Studies show that Omega-3 can reduce cardiovascular disease, improve neurological development and function, and strengthens immune function. Two products, recombinant bovine growth hormone rBGH, also known as BGH, recombinant bovine somatotropin or rBST and antibiotics, are said to be found in regular milk but not in organic milk.
Organic milk comes from cows that have never been given these drugs, which means that organic milk is guaranteed to be free of any residue. On the other hand, neither growth hormones nor antibiotics are as popular as they were in part because consumers complained , so many regular dairies avoid these drugs.
Much regular milk packaging will include claims on the label stating the milk does not contain antibiotics or growth hormones. In addition, regular milk is tested to be sure there is little or no drug residue in products sent to the market.
If you have any concerns about possible residue from drug use, it certainly makes sense to buy organic. Alternatively, you can do a little research into the dairies that sell their regular milk products in your area. If it turns out that they don't use the drugs, you may be able to save a little money. In , the USDA closed a loophole in their organic regulations, so all organic dairy cattle must spend much of the year grazing in open pastures, as opposed to feedlots or indoor feeding pens.
While this may seem more natural and healthy, there is some controversy over whether it makes the milk healthier. Advocates claim that milk from cows that graze in pastures contains more conjugated linoleic acids CLAs , which is a healthy fat that some research shows might have health benefits.
There is not any significant body of scientific evidence supporting the nutritional superiority of organic milk. There's little argument that organic farming and dairy practices are better for the environment, if only because of their reduced use of pesticides, antibiotics, hormones, and other synthetic chemical compounds.
The season of the year of milk production may also contribute to the varying levels of fatty acid present between regular milk and organic milk, despite the type of farming method used.
Another possible difference between organic milk and conventional milk is the higher concentration of conjugated linoleic acid CLA present in the organic variety. CLA is a type of fat found in dairy and beef that may be associated with supporting a healthy immune system and reducing the risk of heart disease, cancer, obesity, osteoporosis.
So, is organic milk better for you? While there are some studies about the difference between organic and conventional milk, more research is needed to clarify their long-term effects on health. The greater amount of fatty acids present in organic milk is not convincing enough for the scientific community to recommend choosing organic milk over conventional milk. The overall nutritional profile is relatively similar between the two types of milk, resulting in the lack of concrete evidence to suggest that organic milk, and organic foods in general, are significantly more nutritious than their conventional counterparts.
While organic milk and regular milk have similar nutrition and serve the same purpose, organic milk last substantially longer than conventional milk. This allows it to last for 40 to 60 days after opening, compared to 15 to 17 days for conventional milk that is pasteurized at a lower temperature.
So, if you run into problems with your milk going bad before you can finish it, organic milk might be something worth trying. What type of milk you choose is ultimately a personal choice. You may lean towards choosing organic food over its conventional counterparts for various reasons. Conventional dairy farmers must follow strict regulations about what is given to their cows. However, if you are still highly concerned about being potentially exposed to trace amounts of pesticides, antibiotics, and synthetic growth hormones in conventional milk, you may want to consider organic milk.
Food products that are produced organically require a bigger time commitment and financial investment from the farmers and producers. In order to prevent the need for antibiotics, organic farmers cull cows with mastitis from the herd, Marquez explained.
Marquez shared a story of a farmer who found that culling his herd made it so he only had to administer antibiotics twice in 17 years. Conventional milk farmers use antibiotics to treat sick cows, and then use their milk. For Marquez, taking a stand against antibiotics is not about the potential residue that can find its way into milk. We dumped it down a drain. Reproductive hormones, Marquez says, are commonly used in large conventional dairy farms but not organic farms to ensure efficient breeding during artificial insemination AI.
The hormones for reproduction that are used on conventional dairy farms include prostaglandin, gonadotropin releasing hormone and progesterone. But time might make that change possible, and the most effective way to create change is through consumer education and demand.
News U. Key differences between organic and non-organic milk include:. Animal welfare is at the heart of organic agriculture. Organic cows are truly free-range; they must have plenty of space, access to pasture when weather conditions permit, and spend as much time outdoors as possible — conditions which help to reduce stress and disease.
Learn more about welfare standards for organic cows. Organic farming standards ban the routine use of antibiotics and wormers.
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