Raw Milk Dairy Colorado Springs & Pueblo

We are one of the oldest all-grass dairies in Colorado. Our cattle are never fed any grain. We are fortunate to have rich soil and plentiful irrigation water to maintain mixed species, nutrient dense pastures, allowing for lush grazing nine months of the year.

 

How Do I sign up to get raw milk?

You must attend a dairy tour to see our facilities and meet the cows as well as to sign the cow-share paperwork for the State of Colorado and pay for your share. We currently have a waiting list for milk shares. We will not be adding more shares until spring and will set an April tour date as we get closer. Please bring a check or cash with you in case you decide to purchase a share.

Each share of our dairy herd has a one time cost of $50, which includes a bill of sale and entitles the shareholder to one gallon of milk per week. The boarding fee for each share is $57 (at the farm) or $65 (picked up in C. Springs) and is paid monthly. Shares can be purchased from half up to multiple shares. We will present each shareholder with a series of documents that serve as the legal contract between you and Larga Vista Ranch.

 
 

Grass-fed is best!

Recent studies demonstrate that raw milk from cows that graze exclusively on grass and forages produce milk that has superior nutritional value to milk from cows that have been fed grain, with twice as much omega-3 fatty acids and beta-carotene. The omega-3 and omega-6 essential fatty acids are in proper balance, and the content of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) is five times higher than in milk from grain-fed cows. CLA has been shown to be a potent defense against cancer.

The rapidly growing green grass is what Dr. Weston Price found to impart the highest levels of nutrients in the milk. We put up our own grass and alfalfa hay for the winter and allow the cows limited grazing on stockpiled grass or winter annuals (tritcale or rye) to keep the “medicinal” value of green grass in their diet. They also always have access to free-choice kelp and mineral supplements. Most importantly, we recognize that our soils are the basis of good nutrition and test them for mineral levels, applying natural amendments to correct any imbalances.

We are also fortunate to only need to milk our cows once a day. This is less physically demanding for the strictly grass-fed cows and helps them maintain good body condition and health. At milking time, the cows receive organic molasses (a non-starch simple carbohydrate) to complement forage protein levels. The starch in grains typically fed to cows at most dairies changes the rumen (first stomach) bacteria, dilutes the nutrients from green grass, and subsequently lowers certain nutrient levels in the milk itself. 

Our “recipe” of managed soil, nutritious forages, supplements, and once-a-day milking makes for a very healthy Larga Vista Ranch dairy cow and the best milk possible! Come down and see for yourself! The difference is our grass!

 

Benefits of Raw Milk

Glycosphingolipids are found in whole raw milk. These fats protect against gastrointestinal infections. Children who drink skim milk – minus the glycosphingolipids – have diarrhea rates 3 to 5 times greater than those who drink whole raw milk. Interestingly, what is called “whole milk” in stores has had much of the cream removed. No cream is removed from our milk, so you can still receive whole-milk benefits while using some of the cream top in other foods and beverages and to make butter.

 
 

Benefits of Raw Milk

  • Raw milk contains important enzymes that help you assimilate the nutrients in milk. These enzymes are rendered inactive once milk is pasteurized.

  • Raw milk has all essential enzymes for digestibility. Pasteurized milk no longer contains the living enzymes that are necessary to assimilate the calcium, milk sugars, and milk solids contained in milk.

  • The many vitamins and minerals found in milk are more bio-available in raw milk.

  • Raw milk is safe! It contains lactic-acid producing bacteria that protect against pathogens that can contaminate milk and infect humans.

Benefits of Butter

  • Contains lecithin, arachidonic acid, and omega-3 and -6 short and medium chain fatty acids, which protect against infection.

  • Also contains palmitoleic acid, which has antimicrobial properties.

  • Butyric acid, a very short-chain saturated fatty acid, has anti-fungal and anti-tumoral effects, and it is unique to butter.

  • Butterfat contains trace minerals. The iodine in butter helps protect against goiter, and butter is extremely rich in selenium.

 

Cow and milk testing at Larga Vista Ranch

All of our dairy cows are tested for tuberculosis. However, Colorado is free from these diseases. Every month, we test our milk for cleanliness.