Our cows eat grass . . . and that's great news for you!
Milk from grass-fed cows has 2 to 5 times the CLA's
(conjugated linoleic acids) of grain-fed milk.
CLA is a substance produced by fiber-digesting molecules in ruminant animals like cows, goats, and sheep. It is the only compound originating in animals that has been show in research trials throughout the world to inhibit cancer. Research in France has determined that among 360 women, those with the highest levels of CLA in their breast tissue have a 74% lower risk of breast cancer than those with the lowest levels.
The human body cannot produce CLA, but you can get it from eating grass-fed dairy products.
In order for typical North American grain-fed dairy to claim the cancer preventing benefits of
CLA, the content of CLA in milk would have to increase by as much as four hundred percent.
Increased levels of CLA have also been shown in studies to increase metabolic rate, decrease
abdominal fat, enhance muscle growth, lower cholesterol, enhance the immune system, and
prevent adult onset diabetes.
Grass-Fed Dairy has the right balance of Essential Fatty Acids (Omega-6 and Omega-3).
Healthy diets need a balance between omega-6 and omega-3 essential fatty acids, but omega-3 EFAs
are in short supply in the average American diet. A ready supply of omega-3 can be found cold in water fish or
mammals and ingrass-fed beef and dairy products. These are the only adequate sources for omega-3 EFA's.
Omega-6's and Omega-3's perform their nutritional functions together. One is useless without
the other. Unfortunately, the steady diet of grain fed to the vast majority of cattle in the United
States and other industrialized countries has greatly diminished the presence of omega-3's, so
that typical supermarket beef and dairy products contain on average 3 or 4 times the amount of
omega-6's as omega-3's. Keeping a cow on a traditional diet of grass yields a one-to-one
balance of omega-6's and omega-3's in her milk.
Omega-6 and omega-3 EFAs regulate approximately 50 bodily functions including
inflammation and blood clotting. If they are not in balance, the omega-6 EFA's may become
overactive, increasing inflammatory responses which lead to chronic inflammatory conditions
like arthritis, and promoting the formation of inappropriate blood clots that may cause plaque
buildup, stroke, and heart attack.
Additionally, omega-3 fats are essential to brain and eye formation in embryos and are
considered by some of the best researchers on brain health to be the most important fatty acids
for brain health as we age.
Grass-Fed Dairy has more vitamins.
There are two reasons why grass-fed dairy a greater vitamin content. First, the cows have
access to vitamins that occur naturally in grass. Because of this, grass-fed dairy products are full
of vitamins A, E, and beta-carotene. But the supply of other beneficial nutrients is increased as
well, because grass-fed dairy cows produce less milk than grain-fed cows. That means less
supply for us, but more nutrition for you. A cow transfers a certain set amount of vitamins into
her milk, and a smaller yield of milk produces more vitamins per glass.
The difference is even visible. Wagon Creek Creamery butter and cream have a rich yellow
color because of their high beta-carotene content. That beta-carotene comes originally from the
grass our cows eat.
(conjugated linoleic acids) of grain-fed milk.
CLA is a substance produced by fiber-digesting molecules in ruminant animals like cows, goats, and sheep. It is the only compound originating in animals that has been show in research trials throughout the world to inhibit cancer. Research in France has determined that among 360 women, those with the highest levels of CLA in their breast tissue have a 74% lower risk of breast cancer than those with the lowest levels.
The human body cannot produce CLA, but you can get it from eating grass-fed dairy products.
In order for typical North American grain-fed dairy to claim the cancer preventing benefits of
CLA, the content of CLA in milk would have to increase by as much as four hundred percent.
Increased levels of CLA have also been shown in studies to increase metabolic rate, decrease
abdominal fat, enhance muscle growth, lower cholesterol, enhance the immune system, and
prevent adult onset diabetes.
Grass-Fed Dairy has the right balance of Essential Fatty Acids (Omega-6 and Omega-3).
Healthy diets need a balance between omega-6 and omega-3 essential fatty acids, but omega-3 EFAs
are in short supply in the average American diet. A ready supply of omega-3 can be found cold in water fish or
mammals and ingrass-fed beef and dairy products. These are the only adequate sources for omega-3 EFA's.
Omega-6's and Omega-3's perform their nutritional functions together. One is useless without
the other. Unfortunately, the steady diet of grain fed to the vast majority of cattle in the United
States and other industrialized countries has greatly diminished the presence of omega-3's, so
that typical supermarket beef and dairy products contain on average 3 or 4 times the amount of
omega-6's as omega-3's. Keeping a cow on a traditional diet of grass yields a one-to-one
balance of omega-6's and omega-3's in her milk.
Omega-6 and omega-3 EFAs regulate approximately 50 bodily functions including
inflammation and blood clotting. If they are not in balance, the omega-6 EFA's may become
overactive, increasing inflammatory responses which lead to chronic inflammatory conditions
like arthritis, and promoting the formation of inappropriate blood clots that may cause plaque
buildup, stroke, and heart attack.
Additionally, omega-3 fats are essential to brain and eye formation in embryos and are
considered by some of the best researchers on brain health to be the most important fatty acids
for brain health as we age.
Grass-Fed Dairy has more vitamins.
There are two reasons why grass-fed dairy a greater vitamin content. First, the cows have
access to vitamins that occur naturally in grass. Because of this, grass-fed dairy products are full
of vitamins A, E, and beta-carotene. But the supply of other beneficial nutrients is increased as
well, because grass-fed dairy cows produce less milk than grain-fed cows. That means less
supply for us, but more nutrition for you. A cow transfers a certain set amount of vitamins into
her milk, and a smaller yield of milk produces more vitamins per glass.
The difference is even visible. Wagon Creek Creamery butter and cream have a rich yellow
color because of their high beta-carotene content. That beta-carotene comes originally from the
grass our cows eat.
Further Reading
"Research Attempts to Enhance CLA in Confinement Meat and Milk Products Fall Far Short of Direct Grazing" https://www.stockmangrassfarmer.net/cgi-bin/page.cgi?id=518
"Health Benefits of Conjugated Linoleic Acid" https://www.mercola.com/beef/cla.htm
The Journal of Dairy Science, May '99: "Conjugated Linoleic Acid Content of Milk from Cows Fed Different Diets" https://jds.fass.org/cgi/content/abstract/82/10/2146
Omega 3's and Omega 6's: https://www.eatwild.com/articles/superhealthy.html
EFA's and Breast Cancer Prevention: https://www.positivehealth.com/permit/articles/Nutrition/byrnes64.htm
"Research Attempts to Enhance CLA in Confinement Meat and Milk Products Fall Far Short of Direct Grazing" https://www.stockmangrassfarmer.net/cgi-bin/page.cgi?id=518
"Health Benefits of Conjugated Linoleic Acid" https://www.mercola.com/beef/cla.htm
The Journal of Dairy Science, May '99: "Conjugated Linoleic Acid Content of Milk from Cows Fed Different Diets" https://jds.fass.org/cgi/content/abstract/82/10/2146
Omega 3's and Omega 6's: https://www.eatwild.com/articles/superhealthy.html
EFA's and Breast Cancer Prevention: https://www.positivehealth.com/permit/articles/Nutrition/byrnes64.htm