Questions

Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about organic milk and dairy products. If you have any further questions, please email OMSCo on gill@omsco.co.uk

	How is organic milk better for the environment?
	Each typical family, drinking two pints a day, that switches to organic milk will turn 1200 square metres of countryside organic. This will have profound effects on wildlife and the environment. Organic farms do not use artificial chemical pesticides, so farmland birds, butterflies and other animals are able to flourish. Organic farmers have also adopted a range of other practices which benefit wildlife. For example, organic dairy farms only cut hedges during the winter months which allows them to flower, providing food and cover for insects, birds and small mammals such as dormice. Organic farming is also much better for the soil. The farmers use an age old system which includes crop rotation and leaving fields fallow to rest and recover. Crops are under-planted by beneficial plants like clover which put essential nutrients such as nitrates back into the soil. In contrast, non-organic farmers intensively farm a limited number of crops which means that the soil has no chance to recover and is quickly stripped of nutrients. To replace these nutrients non-organic farmers rely on artificial chemical fertilisers. Over time, the soil is depleted of vital organic materials and nutrients and can take years to recover. For more information visit Why Organic
	What wildlife would you find on an organic farm that you wouldn't find on a non-organic farm?
	Recent years have seen a dramatic decline in farmland wildlife from birds to flowers. Almost half of the 44 species of butterflies breeding in lowland grassland are in decline and farmland birds have declined by 30% since 1970. This decline has been partly attributed to farming intensification including the use of pesticides. On organic farms where pesticides are not used there are far more farmland birds such as grey partridges, lapwings and skylarks, as well as butterflies and other farmland species. Following a study by English Nature and the RSPB, Peter Melchett, the Soil Association's Policy Director said: "The scientific case for the wildlife benefits of organic farming is now settled and beyond doubt." For more information visit Why Organic
	How is organic farming beneficial to our drinking water?
	Non-organic farming relies on the use of synthetic nitrates to enhance the nitrate content of the soil. About 20% of these nitrates are washed away with rainwater and become part of the country's watercourses. Excessive nitrates over-stimulate the growth of algae and poison the water. It has been estimated that UK water companies spend around £16 million a year to ensure that nitrogen in our drinking water is within acceptable levels. By using farmyard manure and planting of clover to produce nitrates, organic farmers ensure that nitrates are released slowly, naturally and not in excess.
	Do many cafes and restaurants use organic dairy products?
	Organic food is becoming more of a frequent feature on high quality menus and some restaurants are now completely organic. Organic milk is now available at all branches of McDonalds and Pret a Manger. If your local coffe shop doesn't use it, then why not ask them?
	Is non-organic milk bad for you?
	Organic farmers do not want to scare people or stop people from drinking milk. They simply want to make it clear what makes organic milk different, and want consumers to make up their own minds. The fact is that organic milk is more pure and more naturally-produced, and there are consumers who want to be able to choose this sort of product for themselves and their families.
	Are growth hormones given to dairy cows?
	Growth hormones are banned on all dairy farms in the UK, not just organic farms. Some scientists believe that these growth hormones can be passed through milk, causing children to mature faster.
	Is organic dairy farming more energy efficient than non-organic dairy farming?
	According to a Defra-funded study, organic dairy farming is 38% more energy efficient than non-organic.
	Is organic milk more nutritious than non-organic milk?
	Organic milk has all the benefits of non-organic milk and is a good source of calcium. Research studies have now established that it also provides additional benefits as it is naturally higher in certain vital nutrients than non-organic milk. These nutritional differences are linked to the natural diet that the organic cows are fed which has to be high (min 60%) in forage such as fresh grass, silage and clover. Recent studies have shown that organic milk is naturally higher in Omega 3 Alpha Linolenic fatty Acid (ALA) than non-organic milk. ALA is linked to maintaining heart health. A study published by the Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research (IGER) showed that organic milk naturally contains much more Omega 3 fatty acid (ALA) than non-organic milk. The research carried out by IGER has shown that milk from cows fed a red clover rich diet contained at least 64% more Omega-3 fatty acids than milk from cows fed on grass and concentrates. Organic dairy farmers feed much higher levels of clover because it is used as an alternative to synthetic chemical fertilisers to ensure lush pastures. Further research carried out at the University of Aberdeen in 2004 found yet higher levels of Omega 3 (ALA) in organic milk. The research, which compared the Omega 3 content of organic and non-organic milk showed that organic milk can contain up to 71% more Omega 3 than non-organic milk and has a better ratio of Omega 3 to Omega 6 than non-organic milk. This is welcome news as most people in the UK are deficient in Omega 3 fatty acids, which are essential for maintaining a healthy heart, along with other benefits. Drinking just half a pint of organic milk as part of a healthy balanced diet provides a useful additional source of Omega 3. The most recent piece of peer reviewed research, carried out at the University of Liverpool, compared organic and non-organically produced milk as part of a large scale field study carried out over three years on commercial farms5. Unlike previous studies, this study also measured seasonal variation and management practices. Samples were collected monthly and analysed for fatty acid content, Vitamin A and E and Beta-carotene. Farm and management factors were also recorded to identify practices that may be associated with differences in specific compounds in the milk. The study found that, despite key seasonal farm management and cow nutrition factors that affect fatty acid content, organic milk was higher in poly-unsaturated fatty acid, particularly Omega 3, than non-organic milk throughout the production year. All milk contains Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA), which - based on research in mice - is believed to boost immune function and potentially reduce the growth of cancer tumours. There is growing interest in the wider beneficial effects of CLA levels which are believed to be higher in organic meat and milk. This is thought to be linked to the organic cow’s more natural diet which contains high levels of grass, hay or silage rather than concentrates. For more information visit Why Organic
	Do organic dairy farmers treat their cows with fertility hormones?
	On organic dairy farms the use of fertility hormones is rare. The cows can only be treated in this way on an individual, therapeutic basis, and the use of this form of treatment as a management aid is banned. For more information visit Why Organic
	Are calves treated differently on organic farms?
	Organic calves have to be kept in pens where they can interact with other calves and groom each other. On non-organic farms calves can be kept in separate pens, which is unnatural for them and believed to cause stress to the rest of the herd. Organic calves are usually reared on natural cow’s milk - their mother’s or a nurse cow’s. On non-organic farms calves can be quickly separated from their mothers and fed re-constituted milk. After weaning, the calves are kept together in social groups. Herd animals need social contact and find it very distressing to be alone. The female calves (heifers) will usually be kept and added to the dairy herd. Only one bull can run with a herd of cows, however, so some of the male calves may be raised for organic beef. This means they will mostly be out at grass and have a good quality of life, even if it is quite short - they are usually slaughtered at around 20 months. They are subject to strict regulations which govern how they are transported and sold. OMSCo are supporting an initiative to promote organic veal – for more information visit www.goodveal.com

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