Dairy Q&A

Question:

Do you add hormones to the milk?

Answer:

No.

Bovine somatotropin (bst) is a naturally occurring protein hormone produced by a cow's pituitary gland. It regulates metabolic activities, helping young cattle grow and adult cows produce milk.

A small amount of bst is present in all milk, including organic products. 

There is a supplemental hormone called rbst (recombinant bovine somatotropin) that can be administered to the cow  by a farmer who is trying to increase the milk production to help ensure a plentiful supply of milk. Studies show that milk from cows treated with the supplemental hormone rBST is the same wholesome product that we have enjoyed for generations. This has been affirmed and reaffirmed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and other leading health organizations.

The decision to not use a supplemental hormone on our cows is a decision due to consumer demand and is not related to any health or safety issue. 

You can rest assured,milk is wholesome,safe and nutritious.

Do Cows Have Hormones?

 

Like all mammals, cows have hormones.  Cows have a naturally occurring protein hormone produced in the pituitary gland called bovine somatotropin (bST). This hormone regulates metabolic activities and helps young cattle grow and adult cattle to  produce milk. This natural hormone does not have any physiological effect on humans consuming the milk because:

• bST is species-specific, meaning that it is biologically inactive in humans
• When milk is consumed, the small amount of bST present is broken down completely by the body's digestive system, just like any other protein.
• Pasteurization destroys 90% of bST in milk.

In 1993,  artificial bovine somatotropin hormone (rbST) was developed and after extensive review  approved by the Food and Drug Administration   that could boost milk production and ensure a plentiful supply of milk. 

While  scientific studies have found no difference between milk from cows that are given the artificial hormone from cows that are not, consumers wanted a choice in how milk is produced. You now find milk labeled with the pledge from dairy farmers that produce milk without using this approved technology tool .

 

We support consumer choices but it's important to understand that carton to carton, bottle to bottle, all milk is wholesome, safe and nutritious.