Most Asked Questions
General Questions
Fond du Lac Farms is not certified organic for two reasons: First, there is no organic certification specific to dairies in Arizona. Anyone claiming organic status in Arizona does not have local monitoring of their production practices. Secondly, we do not believe in paying thousands of dollars annually for a certification that does not provide real value. We do not agree completely with the organic regulations, which can be overly strict in some areas and lax in others. We also do not want to be associated with other conventional certified organic dairies, which can have some of the worst conditions and poorest quality milk. The term “organic” has been taken over by government and marketing groups to make more money, leading to more lenient standards that allow dairies to meet them without changing their practices. At Fond du Lac Farms, we maintain our own well-defined standards independent of a certification process and simply share these standards with our customers:
- We feed our cows non-GMO hay.
- We do not use GMO (Genetically Modified Organisms).
- We do not use hormone treatments.
- We do not use prophylactic antibiotics on the milking herd.
- We do not bottle milk from any source other than our own.
- We treat our cattle with dignity every day.
Our cows’ diet consists of 90% non-GMO alfalfa and 10% non-GMO barley.
A couple of key agricultural facts:
- Hay is dried pasture.
- Grain is grass seed.
- Dairy cattle are different from beef cattle and require a different diet.
Historically, pasture has been a part of a dairy cow’s diet. When pasture is cut, dried, and baled, it is called hay. When a pasture matures and is not cut, it develops seeds, or grain. As the pasture’s leaves and stems lose nutrition, the seeds (barley) gain nutritional value. High-quality dairy cows cannot thrive on green pasture alone; even the best pasture lacks the necessary nutrition for optimal milk production. Dairy cows need a concentrated diet, supplemented with hay and barley. Dairy cattle require the highest nutritional value feed, labeled “SUPREME,” which is also the most expensive.
Historically, no dairy-based culture has tried to create year-round pastures for cattle. It makes no sense with respect to cow nutrition, water usage, or energy input. Farmers have worked within natural cycles over generations, utilizing pasture when available. It is more common to harvest and store pasture hay and barley to feed cattle throughout the year. Dairy cattle must have a consistent diet every day. Cows, being discerning about food, do not like changes and cannot easily adapt to feed changes. The bacteria in their stomachs help convert feed into milk, and this beneficial bacteria thrives on a consistent diet. Changes to a dairy cow’s diet must be made gradually, usually over a minimum of two weeks. A nutritionally stressed cow can suffer from various infectious and metabolic diseases. For example, ketosis, a metabolic disease caused by inadequate nutrition during lactation, can be fatal if dextrose levels are not restored. As a fourth-generation dairy farmer, Founder Rick Anglin understands the intricate care required to raise a healthy herd.
Overall, Fond du Lac Farms as a company:
- Cares for dairy cattle 365 days a year.
- Feeds the highest quality organic hay and non-GMO barley available.
- Takes great pride in both the health of our cows and our ability to care for them.
No, our cows are not vaccinated.
Regarding antibiotics, they are used only when absolutely necessary. Antibiotics are not utilized prophylactically, as is common in many areas of the livestock industry. Over the course of a ten-year business, Founder Rick Anglin has treated two cows with antibiotics, both cases due to hoof rot, which can only be healed with Penicillin. When a cow requires treatment, she is removed from the milking herd during her recovery. She will only be reintegrated into the herd once laboratory tests confirm that all traces of antibiotics have cleared from her system and are undetectable in the milk. This is standard practice for our farm, other raw milk farms, and all dairy farms in general. As a Grade A, state-certified facility, we test every load of milk for antibiotics to ensure the highest quality and safety standards.
People Want to Know
Other Questions
To answer the burning question, yes, statistically we have a high percentage of A2 cows in our herd! However, because do not test for A2, we cannot make that claim. At Fond du Lac Farms, we milk a heritage breed of Brown Swiss cattle, who are known for having the highest percentage of naturally occurring A2 caseins. Additionally, since our inception, FDLF has used exclusively A2 sires in our breeding program. In keeping with our core value of integrity, we don’t market ourselves as exclusively A2 because we believe all raw milk from healthy cows is equally nutritious and easy to digest. The focus on A2 versus A1 often pertains more to pasteurized milk products. Lastly, if we were to test for A2, we would not slaughter healthy cows based on their A1 or A2 status. If a cow is healthy and happy, she remains on our farm for as long as possible, regardless of her milk status.
We are very proud to be a dairy comprised of 100% Brown Swiss cattle.
We are hopeful to offer cream again in the future. Currently, the demand for our milk has been high, and unfortunately, the only way we can produce cream is when we have an excess amount of milk. Since we do not standardize our milk (i.e., our butterfat content exceeds the federal mandate of 3.25%), we can only produce cream when there is excess milk. We never separate our cream from our milk as we believe you, the consumer, should be able to enjoy raw milk in its original form as intended.
Absolutely not! Fond du Lac Farms raw milk is not pasteurized, homogenized, or standardized. You know the saying, “cream always rises to the top”? Well… it’s true, quite literally! Be sure to give it a good shake with each use so that the cream is evenly dispersed.
We know it can sometimes be tricky to spot the cream line, but rest assured, it’s there. One fascinating feature of Brown Swiss milk is its delicate texture, often likened to goat’s milk due to its natural homogenization. This means the fat is evenly dispersed throughout the milk, giving it a smooth consistency. Take a look at the attached photo to see exactly what to look for in our product. If you’re still not seeing it, try letting the milk sit in an undisturbed refrigerated space for a couple of hours to set.
