Thursday 24th May 2018
The benefits of organic dairy products: where the grass is always greener?
EU Organic standards and regulations state that to be certified organic, farms must only use natural substances, maintain high animal welfare and have as little environmental impact as possible. There are many other differences between non-organic and organic dairy, including an array of health benefits of organic milk and ecological advantages. So, are the advantages of organic dairy real or is organic milk just a big hullabaloo? Here at Yeo Valley, we think the grass is always greener…
1. Is organic milk healthier?
Not only is it high in protein, calcium and iodine; research suggests that organic milk contains around 50% more omega 3 fatty acids than non-organic milk. Our bodies only produce a small amount of Omega 3 fatty acids naturally, which means we need to get as much as we can from our diets to promote a healthy heart and blood circulation.

2. Always Free Range
Organic cows graze outdoors whenever conditions allow, spending on average 215 days per year at pasture: enjoying the fresh air, mingling with friends, munching on grass and sleeping under the stars – talk about being at one with nature!

3. Highest Welfare Standards
Another benefit of organic dairy is the high animal welfare standards, something we take seriously at Yeo Valley – only the best for our ladies! During chillier months, we bring our ladies indoors where they are kept in warm dry barns with plenty of space to roam around and comfy mattresses to lie on! Organic standards encourage herd health so, our girls are reared without the routine use of antibiotics.
4. Supports British Wildlife
The last 50 years have been devastating for British wildlife with now more than 10% of our species facing extinction (1). By consciously managing habitats, organic farms, like Yeo Valley, provide safe havens with research showing they are 50% more abundant in wildlife than non-organic farms. Good news for a whole host of wonderful creatures: from bees and beetles, to hedgehogs and skylarks.
5. The benefits of organic dairy are bigger than us
Organic farming has potential to help reduce climate change, by “fixing” more carbon into our soil. In fact, if all UK farmland converted to organic, it would achieve the same positive impact as taking 1 million cars off the road (2).
6. Supports British Family Farms
Organic farming creates countryside jobs, helping to keep the UK’s rural communities alive and kicking. Here at Yeo Valley, supporting British Farmers is our greatest passion, as we believe they make our landscape the beautiful and vibrant place it is today.

So, why choose organic milk?
Given all its wholesome benefits, we think it’s safe to say organic milk is not just your average white stuff! So, when it comes to choosing the milk your family splash on their morning cornflakes, stir into their afternoon brew or glug by the glass at tea time… always choose organic. It means you can be confident that your milk is always: full of key nutrients, comes from happy healthy cows and supports British family farms.
Why not give it a try? Check and see where it’s stocked – our delicious range of organic milk
References:
(1) Hayhow DB, et al (2016) ‘State of Nature 2016’ The State of Nature partnership. The State of Nature Report is available to view online.
(2) Payton, L. (2016) ‘Seven Ways to Save Our Soils’, Soil Association, p 5
glad to see a 100% British organic milk supplier.
good luck for the future
Love your kifer yoghurts,
Look forward to coming over to see you all
when this covid has gone,
Regards Linda short
We love your products and we would like to try your milk but we have never seen it for sale. Maybe you can point us in the right direction! Jane from Axminster…..
Hi Jane, We can’t find exact locations of our milk unfortunately but we do list the supermarkets that stock our milk on the product pages – https://www.yeovalley.co.uk/things-we-make/milk/semi-skimmed-milk/ We hope this is helpful. Love, Yeo x
Nourishing organic, healthy products keeps one happy, contented and gives us an uplift to realise that people in this country care for our wellbeing. Thanks for allowing this hard working welfare industry. to continue. with positive attitudes.
I wholeheartedly agree I grew up on a farm and there were 2 cows that gave the farmer and workers there daily milk mum used to make butter when she could I remember carrying the milk home in a container still warm from the cow
Buy this milk weekly.Keeps well.Thanks for your interesting site.Regards Margaret
Organic milk whenever possible
Have used it for years.
Nothing but nothing to beat it.
I love to support our farms and I like the idea of the cows graze out doors
I just think you are fabulous keep up