Organic milk is raised based on the organic farming methods but, regular Milk is raised based on the conventional methods. These are two types of cow's milk chiefly available in the market. In general, cow's milk is rich in proteins like casein and whey, fat, vitamin D and B12, and minerals like calcium and potassium. Organic milk is safe over the regular milk due to many reasons.

What is Organic Milk? 

Organic milk is taken from the cows raised based on the organic farming methods. In these special farming methods, the cows are allowed to graze the natural grass, which is also grown based on the organic methods without using any chemical fertilizers and pesticides. It is a must in organic farming methods to come about 30% of the cow's diet through this type of grass. The rest of the diet can be from organically-certified fodder or forage. On the other hand, farmers are aware of giving any antibiotics, certain medicines, and growth hormones to the cows.  

Due to these strict guidelines, fewer farmers choose to produce organic milk, which makes it somewhat rare in the market. Therefore, in order to increase the shelf life, organic milk is pasteurized to high temperature (up to 280 °F).

Although it adds a sweeter taste to the milk, it is believed that some of the nutrients are going to be destroyed during the process.  

Pros 

• Comes along with the Organic Certification 

• Raised by organic farming methods 

• Safe due to the absence of growth hormones, medicines or antibiotics in the milk 

• Contains a healthy ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids due to the higher amount of omega-3 fatty acids 

• Rich in conjugated linoleic acid, vitamin E, beta-carotene, and selenium 

• Loner shelf-life  

• Sweeter taste 

Cons 

• Rare 

• High-temperature pasteurization can destroy the nutritional value 

What is Regular Milk? 

Regular milk is taken from the cows raised based on the conventional farming methods. These cows live inside barns but, not in the natural environment. Also, they are fed with corn, soy, alfalfa, and grains that are grown by conventional methods using chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Hence, these cows are not allowed to graze the grass. Here, the diet rich in corn and soy tends to increase the amount of omega-6 fatty acids in the milk. This brings the ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids in milk high, making it unhealthy. Unhealthy ratios of it can increase the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and cancer.  

On the other hand, farmers use recombinant hormones like bovine growth hormone (rBGH/BGH) and bovine somatotropin (rBST) to the cows along with some medicines and antibiotics to accelerate the growth and the production of milk.  

Pros 

• Not rare 

• Retaining the nutritional value of the milk due to low-temperature pasteurization 

Cons 

• Does not come along with the Organic Certification 

• Raised by conventional farming methods 

• Not safe due to the presence of growth hormones, medicines, and antibiotics in the milk 

• Contain higher amounts of omega-6 fatty acids 

• Presence of an unhealthy ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids 

• Contain lesser amounts of conjugated linoleic acid 

• Shorter shelf life 

Summary 

Organic milk is safer than the regular milk mainly due to the absence of growth hormones, medicines, and antibiotics in the milk. It is raised from the organic farming methods. In the meanwhile, regular milk is raised based on the conventional methods, leading the unhealthy components to concentrate in the milk. Therefore, organic milk has health benefits over the regular milk.

laknapanawala

A Molecular Biologist and a Professional Science Writer, also interested in Nature-Related Things

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