Founder Rick Anglin is a member of the Raw Milk Institute. Below is a comparison list between raw milk and pasteurized milk as originally outlined by the Raw Milk Institute:
| Nutrients & Immune Factors | Raw Cow’s Milk | Pasteurized Cow’s Milk |
|---|---|---|
| Anti-microbial enzymes | Active | Inhibited |
| Biodiverse Probiotics | Active | Destroyed |
| Essential Fatty Acids | Active | Damaged |
| DHA & EPA | Active | Damaged |
| Medium-Chain Fatty Acids | Active | Destroyed |
| Lactase-Producing Bacteria | Active | Destroyed |
| B-12 Binding Protein | Active | Inactive |
| Bioavailable Vitamins | Active | Inhibited |
| Bioavailable Calcium | Active | Inhibited |
| Bioavailable Phosphorus | Active | Inhibited |
| Alkaline Phosphate Enzyme | Active | Destroyed |
| Oligosaccharides | Active | Diminished |
| Lymphocytes & B-lymphocytes | Active | Inactive |
| CLA, Lactoferrin, Glutathione | Active | Inactive |
| Macrophages & Neutrophils | Active | Inactive |
| Ima/IgG Antibodies | Active | Inactive |
| Prebiotic Bifidus Factors | Active | Inactive |
| Gamma-Interferon | Active | Inactive |
| Beneficial Enzymes | Active | Inactive |
| Diverse Probiotics | Active | Destroyed |
| Lactase-Producing Bacteria | Active | Destroyed |
| Healthy Fats | Active | Damaged |
| AA, CLA, DHA, & EPA | Active | Damaged |
| Proteins | Active | Damaged |
| Bioavailable Vitamins | Active | Reduced |
| Bioavailable Calcium | Active | Inhibited |
| Bioavailable Phosphorus | Active | Inhibited |
| Ima/IgG Immunoglobins | Active | Destroyed |
Even if they are tough ones!
Happy to Answer All Your Questions
- Calories: 150
- Calories from Fat: 70
- Total Fat: 8g (12% DV)
- Saturated Fat: 5g (25% DV)
- Cholesterol: 30mg (10% DV)
- Sodium: 105mg (4% DV)
- Total Carbohydrate: 12g (4% DV)
- Sugar: 12g
- Protein: 8g
- Vitamin A: 6% DV
- Calcium: 30% DV
- Iron: 6% DV
If you live in Arizona, please use our store locator feature to find the most convenient shopping location for you.
- MONDAY: West Valley; Stores 40, 13, 46, 12, 31, 27, 6, 9, 7, and 41.
- TUESDAY: Far East Valley; Stores 14, 32, 48, 43, 37, 5, 45. Additionally, we provide products to Steadfast Farm located in Eastmark.
- WEDNESDAY: East Valley; Stores 33, 10, 34, 20, 38, 1, 15, 16. Additionally, we provide products to the Agritopia Farm Store.
- THURSDAY: Tucson; Stores 21, 11, 23, 24, 22, 47, and 42. Additionally, we provide products to Food Conspiracy and Aqua Vita.
- FRIDAY: Phoenix/Scottsdale; Stores 19, 39, 2, 29, 44, 18, 4, 17, and 8. Additionally, we provide products to Uptown Farmers Market.
- SATURDAY: Northern Arizona – This is our “tricky delivery day.” Every other week, we provide products to Flagstaff, Prescott, Sedona, Yuma, and Cottonwood on a rotating schedule. Please contact your store for specifics on the delivery schedule. Below is a comprehensive list of all the stores we consider our “northern route”: Stores 28, 36, 26, 35, and 51. Store 51 is the only northern stop that receives milk weekly instead of biweekly. Additionally, we provide products to both Honeyman locations in Prescott, Prescott Valley, Interdependence (Sedona), and Mount Hope (Cottonwood).
Unfortunately, we do not offer butter at this time. Like cream, butter requires an excess amount of milk, which is a resource we do not currently have. (Please refer to question 4 for further details).
No. We are a true family business and do not have the infrastructure or time required to support tours at our farm. We would love to one day offer tours; unfortunately, we do not currently have the manpower or time to make this possible.
We choose not to bottle in glass for several reasons. First, cleaning and sanitizing glass bottles for reuse is quite challenging, and the equipment required for washing glass bottles is very costly. Additionally, until recently, we didn’t have a delivery vehicle capable of handling the added weight of multiple glass bottles. Furthermore, riboflavin, also known as vitamin B2, is known to be compromised in milk stored in glass bottles. Riboflavin is sensitive to light, particularly ultraviolet (UV) rays. When milk in clear glass bottles is exposed to light, especially in dairy cases under bright fluorescent lighting, the UV rays can cause a breakdown of riboflavin. This degradation not only reduces the nutritional quality of the milk but can also lead to off-flavors. This concern is one of the reasons why the dairy industry shifted away from using clear glass bottles and moved towards opaque or UV-protected packaging, such as certain types of plastic or cartons, to better preserve the milk’s nutrients and flavor. By bottling in BPA-free plastic, we help ensure the purity of our product and provide a safer option for our customers without compromising nutrition.
At this time, we only bottle in half-gallons.
No. It is illegal to ship any type of fluid raw milk for consumption across state lines.
Although we cannot ship across state lines, any Arizona visitors are welcome to purchase our products. RAWMI (Raw Milk Institute) will provide you with a qualified list of raw milk producers that adhere to nationally set standards in your state.
No, we do not sell any of our ladies or their offspring.
Yes, we are active on social media. Unfortunately, over the past couple years and on multiple occasions we have had our accounts hacked. Although we love to post photos of our ladies and engage with our customers, social media is not our primary mode of communication. Our website is now our main method to communicate with our wonderful customers and provide you with timely updates. Follow us on Instagram and X @fonddulacfarms.