Amaltheia Organic Dairy

Rating
Farm/Brand HeadquartersBozeman, MT
ProductsCheese (goat)
Websitewww.amaltheiadairy.com
Market AreaMT, Web Sales
Total Score1445
CriteriaPointsComment
TOTAL (possible score is 1600 plus extra credit) 1445
5-Cow Rating | Top-Rated
Farmstead dairies earn the most points. Corporations that have a history of skirting the organic rules receive the fewest.
Ownership structure
100Farmstead dairy
Farms that produce 100% of their milk receive the most points. Milk from "open market" or known confinement dairies receive the fewest.
Milk Supply
100Single farm
100% organic farms receive the most points. Split operations with conventional dairy on the same property receive the fewest.
Organic Production
100Brand only markets organic
Farms that completed the survey in detail received the most points.
Disclosure of Information for Verification
100Full transparency
Points determined by integrity of the brand’s organic certifier.
Organic Certification
100Montana Department of Agriculture
Animal Welfare Approved and Biodynamic certifications receive the most bonus points. Producers are not penalized for not having additional certifications beyond organic.
Other Labels/Standards
0None. Farm received EcoStar award three times for sustainability and environmental efforts
100% grass-fed with independent verification of standards
Grass-fed
45Meets minimum USDA percent intake requirements
No points are given for this but the information may be useful to certain consumers looking to avoid soy.
Soy Free Ration?
Yes, no soy in feed ration
Sliding scale based on policies, enforcement, acreage/cow, days/year on pasture, and permissible exemption.
Pasture
70Good pasture compliance
One time/day receives the most points. Two times per day is standard.
Times Milked
90Two times a day (standard organic protocol)
Lower cull rate scores better, with under 10% receiving the most points.
Cull/death Rate
100Low cull/death rate
Farms with closed herds receive the most points. Farms that sell organic calves and buy conventional replacements receive the fewest.
Replacements
100Closed herd
Kids80Doelings stay with their mothers for three days
Farms that prohibit antibiotics receive the most points. Farms that allow young stock to receive antibiotics (under one year), receive the fewest.
Antibiotic Use
100No antibiotic use
No hormones is the standard, however some farms do use oxytocin for therapeutic purposes.
Hormone Usage
100No hormones used
Farmstead dairies (owner lives on-site) receive the most points. Fewer points are given as oversight declines.
Farm Support
100Daily interaction
All ingredients sourced from inside the organization or on the farm receives the highest points. Ingredients from confinement factory farms and/or imported ingredients receive the fewest.
Procurement of Ingredients
100No outside ingredients used
Various levels of extra credit given for 1) providing full organic systems plan, 2) providing details on all farms (multi-farm brands, details on largest five required), and 3) sourcing feed on-farm or domestically.
Extra Credit
60This goat dairy gets all of their feed from domestic sources, and grows some of their own grain and hay