Matthew's Journal

I am, in general, in favour of organic produce - the impact on the environment is almost universally positive, and organic eggs and meat generally involve higher animal welfare standards.

Organic milk, on the other hand, I consider to be a bad thing.

Firstly, it isn't any better for the cows. The main problems welfare-wise of dairy cows are due to the gross distortion of their physiology that we have perpetrated to produce such high milk yields. Organic milk doesn't do anything to address this.

Secondly, Not using antibiotics in mastitits cases and using homeopathic treatments (which there is no evidence work[1]) except in severe cases doesn't help cattle welfare either.

Thirdly, the product is of poorer quality. Organic milk has a higher somatic cell count (a measure of the quantity of cellular contamination) than "normal" milk, so has a shorter shelf life, and isn't as good for turning into dairy produce.

If you really wanted welfare-friendly milk, then you'd want milk from older multi-function animals, rather than the modern specialist dairy breeds. There would be quite a high cost associated with such a product, however...

[1]and I've seen one study conclude that they don't