Grass-fed spring milk and the values of it's creamy texture and golden color.
posted on
May 17, 2023
![cows-pasture.jpg](https://s3.amazonaws.com/grazecart/hiddencampfarm/images/1684352734_64652edeae601.jpg)
Mmmm... Delicious creamy and rich golden spring grass-fed milk is by far the best of the whole year!
Especially in the butter and the milk itself, you'll notice it is more yellow and creamy in the spring than other parts of the year. Spring milk from grass-fed cows also has a much higher nutritional value and health benefits.
The breed of cow also has a big impact on the butterfat (or cream) content of the milk. Jersey cows are known to have the best butterfat milk and are very good grazers (easy to keep on grass). That is why our milk is sourced from jersey and jersey cross cows only.
It's what's in the cows diet that matters.
The reason for the best quality milk in spring from grass-fed cows is because of the rich and healthy diet that the cows have access to after a winter of eating only grass-hay and minerals.
The fresh green grasses and clover provides our cows with lots of nutrients and minerals that are not in the grass-hay that they eat in the winter. This in return will help the cows produce a great amount of rich, creamy and golden milk. Spring is the time of year that cows will produce the most amount of milk.
You may be able to taste the freshness.
In past years we've had folks call in the spring and ask why the milk tastes so funny. The answer to this is, the cows are now on grass and therefore providing us with a different texture of milk. It is however, not a big difference in the taste but if you can taste well, you'll be able to notice:)
Milk and milk products from grass-fed cows are the most yellow in the spring.
Here are some health benefits of spring milk.
Carotene is an orange or red plant pigment found in carrots and many other plant structures. It is a terpenoid hydrocarbon with several isomers, including beta-carotene.
Beta-carotene is an antioxidant that helps protect the body from damaging molecules called free radicals. Free radicals damage cells through a process known as oxidation. Over time, this damage can lead to a number of chronic illnesses.
Vitamin A is a fat soluble vitamin that can be found in various foods that is both good for our eyes and benefits our immune system. Beta-carotene is a provitamin carotenoid that helps give vegetables their bright pigmentation, and is also good for our vision and overall growth and development.
Although our cows do not actually eat carrots or other fruits & vegetables, it is the lush green grass that makes the delicious difference in the milk color.
Wonderful vitamin benefits!
Milk is a source of many valuable nutrients like, calcium, vitamin B, an especially significant amount of vitamin B2 and fat-soluble vitamins, such as A, D and E. These nutrients will certainly be at their best in the spring milk.
These nutrients can be found in most whole milk, but if you choose grass-fed jersey/jersey cross milk you'll be looking at a much higher and more beneficial nutrient value.
The vitamins A, E & D in our grass-fed jersey milk play an important role in great muscle health, as well as magnesium and potassium, which help to regulate muscle contractions.
Fresh jersey milk also contains up to 18% more than most other milk and with the A2/A2 protein in our milk you'll find it much easier for your body to digest.
Our pastures are free of any chemicals or herbicides which also improves the health benefits of our milk vs store bought milk. Our cows get to graze rotationally on fresh grass from, as soon as it is tall enough in the spring until it dies off with the first frost in the fall. This time period is usually from mid May to mid-late October.