Wisconsin's big dairy farms produce cleaner milk than their smaller counterparts, according to a UW-Madison study published in August.
In a state with a proud history of family-owned dairy farms and an increasingly popular movement emphasizing the advantages of buying local, it is no surprise the results have raised questions.
Former Food Science Professor Steven Ingham, who led the study, explained he was first drawn to the project because he wanted to test the validity of the small-is-better attitude within the dairy industry.
Not funded by any outside sources, the study was published in the August issue of the Journal of Dairy Science.
Ingham tested the bacterial count and somatic cell count of milk. Lower bacteria counts demonstrated the milk was clean or appropriately chilled. Low somatic cell count indicated the herd of cows was healthy and well managed.
Although the large dairies beat the small dairies on both criteria, Ingham was quick to note that all Wisconsin milk is safe to drink regardless of the size of the operation.
For those simply concerned about quality milk, the only difference is milk from larger dairies will have a longer shelf life than milk from smaller dairies, Ingham explained.
""For a consumer, milk from a commercial dairy in Wisconsin meets Grade A standards. Of course, we buy pasteurized milk, so safety is assured,"" Ingham said.
Peggy Armstrong of the International Dairy Foods Association, an organization that represents all different sizes of dairy farms, agreed.
""Regardless of the size of the farm or the dairy foods plant, the U.S. dairy industry is committed to providing high quality products that are among the safest in the world,"" Armstrong said.
Regardless, the study raised interesting questions about independent vs. large-scale food debate.
Communications Coordinator Victoria Rumble of Slow Food UW, an organization that promotes sustainable eating, agrees the study does not take into account other factors that really set small farms apart from big ones.
""Small farm advocates point out the environmental, economic, and social benefits of smaller-scale production,"" Rumble said. ""This study actually proves that small farms have highly sanitary milk, but fails to recognize the shortcomings of the larger milk farm's quality in regards to nutrient levels and taste.""
Ingham agrees there are other factors to consider.
""There are a lot of other things that people care about. If you're concerned about environmental concerns, you look at farms differently,"" Ingham said. ""If you're concerned about families staying in business, you might look at it differently.""
