Family Farmstead is a 100% Grass-Fed Dairy
Our cows are 100% grass-fed. This means the milk we receive comes from cows that live their natural lives outdoors, eating a variety of plants that provide them with a well-balanced diet. They get plenty of fresh air, sunlight, and exercise while also provided with shelter during the cold and wet weather. Animal welfare is top priority for us.
Being 100% grass-fed also means that our milk is unique, changing taste as the cows’ diet changes. In the summer, they eat fresh grass. In the winter they may eat dry hay or baleage (fermented grass). This results in a wide variety of flavors in our milk. What doesn’t change, however, is how good it is for you. Our customers choose our dairy products for many health benefits, including higher Omega-3’s, more CLA’s, digestible proteins, and heart-healthy fats.
It is Certified Organic
Our products are all USDA Certified Organic. The farms that we partner with are certified organic, which means that there are no growth hormones or antibiotics used on the animals. There is also no pesticides or other chemicals used on the land. Everything is to be as natural as possible.
For our products to be completely organic, the ingredients that we use in the making of products (such as eggnog, vanilla keifer, butter, etc.) are all certified organic ingredients. There are no artificial preservatives, colors, or flavors involved. We value good quality ingredients to give our consumers good quality products.
Certified Regenerative
The farms that we source from are all certified regenerative. This means they are quantifiably showing that through the right farming practices we are able to build back soil health through a natural and simple process. The cows graze and prune the grassland, while fertilizing the ground with manure. Their hooves work as a till to work the manure and seedheads back into the ground increasing the organic topsoil. After their grazing is complete on a pasture ground they are cycled to a different area, giving the land time to rejuvenate. This time allows for new seeds to take root and older plants to regrow. Soil health is tested regularly on all our farms to ensure we are improving the land year after year and continuing the good stewardship we are called to.
100% A2 Protein
Milk has several types of proteins, and one of those proteins is beta casein. There are two main variants of beta casein: A1 and A2. The variant is determined by the genetics of the cow. A1 is the most common variant today and is found in virtually all milk on store shelves. A2 is less common, and sources of milk containing only A2 proteins can be hard to find. Originally all cows milk contained only A2 protein, it’s believed that a genetic mutation occurred that resulted in A1 protein. At Family Farmstead, all of our cows have been genetically tested and laboratory-confirmed to produce only A2 proteins, which means all of our products contain only the A2 variant of beta casein.
Several studies have been done around the world to determine the differences between A1 and A2 proteins. There are three main functions that these beta casein proteins affect:
Digestive - Milk composed of only A2 proteins is easier to digest, with fewer uncomfortable side effects. It affects how you feel immediately after consuming A2 proteins. We urge you to try it for yourself as it’s been proven true by our family and friends.
Metabolic - A2 proteins are linked to more positive health effects and fewer negative health effects for how your body uses it as compared to A1 proteins.
Cognitive - Your brain functions differently when you consume A2 proteins. People who drink A2 proteins regularly have demonstrated the ability to solve problems quicker and more accurately than people who regularly drink A1 proteins.
100% A2 dairy is not widely available. Even directly sourcing your milk from a single farm does not guarantee that the proteins will be exclusively A2. Family farmstead milk is from a small group of exceptional farms. In most cases the cows are known by name, and we ensure that each one is tested and confirmed to produce only A2 proteins
Why We Want to be Different
Our calling in life is farming, a special kind of farming that nurtures the land, the animals and our family. We love working outdoors alongside our children, our family, and our friends, all working together with God’s creation to produce high quality, farm crafted products. Taking responsibility for the outcomes of our production and building a legacy is what will allow us to pass the tradition of farming on to the next generation. The challenges and rewards of working with nature give us the satisfaction we need to wake up every day and do our jobs: to produce healthy food for you and your family.