1.  How is the herd share with Windy Acres Dairy Farm set up?

You make a once every year payment of $35 to buy a share in the Windy Acres Dairy herd.  From that point on you actually own a share of the nine cow herd.  In addition, you pay a $35 boarding fee each month for the feeding and care of your share in the herd.  Your share entitles you to one gallon of milk each week.  Note that you may sell your herd share to a third party.  It cannot be sold back to Windy Acres Dairy Farm.  Additional milk and cream can be negotiated for each week.  Every three years the herd will need to be continually adding replacement cows to assure continuing quality milk to meet your demand of Windy Acres Dairy Farm.  Milk will be delivered to a station in Bend, and eventually Redmond.  The Dairy is located in Prineville and therefore everyone and anyone is welcome to visit their investment.  It is very important to have a herd share or cow share as it is illegal to sell raw milk in Oregon for human consumption. 

2.  Are Herd Shares legal?

Yes, they are.  It is not legal in this state to sell raw (unpasteurized) milk to the public.  However, you may use as much raw milk as you wish from your own cow.  Since you own a share in Windy Acres Dairy Herd, you may legally use the milk from your share in any way you see fit.  During the past two years or so, several cow share programs have been implemented in this state, and have been functioning well with no problems

Windy Acres Dairy Farm has consulted with its lawyer in setting up its herd share program. (You will be asked to sign a contract for your herd share at the time of its purchase.)  Also, Windy Acres Dairy Farm works with the State Department of Agriculture and has obtained its approval in setting up this herd share program.

3.  How are the cows milked at Windy Acres Dairy Farm?

The cows are milked in the dairy barn twice a day, morning and evening. Our cows are milked using a dairy parlor.  Six cows can be milked at one time.  That is, the milk is drawn from the cow's udder using a suction device and a set of tubes that empty the milk into a sealed stainless steel refrigerated container.  Since there is no exposure to air at any point, the most scrupulous level of sanitation is assured.  The system has a sanitation cycle after each milking and before each milking.

4.  Is the milk ever tested for ecoli or other bacteria?

Yes, the milk is tested.

5.  How should I handle the milk that is supplied to me?

The milk supplied will be raw--that is, it is not heat-treated or pasteurized.  It will be chilled; and you should take care that it remains so until you can get it home and into your refrigerator.  If you have some distance to drive or stops to make before you arrive home, it is imperative that you make provision with insulated containers and ice or chillers to keep the milk at refrigerator temperature until you return home.  The plan is to supply the product in unused containers (plastic milk jugs).  We will be not be reusing containers.  Please don't set raw product on table or counter for a meal, return to refrigerator without temperature change.

6.  How long will raw milk keep?

If you handle as above, the milk will easily keep a week with no change at all in quality.  Indeed, we have kept raw milk in the refrigerator for as long as fifteen days, and it was still sweet and good.  It is very good practice to date your milk as soon as it is received.

7.  What are the animals fed?

When the grass is growing the cows are grazing in the field eating it. When the winter is upon us and the grass is not growing we feed grass hay. During milking the cows eat a small amount of grain.