Neil and Glenda Gray have renovated an old milking shed on their property on Hauraki Rd and included a vending machine which dispenses pure, unadulterated raw milk.
Glenda said it was completely natural milk from grass to glass and comes complete with naturally occurring bacteria, enzymes and proteins.
«The shed has been renovated to meet the latest the Ministry of Primary Industries food safety standards and we follow a rigorous testing regime to ensure harmful bacteria is kept to a minimum while still keeping all the good bacteria and enzymes,» she said.
The raw milk herd of 20 mixed breed cows have been specifically chosen as they produce A2 milk.
Cows either produce A1 or A2 milk and the Gray’s cows have all been DNA tested to ensure they are producing A2 milk.
The difference between the two kinds of milk is the position of amino acid on the beta casein molecule. The difference in structure of the molecule leads to a difference in their breakdown during digestion which is why some people, including children, who cannot tolerate pasteurised milk can tolerate A2 milk.
Glenda said MPI required them to let people know there were risks associated in drinking raw milk.
«It is usually only if you have a compromised immune system. We immediately cool the milk to 4 degrees Celsius to minimise the multiplication of naturally occurring bacteria and it is kept at the same temperature in the vending machine,» she said.
Buttercup Dairies runs the shop herd separately from its commercial herd and on a separate part of the farm. They are pasture fed and have no supplements of meal or palm kernel and there are no antibiotics used on them.
«Both the shop herd and the commercial herd are Welfarm accredited which is one of the best practice initiatives XL Vets have developed for New Zealand farmers and provides a transparency for end users of our product as to the health and wellbeing of animals on our farm,» she said.
Getting your fix of raw milk is an easy process at Buttercup Dairies. You drive straight up to the door of the shop, buy a one litre glass bottle and then fill it at the vending machine.
In the shop is a sign with the date the milk in the vending machine was produced and a use-by date. These can be recorded by the buyer on a specially designed tag which can then be placed on the neck of the bottle.
Buttercup Dairies is located at 124 Hauraki Road, Turua and is open from 7am to 7pm seven days a week with the grand opening on Saturday.
Join Glenda and Neil for a sausage sizzle, shed tour, meet the cows and buy some farm fresh milk to take home and enjoy the rich creaminess.
Check out the website buttercupdairies.co.nz
Source: Stuff
Link: https://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/business/97286324/buttercup-dairies–serving-up-fresh-raw-milk-in-turua