Hay milk: 5 reasons why it is better for the consumer
Is there hay in hay milk? Quite a few have already asked themselves this question. However, the term hay milk refers to the diet of the dairy cows - they only eat fresh grass and herbs in summer and hay in winter. Silage (fodder preserved by fermentation) is prohibited. The term Heumilch has been protected throughout the EU since 2018. But why is this milk better?
#1: More healthy fats
Several studies, including one from the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, have confirmed that hay milk contains about twice as much omega-3 fatty acids and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) as conventional milk. Various reports from Switzerland, Finland, and Germany have concluded that the omega-3 fatty acid content increases with the amount of green forage, while it decreases with larger amounts of corn silage and concentrated feed. The same applies to conjugated linoleic acid. Omega-3 fatty acids are particularly protective against cardiovascular disease, while CLA protects against cancer and improves cholesterol levels.
#2: No additives
The avoidance of silage has a special advantage, especially for cheese making. Heumilchkäse can be produced without preservatives, without additives and without intensive mechanical treatment. The reason for this: the silo-free hay milk has a low content of undesirable germs such as spores or listeria. The consumer thus receives a natural food. A high-quality raw material is essential, especially for longer-ripened cheeses. Therefore, hay milk is the first choice of cheese masters.
#3: Guaranteed non-GMO
Hay milk must be GMO-free. All WOERLE hay milk cheese specialties are also guaranteed to be non-GMO. Genetically modified foods could pose health risks and trigger allergies.
#4: Animal welfare
Healthy cows are the basis for high-quality milk. Hay milk farmers ensure that the cows go outside regularly and ensure that the animals have enough space in the barn and contact with their fellow cows. The climate balance of the milk also improves if cows mainly eat fresh grass and hay and no soybean meal from overseas.
#5: Better taste
And finally, hay milk has an incomparable taste. The abundance of plants on the meadows of our hay milk farmers is reflected in the quality of the milk and leads to a more intense aroma. And you can taste that in our WOERLE hay milk cheese specialties.
