Download MSU Vet Educates Mothers on Dairy Safety By: Simon Zagata In the

MSU Vet Educates Mothers on Dairy Safety
By: Simon Zagata
In the public eye, dairy products and farming in general have begun to garner a negative
connotation. Worries about how dairy can affect public health are at the forefront of the issue,
but that is not the only concern. Anxiety over animal health, including the humane treatment of
dairy herds, is another reason so much noise is being made. To better understand the issue, I sat
down with Michigan State University’s assistant professor Dr. Jennifer Roberts, DVM, who has
set out to spread knowledge about what really goes on in the dairy production process. To do
that, she has started with the “Mommy Blogger”.
Mommy Bloggers are a relatively new breed, combining the skills needed to be an
internet writer with the knowledge and experience of a mother. Like any blogger, they write on a
plethora of topics, ranging from sports and welding, to childcare, and of course, the dairy
industry. No matter what the topic, the focus almost always goes back to one thing: how it will
affect the author’s children. This is especially true when speaking of the dairy industry, which
produces products that most children consume frequently. Parents are worried about hormones,
the pasteurization process, and animal cruelty.
So, to put their minds at ease, Dr. Roberts, sponsored by the Michigan Agricultural
Council, took a group of bloggers through the milk production process, to show what really
happens to milk, from cow to shelf. “We started at a dairy farm, where they got to see the
milking parlor, free-stall barn, and calves. They got to see how well the animals are cared for,
and speak with the owner of the farm,” said Roberts.
The myth that animals on dairy farms are treated poorly is surprisingly common. On that topic,
Dr. Roberts commented, “The farms that I’ve worked with do everything they can to ensure that
the animals are well-cared for and healthy. They contact the vet and work closely with them to
keep the animal healthy. Farmers are genuinely concerned with the well-being of animals… I’ve
been all over the country and am comfortable saying that that’s the standard all over the
country.”
As for the milk, much of the controversy is whether raw milk is healthier than milk that is
pasteurized and homogenized, so that part of the process was seen as well. “They were reading a
lot of things about raw milk, and weren’t sure about that information and why people would
choose to drink raw milk over pasteurized milk,” said Roberts. She continued, “After seeing the
process, they were saying that they didn’t see how pasteurization was a bad thing.”
If any mothers are skeptical about Roberts being biased towards the industry she works in, they
need not worry, as she is a mother herself. “I’m a mom, I have two young children. They drink
milk, eat cheese, yogurt, cottage cheese, and of course ice cream,” she laughs. “I would
recommend that you buy any dairy product that is labeled as homogenized and pasteurized from
any reputable retailer. Dairy is an important part of any child’s diet.”
Even though the tour was a success, everyone involved with the dairy industry knows that
education does not stop there. “Our goal as an industry is that by getting these small groups to
see the process they can help dispel the myths. There are more people who follow blogs than
who read newspapers, so we can get the word out through these women by having them blog on
it.” Roberts hopes to continue doing the tours, educating the public on how safe an important part
of Michigan and U.S. agriculture truly is.
Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine is a world-renowned, accredited
institute of veterinary education. The College continuously provides diverse academic
opportunities to cultivate great scholars and better people. Advancing the art and science of
veterinary medicine every day, MSU CVM is aided by research and is available to the public for
the advancement of human and animal health. With more than 100 years of teaching excellence,
CVM continues to prepare leaders, life-savers, and world changers to meet the challenges of
Michigan, the nation, and the world.
10/22/12