We have been hacked. Or whacked.

[foragefarmer]

This may be the reason our cheese tastes better, who knows

"Well, Health Canada states that rBST is a synthetic version of a naturally occurring growth hormone. It is approved for use in the USA to increase the production of milk in dairy cattle, but is illegal in Canada. ... It's the total number of cells per milliliter in milk."

Those hormones are probably a good explanation as to why SKS constantly moans and whines how tough he has it, even when he's in Florida!

[LEP]

This may be the reason our cheese tastes better, who knows

"Well, Health Canada states that rBST is a synthetic version of a naturally occurring growth hormone. It is approved for use in the USA to increase the production of milk in dairy cattle, but is illegal in Canada. ... It's the total number of cells per milliliter in milk."

Those hormones are probably a good explanation as to why SKS constantly moans and whines how tough he has it, even when he's in Florida!

Forage, I read an article where they interviewed a Wisconsin Dairy farmer. In the article he said very few use bovine somatotropin. So I don't think it's as widespread as you think.

[foragefarmer]

"Forage, I read an article where they interviewed a Wisconsin Dairy farmer. In the article he said very few use bovine somatotropin. So I don't think it's as widespread as you think.

Ok, you've convinced me, if one dairy farmer from Wisconsin is saying very few use the hormone it's got to be true for the entire USA.

Just like some Western Canada farmers state they don't use Glyphosate that would make it true as
well.

[grassfarmer]

Forage, I read an article where they interviewed a Wisconsin Dairy farmer. In the article he said very few use bovine somatotropin. So I don't think it's as widespread as you think.

Statistically the number of dairy farms using it is small - under 20%, however it's the big operations that are using it and it's said that 50% of over 250 cow dairies are using it. There was a consumer backlash against it so some of the dairy co-ops will not buy BST produced milk at all and generally there is a two tier pricing system for bulk milk leaving the farm and at retail level to reflect this customer buying preference. For the guys that like to compare US to Canadian milk prices to argue against supply management the milk prices that are cheaper in the US than here are for the discounted BST produced product.

No one is seriously arguing there is a taste difference - it's really an animal welfare issue with the serious health consequences BST inflicts on the animals. Maybe the Canadians just make better cheese?

[AlbertaFarmer5]

Statistically the number of dairy farms using it is small - under 20%, however it's the big operations that are using it and it's said that 50% of over 250 cow dairies are using it. There was a consumer backlash against it so some of the dairy co-ops will not buy BST produced milk at all and generally there is a two tier pricing system for bulk milk leaving the farm and at retail level to reflect this customer buying preference. For the guys that like to compare US to Canadian milk prices to argue against supply management the milk prices that are cheaper in the US than here are for the discounted BST produced product.

No one is seriously arguing there is a taste difference - it's really an animal welfare issue with the serious health consequences BST inflicts on the animals. Maybe the Canadians just make better cheese?

There has been lots of research proving that when an identical product (especially well studied are generic vs. brand name drugs) is more expensive, it is perceived to be more effective/tasty etc. When we pay such exhorbitant prices for cheese, I'm sure we must subconciously be convincing ourselves that it is justified by a superior taste.