaned and sterilized after every milking according to dairy production standards.

Milk will be labeled with the date of milking. Most milk doesn't go "bad", rather it sours over time. Milk is freshest in the first 5-7 days after milking. "Older milk" is perfect for butter, yogurt, ghee, sour cream, etc. It is not uncommon for raw milk to last 2 weeks or longer!

A2 STATUS:

Approximately 70% of Brown Swiss cows produce A2 milk, and Goldie comes from a herd of all Brown Swiss A2 cows. She has been tested and confirmed to carry A2A2 genetics.

MASTITIS, TESTING, & TREATING SICKNESS:

We test for mastitis daily, every time we milk. If there is any indication of a problem, milk from that teat will not be used and the teat will be treated immediately.

Mastitis can happen when a cow is not milked out properly and infection begins to set in. When this happens, we treat quickly & immediately with organic plant-based essential oil remedy. We also use arnica for swelling and other homeopathy for comfort as needed. This protocol has been shown to heal mastitis swiftly without the need for antibiotics. If production goes down during this time and milk availability is impacted, we will notify you as an owner. We also de-worm naturally using Diatomaceous Earth to help keep Goldie in optimal health.

Somatic Cell Count, Coliform count, and other tests will be done quarterly. This is our way of proving to ourselves (and to you) that our milk is safe!

DRY PERIOD:

Milk cows are “dry,” meaning not producing milk, for the 2-3 months prior to their calving date in order to optimize their own health and nutritional stores. Since I'm a single cow owner, this means that there will be no milk or products available during this time.

Since monthly dues are not purchasing milk but rather covering the portion of expenses that are the share owner's responsibility as a partial owner of the cow, monthly dues will still be due during these few months. From our usual commercial consumer point of view, this feels wrong because we're not getting anything in return, but her care expenses don't change during that period of time, and in this model you are part owner! Since this is a unique nuance of the herd share model, I like to make sure it's very clear up front!

Thanks for taking the time to read all about the herd share. I'm excited to be on this journey with you!

-Tracey