Barbara H. Peterson

Farm Wars

First they came for the farmers and their customers who barter in fresh, unpasteurized milk for their families, saying that it is unhealthy. Well folks, this is about to get much, much stranger. Now they are coming for the calves…

We are living in an upside-down world in which good is bad and bad is good. This is no more evident than in the fact that good, wholesome, fresh milk is said to be dangerous, while pasteurized milk with all of the beneficial qualities eradicated, is touted as healthy. This couldn’t be further from the truth. But now, this travesty is being taken one step further. Evidently, drinking fresh milk straight from the mom is supposed to be unhealthy for calves because it is unpasteurized.

Biosecurity. Calves are especially vulnerable to disease. Diseases such as Johne’s, Bovine Viral Diarrhea, Bovine Leukosis Virus, pasteurella, salmonella, E. coli and mycoplasma can be transmitted from cow to calf through unpastuerized milk. Biosecurity and disease prevention issues contribute greatly to the popularity and use of milk replacers. Merrick’s not only purchases pasteurized milk ingredients for making milk replacers, but we also include pasteurization as a key step in our manufacturing process.

http://www.merricks.com/tech_milkreplacerguide.htm

So, instead of allowing calves to suckle naturally, Merricks recommends its milk replacer as an economical and safer alternative. However, it just so happens that Merricks uses pig blood to produce its pasteurized calf milk replacer.  Yes, you heard that right – pig blood plasma is being fed to most of our dairy calves, as Merricks is a leading supplier of dairy products for the feed industry.

Animal Plasma Proteins provide a unique protein source that contains active albumin and globulin proteins such as IgG and IgM. This highly soluble, high quality protein source has an amino acid profile and nutritive value comparable to nonfat dried (skim) milk and casein. In the digestive tract, IgG has a direct effect on pathogens and may also have a direct effect on the intestinal lining, or mucosa.

Animal plasma is obtained by centrifuging whole blood into its major components, plasma and blood cells. The two main types of animal plasma are bovine (ruminant) and porcine (swine). Animal plasma of porcine origin is exclusively used in Merrick’s calf products.

http://www.merricks.com/tech_milkreplacerguide.htm

THE COMPANY

Merrick’s began selling dairy products to the feed industry in 1959. The experience and knowledge Merrick’s brought to the industry helped establish the standards by which milk and fat products are judged today. This knowledge contributes to the manufacture of our quality products. We are, as our logo states, “The Performance Leader in Baby Animal Nutrition”.

http://www.merricks.com/company.html

How long will it be before allowing animals to suckle from their mothers naturally will be outlawed, and lab-created concoctions the only “approved” feeding solution? Think about it – unpasteurized milk not healthy for the animal babies that consume it naturally from their mothers, pig blood good. Just how twisted has our society become that we accept this? As for the calves? Why, let them eat pig blood. After all, that is the “healthy” alternative.

©2012 Barbara H. Peterson

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11 Responses to “Pig Blood Safer than Fresh Milk?”

  1. five words says:

    Silly wabbit. Cow milk is for cows, Similac is for pigs and trix is for kids. Happy Trails, . . .

  2. mothman777 says:

    Merricks are just plain nasty, how could any sane person do that to baby calves? ‘Come the revolution, they will be first up against the wall’, tee hee

  3. irene says:

    Another dasterdly plot to get rid of us all. The get big or get out mentality has no transparency in the production line. It’s Just like our government..

  4. Cathy says:

    Tracy, I did not mean to imply that the calves taken from their mothers after only days on the planet are going right to slaughter as veal – what I meant to impart is that when the calves are taken, up until they are ready for slaughter, they could be fed the milk replacement, as the milk from their mothers that was intended for them will now go to human consumers.
    Anon, I agree with you regarding hand-raising the calves, because I know you are referring to doing so with love and care for the animal. What they are referring to in the article, however, is a whole ‘nother story.
    Don, you’re spot-on with regard to the use of pig blood and its correlation with Mad Cow disease. But the true madness is what these people are thinking with regard to cutting corners to make larger profits while the human race suffers all manner of illness for it. There is complete disregard for the safety of the food supply these days – all the more reason to become a vigilant and savvy shopper – choosing organic whenever possible and reading labels until our eyes cross!

  5. Sindee says:

    You know if you just let the momma eat the grass and the babies drink the milk we would ALL be healthier

  6. Abe says:

    When ever I hear “Official” and “Safety” used, I just believe the opposite these days. I’m tired of “Officials” telling me how to be “safe”! It’s a wonderment that I’ve managed to stay alive this long. Wonder if they’re having a surplus of pig blood from more and more people refusing vaccines?

  7. Janet says:

    This is the same Merrick that makes dog food I assume? Not good. I will never buy it again.

  8. Don says:

    I’m gob smacked. This article just blew me away. Feeding calves colostrum in the first 24 hours by allowing the calf to suckle straight away is hugely important to the calf’s well being. And as for pasturized replacement? With pigs blood? Correct me if I’m wrong, but part of the reason Mad Cow disease took off in the UK was because ground up offal, meat scaps and blood was mixed into animal feed and fed to stock. Now its dis-allowed. And now were going to get around it by putting pigs blood into milk? Mad Cow disease anyone?

  9. Anon says:

    I dont agree with giving milk replacer because I have not had any luck with it I had no clue about the pig blood. It is much better to give pasturized milk to the baby animals. I dont think its a bad thing to take the babies and hand raise them, especially the females. If you dont, then in my experience you will wind up with a semi wild, dangerous to be around animal. When grown, they will be too wild to milk or do much else with but be a pasture ornament. Plus there are the diseases they can get from the milk as has already been mentioned.

  10. Tracy says:

    Veal calves are usually 3-6 months old, not days. Calves are fed pasteurized milk near me due to the Johnes in the herds and other things that may be in there. If you are drinking raw milk, the farmer should test to make sure his herd is Johnes free (required by the Canada cow share group). Many people believe it causes chrones and IBS in humans due to the similarities with MAP. I test my animals, no Johnes allowed on the place (cow goat or sheep) and if my CAE positive goats are giving milk to be fed to the babies, I do pasteurize it to keep the next generation from getting it. Or just feed that milk to the butcher animals. However, using a milk replacer is just plain stupid. All my animals and kids get raw milk under normal conditions.

  11. Cathy says:

    The only reason they are touting this ridiculous abomonation is due to the fact they are stealing these calves from their mothers just days after they’re born to become veal. They have to feed them something, because they want to save the mother cow’s milk for human consumption. It’s all about greed and the bottom line. Sentient beings treated as disposable commodities…it’s unthinkably cruel.