Amaltheia Organic Dairy

Rating
Products	Goat Cheese
Website	https://www.amaltheiadairy.com/
Market Area	MT, Online
Total Score	1050

Amaltheia Organic Dairy is a certified organic family farm that has been handcrafting organic goat cheeses for over 20 years. They utilize all of their by-products and grow organic vegetables using composted manure from the goats. Amaltheia is Real Organic Project (ROP) certified.

Amaltheia Organic Dairy products can be found at Natural Grocers, co-ops, and local and regional stores and restaurants in Montana. Cheese can also be purchased online.

This farm is certified by the Real Organic Project.

Rubric	Points	Comments and Notes
TOTAL (possible score is 1100 (plus extra credit))	1050	5-Cow Rating | Top-Rated
Transparency and Disclosure	100	Superb transparency with a history of high integrity
Brands that rate highest have a close relationship to their milk suppliers. Those that buy milk from industrial or unknown organic suppliers rate lowest. Milk Supply and Ownership Structure	100	Farmstead goat dairy producing all the milk for their cheeses
Brands that only produce organic products make the biggest investments — in time and money — in the organic systems that benefit us all. Commitment to Organic Label	100	Dedicated to organic production
Pasture management refers to how outdoor areas are managed, with top-rated brands utilizing multiple strategies to maintain high quality pasture, providing environmental and animal welfare benefits. Pasture Management	75	Excellent pasture management, exceeding standards
The grass-fed percentage category reflects diet, with top-rated brands far exceeding the minimum requirements laid out in the organic pasture rule. Grass Fed Percentage	75	Exceeds 50% DMI and has long grazing season (note: goats)
This category focuses on the sourcing of feed, supplements, and any added ingredients in the diet. The category also accounts for brands that source organic dairy from other operations. Top-rated brands produce all feed on farm or buy inputs locally. Supplemental Feed and Ingredients	100	Domestic and local sourcing
Industry standard is to immediately remove calves from their mothers and individually house them. High scores in this area show that brand suppliers use group housing or otherwise promote calf socialization. Calves	100	Goats stay with mothers 3 days, then group housed for bottle feeding
High scoring brands milk only once or twice per day, allowing maximum time for cows to be outside exhibiting natural behaviors. Times Milked Per Day	100	2x daily
Lower cull and death rates receive more points (with some exceptions), as it is one indicator of high animal welfare. Deaths & Culls	100	Very low cull/death rate
Brands that closely monitor environmental factors, including soil and water quality, native species, and wildlife, receive the most points. Brands with specific policies and programs to boost environmental sustainability also receive high points. Environmental Impacts and Stewardship	75	Close attention to environmental sustainability
Brands with specific policies and practices to support animal welfare score best. Brands may lose points in this category if they have a history of animal welfare concerns. Animal Welfare	100	Excellent animal welfare
This category is non-scoring and provided for information. Organic Certifier (Informational)		Montana Department of Agriculture
Third-party labels carried by individual brands or product lines are listed here for more information. These are not scored, but some third-party labels may receive extra credit. Add On Labels (Informational)		Real Organic Project (provides extra credit points)
Herd size refers to the number of adult cows in the milking herd. The general denotation for herd size (large, medium, and small) is based on the legal definition of “Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation”. Herd Size(s) (Informational)		Small
Brands may receive extra credit for practices and polices not reflected in the scorecard (see notes for details). Extra Credit	25	Real Organic Project
The adjustment section is where any notes and adjustments to the score are indicated, such as penalties for non-compliances. Adjustments & Notes	0	None