Third generation farmer now offers raw milk

Danville, Pa. — As the raw milk trend rages on, one area farmer is joining the game — and he says the health benefits hold up.

Ross Beyer, third-generation farmer and owner of Beyer Farms, is no stranger to raw milk products. The son of a dairy farmer, Ross grew up drinking unprocessed dairy.

Today, a husband and father of two, Ross has seen the many benefits to raw milk, and is now providing the in-demand product to customers in Danville and beyond.

The milk is available for self-serve pick-up seven days a week at the farm, located at 119 Roup Road, Danville, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Although the milk is only available at the farm's location, the business has hopes to sell milk at local markets in the future.

Health benefits

Known for its potential health benefits, raw milk has recently gained popularity among individuals seeking natural and unprocessed dairy products.

Throughout history, cows produced A2 milk, but somewhere along the line, around 8,000 years ago, a genetic mutation led to cows producing A1.

"I think there's a market for it. Especially with the A2 [protein]. People are finding out they're not truly lactose intolerant. They're in an A1 deficient. Most cows carry the A1 protein we breed ours for the A2. So, if you have severe issues, digestion issues, people have been coming in drinking it, no issues at all.

"When you consume that milk, it's higher in inflammatory responses. If they say they have a milk protein allergy, it's usually because of the A1 milk," Chelsea Beyer said.

Chelsea, Ross's wife, works as the marketing and subscription manager of the farm. She also brings a background in health and a commitment to holistic well-being.

According to a 2022 study , A2A2 milk has a high protein and healthy fat content and is also higher in the amino acid leucine.

Leucine is responsible for muscle density growth, improvement of strength in older adults, decreased overall tiredness of those who consume it, assists in athlete muscle recovery, decreases inflammation and helps to balance blood sugar levels, according to the study.

Other potential benefits to raw milk include reduced symptoms of the following conditions: asthma, allergies, eczema, ear infections, fevers, and respiratory infections.

Epidemiological studies have shown a link between growing up on a farm and a reduced risk of developing allergies. A factor strongly associated with this protective effect is the consumption of raw, unpasteurized cow's milk during early childhood.

"Whether it's to animals, pollen. My kids, they don't have allergies, which I think is amazing. I grew up with allergies, allergic to cats, horses, dogs, cows, I couldn't even be in a barn. My eyes would swell up. My throat would swell up and being out here drinking milk. I've actually gotten ten times better," Chelsea said. "It's what they [cows] consume in the environment that they're in it gets transferred to the milk," she added.

No controlled studies have proven a direct link between milk consumption and reduced allergy symptoms. Similar to honey, raw milk is thought to prevent and reduce allergic reactions.

The process: Raw milk production

With 3,300 pounds of milk being shipped out every other day, and around 70 plus gallons of raw milk per week being sold to people in the community, Beyer Farms ensures a cleanly process and proper hygiene throughout their facility.

The process of producing raw milk involves several crucial steps. Close attention is given to the cleanliness of milking equipment and continuous testing of milk samples is done regularly to maintain their raw milk license and ensure quality.

"Water tests checks for E.coli and coliform and milk test checks are for PII or SPC, which is the bacteria count much more reflects your cleanliness and you're making sure your detergents and stuff for your pipelines clean and milkers are clean," Ross said.

"Then the somatic cell count which each cow carries a somatic cell basically, it's pretty much the amount of living organisms per million in each cow, the lower the better. Then pathogen test every six months checks for Campylobacter, E. coli, Listeria, deadly, natural fatal bacteria," he added.

The farm team diligently removes manure, cleans aisles, and lays down fresh bedding for each cow.

"Pasteurization came into the process because there were urban farmers who lived near the big cities, and they were very unclean because they didn't have the money to have cleaning products in order to make their cows cleaner. People were getting sick from milk because they were milking them dirty, not cleaning them off just by hand. They were shipping the milk out and people were drinking raw milk, and they were getting sick. We don't do that anymore. There's cleaning involved with sanitary wipes that kill the bacteria," Chelsea said.

Teats are thoroughly washed and checked at the farm for any signs of infection. Once the milking process begins, the milk is swiftly transported to a cooling tank, where it is carefully cooled and agitated to maintain optimal temperature.

Samples are then taken for mandatory antibiotic testing and other necessary evaluations. After passing quality checks, the milk is bottled into sterilized containers and promptly transferred to refrigeration.

With their passion, expertise, and commitment to quality, the farm aims to deliver the benefits of raw milk to the Danville community and beyond.