YES! Raw milk is rich in healthy fats, protein, vitamins, minerals, electrolytes, probiotics and digestive enzymes. I could go on and on about the benefits of raw milk but one of the most important things to know is that pasteurization destroys the helpful probiotics and enzymes naturally found in milk. The truth is that most people aren't truly lactose intolerant but instead are consuming an adulterated version of an already perfectly packaged whole food resulting in something broken which cannot be digested properly. Nature has already brilliantly designed an easily digestible superfood for us that needs no processing or preparation to enjoy its benefits. We're on a mission to make milk raw again!

We're always considering ways to improve our processes to provide the most clean and high quality product possible. This is what our process looks like now... 1. We wash each teat with a clean wet cloth then hand strip the first 2 squirts of milk. 2. We dip each teat in a 1/2% iodone solution and wipe clean from top to bottom with a paper towel after letting it set for 1 minute. Then we milk. 3. After milking, we'll dip the entire teat into the 1/2% iodone solution containing 5% glycerine which helps to condition and moisturize the teat, let it air dry and we're done. We use the same pre and post teat dip process for both our goats and our cows and our milk has always tested clean.

YES! We test our dairy goats and cows annually for Tuberculosis and Brucellosis in compliance with the State of Idaho raw milk license requirements. We also do weekly testing for each animal in milk to check for mastitis. To date, we have not had a positive result that required treatment. But if an animal ever did test positive for mastitis, she would be pulled from the production line, milked seperately, treated and tested daily until she tested negative before returning to the production line with the rest of the girls. We also test our dairy goats for CL, CAE & Johne's as needed and we have always tested clean.

While we're definitely capable of milking by hand, for the sake of our sanity and to spend more time with our family, we choose to use a machine milking system with in-line filtration. This not only saves a LOT of time but also provides a cleaner end product and reduces the risk of mastitis in our animals. Our milk is bottled and chilled immediately after milking so you get the cleanest tastiest milk possible.

YES! All of our goats, cows, chickens and pigs have access to pasture every day during the summer. During the winter months, we have a a very large coop and outdoor run for our chickens. Our cows spend their winter days on a deep bedding system off pasture. This does a couple things: 1. Our pasture gets a break from animal traffic which prevents overgrazing and root damage during dormancy. 2. We are able to collect a large amount of composted manure in the spring which we can use to amend our vegetable garden, orchard and vineyard. During the summer, we may occasionally pull animals off pasture for irrigation maintenance but they return to the pasture as soon as the work is done.

Our Nubian and Nigerian Dwarf Dairy goats and Jersey Cows live on pasture with a breakfast and dinner of no-spray alfalfa hay. They drink filtered water with a splash of raw apple cider vinegar added every couple weeks and have access to free choice loose minerals, Thorvin kelp and sodium bicarbonate. We get our chicken feed, duck feed, hog feed, dairy rations, minerals, kelp and sodium bicarb from a local family-owned and operated mill who specifically formulates their minerals and rations to cover the deficiencies most commonly found in the Treasure Valley ensuring that our animals receive the highest quality nutrition, every day. All our animals are fed a real food blend that is: Non-GMO, No corn, No soy, No antibiotics, No hormones, No preservatives, No grain byproducts, No animal or fish byproducts.

Yes and no. The state of Idaho requires all female bovine intended for breeding for the use of dairy or beef production to be Bang's vaccinated against Brucellosis by 12 months of age or immediately upon entering the State of Idaho. If any applicable cow is found without the Bang's vaccine she would be required to be sent to slaughter by the State of Idaho. Because we produce milk for consumer use and because we love our animals dearly, we won't risk loosing them to mandatory slaughter by violating the law. See Idaho Statute 25-613A to learn more. In the past, we have vaccinated our dairy goat herd against CD&T but have not done so in recent years. We are constantly evaluating the need for CD&T vaccination in our dairy goats and will always vaccinate goats headed to new farms upon request.

Yes and no. Because we live in a dry and arid 7a/7b zone climate, we fortunately do not have the need to prophylactically use chemical dewormers on any of our animals. We also make an effort not to overwater our pastures which would create a moist and humid environment for parasites to thrive in. We check our goats and cows regularity for parasite sign by checking famacha scores, physical observation and by testing fecal samples. To date, we have not had a fecal result indicating the need for parasite treatment. If we ever had the need to treat for parasites, depending on the severity, we would start with an herbal remedy before using a chemical dewormer. In the event of an external parasite such as lice or mites, we would use diatomaceous earth and/or a pour-over treatment to reduce the risk of anemia. We have found that the best treatment for parasites is prevention through healthy high quality nutrition. We do not deworm our chickens and pigs.

Yes and no. We do not use medicated feed of any kind on any of our animals. We also do not use any prophylactic medications or antibiotics. However, if an animal becomes sick with something like pneumonia or an abscess from a physical injury, we will NOT allow that animal to suffer and die just so we can maintain that we're antibiotic free. If an animal requires antibiotics, they will either be pulled from the milk line until fully recovered or separated from our meat distribution and made unavailable for purchase. This applies to our goats, cows and pigs. We do not treat our chickens with antibiotics. If a chicken becomes physically injured, they'll be isolated and receive first aid care until they can reintegrate into the flock or be humanely culled depending on the severity of the injury. That said, due to our predator prevention methods and secure infrastructure we have never lost a chicken to a predator and we've never encountered a sick or diseased chicken in our flock.