A Reply From The CEO Of Farm Fresh (yoghurt News)

As you know, I was hunting around for a quality brand of yoghurt and came across Farm Fresh, which all our humans and cats liked a lot.

My concern about dairy products is on its farming methods, whether there is cruelty involved. So I posted my concerns on Farm Fresh’s Facebook page and was delighted that I received two replies (plus photos) from them!

The CEO, Mr Loi, has very graciously given his consent for me to share his replies and photos.

My first query was about farming methods.

Here’s the reply:

Dear Dr Chan, Thank you for writing in and we fully understand your concern. At Holstein Milk Co Farm Fresh, we treat our new born calves as a precious little ones. We nurse them like a baby, and provide them comfort housing and clean environment to grow up. These are precious asset to us. Rest assured that every cup of Farm Fresh Milk is produce with lots of Love and care. Warmest Regards

My second query was about “organic milk”. From what I’ve been told, there are two ways of making a cow produce milk: (1) Through mating, which is the natural way.  (2) By pumping her with hormones.  It is these hormones that is the main concern in milk.  The other concern about milk is lactose. However, in yoghurt, as I understand, the lactase is already used up by the bacteria to produce yoghurt (hence, no more lactose intolerance problem) and more importantly, the hormones are also broken down by the bacteria. As I understand, cats do not have lactase to digest lactose and some humans might not have it too.

Anyway, here’s the reply:

Dear Dr Kah Yein, we are ok for your to publish our pictures and reply. Let me put things in perspective for your knowledge. The definition of Organic and Non Organic milk definition is very subjective. We will be setting up our 3rd dairy farm in Desaru Organic Valley Johor to produce Organic milk. The primary difference is in their feed. In this new farm, our dairy cows will only be fed with organically grown Corn plant and high protein grass. At present our dairy cows are mainly feed with our organically grown grass, however, we did supplement them with grains such as Corn and Soya to meet their nutritional requirements. As for use of antibiotics, when our girls or ladies fell sick or injured, we will administer antibiotics to help her. If she is a milking girl, we will withhold her milk for calves consumption during the 10 days milk withdrawal period. In humid tropical country, a simple wound if left untreated can lead to severe infection. Not treating her, I think is animal abuse. Even human beings use antibiotics. Dairy cows only start produce milk after she calve down. We breed her at 15 months of age. Then 9 months gestation only she will calve down. First week of her milk production which is Colostrum will be feed to her baby. Then only she will be in milking proper group, whereas her baby will go on milk replacer. Usually a good dairy cows, will have about 305 days milk production. During her lactation period, a healthy cow will return to heat within 60 days post parturition, we will then breed her through AI or artificial insemination and pray that she is conceives again. In most cases, it take 2-3 attempts to pregnant her. Failures to pregnant her through AI, we will then get our Bull to serve her. If she pregnant after 3-4 moths calving, we will milk her for another 5-6 months, then only we will dry her. She will rest for 3 months, and then back again with her new baby and the cycle repeat again. Cows only start producing milk after calving in natural environment. We never use any rBGH in any of our farm practices to enhance our dairy or meat. Reproduction to multiply our herds are our number one priority. Hence, extended lactation is not our policy. Female calves is our most valuable assets in our farm.

This is what rBGH is, and Farm Fresh does not use it (am glad to know!):

rBGH is a genetically engineered artificial hormone injected into dairy cows to make them produce more milk. Despite opposition from scientists, farmers and consumers, the US currently allows dairy cows to be injected with recombinant bovine growth hormone (rBGH), also known as recombinant bovine somatotropin (rBST).

I must say I’m truly pleased with Mr Loi’s honest reply (Thank you very much, Sir!).

It is not easy to find a farm where ideal conditions are practised. Farming is a business, so certain economically viable practices have to be used. We are happy the CEO is forthright in answering our queries and for this, we are grateful. At least we can now make an informed choice and decision.

My cats say they want to eat yoghurt, so yes, it will be Farm Fresh for them!

Source: https://myanimalcare.org/2016/04/22/a-reply-from-the-ceo-of-..

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