Each glass of a2 Milk® is produced with intention. It has to be healthy, pasteurized and processed correctly, free from growth hormones, and taste fresh and delicious. Most of all, it has to be from specially selected cows that only produce the A2 beta-casein protein. If you’re like other informed consumers, you want to know that your milk is not only healthy but produced by cows that are well-treated. In this post, you’ll discover the two things that matter most to milk health and quality. You’ll also find answers to your questions like “what do you feed your cows?

In short, yes. Just like what you eat affects your energy levels, mood, and overall health, so does a cow’s. Healthy, great-tasting milk comes from healthy cows. 

Read more about how diet affects the taste and quality of milk in this blog post.

Diet is important, but it’s not the only thing that matters. How cows are cared for dramatically affects their overall health. That’s why we have high standards for the dairy farmer we choose to work with, and all of our family farms are independently certified by the Validus Group for animal welfare.

Our cows munch on a high-quality vegetarian diet that meets animal welfare standards set forth by the Validus Group. Our cows have a balanced diet of grass and grain though the specifics depend on location and availability. It’s possible that some of our cow’s diets may include GMO corn. Due to its availability in large quantities, a diet completely free of genetically modified ingredients is hard to come by and very expensive for our farmers, which may put a financial burden on them if we required non GMO feed.

When you pour yourself a glass of fresh and delicious a2 Milk®, know that you are pouring a glass of quality and attention to detail. You can be confident in the care that goes into your milk, whether you use it to boost homemade recipes or for daily nutrition.

Each family farm is meticulously chosen and required to meet animal welfare standards outlined by the Validus Group. Our cows are an extension of our a2 Milk® family and their care is of the highest importance.

Once we identify a farmer with cows that naturally produce only the A2 beta-casein protein type and no A1, we’ll partner with these farmers to evaluate their herd further. We then look at the genetic makeup of their herd and also their health and safety practices. 

After the initial review, farmers work with our team to establish a segregation plan to separate the A2-only cows from the rest of the herd to maintain the purity of the milk. Every farmer goes through in-depth training to make sure that their practices and on-farm segregation meet a2 Milk® standards. 

Every glass of milk that you drink is full of a protein called casein (alpha and kappa, naturally present in milk) and there are two types of beta-casein: A1 and A2. Most milk on the shelves of the grocery store comes from cows that produce both the A1 and A2 protein. However, some cows naturally only produce milk with the A2 protein. Originally all cows’ milk started with A2 protein only. Over time, due to a natural mutation, cows started producing both A1 and A2 proteins, resulting in mixed herds over time. 

While there’s no difference in taste between mixed A1/A2 milk versus milk with only the A2 protein and no A1, the difference you may notice is in how it affects your body. Published research suggests a2 Milk® may help avoid stomach discomfort in some people. 

Find a2 Milk® at your local grocer and taste the difference for yourself.