Working Cows Dairy
| Rating |  |
| Farm/Brand Headquarters | Slocomb, AL |
| Products | Butter, cream, fluid milk, vat pasteurized, grassfed |
| Website | www.workingcowsdairy.com |
| Market Area | AL |
| Total Score | 1610 |
Working Cows Dairy has tested a significant percentage of their cows for A2 milk but does not have a 100% A2 milk herd. They vat pasteurize their products (at a low temperature).
They write: “In 1985, we, Jan and Rinske de Jong, came to the land of opportunity with a dream to start a dairy of our own. We started “Working Cows Dairy” in October 1985. We milked 180 cows for a dairy farmer in Cottondale Florida and for that we could use his barn and 40 acres. We leased 55 cows, with the $5,000 we had saved in Holland, and started milking about 20 hours a day. In the spring of 1986 Jan planted watermelons on part of the land and had a fruit stand on Hwy 231. We stayed on this place for 2 years and left with 29 cows to a rented place in Grand-Ridge Florida. There we had three boys Jonny, Mendy, and Ike. We worked our way up from 29 cows to 220 cows four years later. We moved again to the place we are now located in June 1991.
We do not homogenize our milk so the cream still comes to the top. We sell Whole, 2%, 1%, and Fat Free all in gallons and half gallons. We have half gallons of cream and chocolate milk too. Please visit our website for more information on our family farm.”
| Criteria | Points | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| TOTAL (possible score is 1600 plus extra credit) | 1610 | 5-Cow Rating | Top-Rated—Beyond Organic |
| Ownership structure | 100 | Family farm |
| Milk Supply | 100 | Single farm |
| Organic Production | 100 | Brand only markets organic dairy products |
| Disclosure of Information for Verification | 100 | Full disclosure |
| Organic Certification | 75 | California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF) |
| Other Labels/Standards | 100 | Animal Welfare Approved & American Grassfed Cert. |
| Grass-fed | 100 | 100% grassfed, certified by AGA |
| Soy Free Ration? | Yes | |
| Pasture | 100 | Excellent pasture compliance |
| Times Milked | 90 | Two times a day (standard protocol on legitimate organic dairies) |
| Cull/death Rate | 90 | Low cull rate |
| Replacements | 100 | Closed herd |
| Calves | 80 | Calves kept with mothers or nurse cows for at least 12 weeks |
| Antibiotic Use | 100 | No antibiotic use |
| Hormone Usage | 100 | No hormones used |
| Farm Support | 100 | Single farm |
| Procurement of Ingredients | 100 | No outside ingredients used |
| Extra Credit | 75 | OSP submitted, very transparent |