Absolutely! We do not use any additives of any kind. Our cows eat only grass from our certified organic pastures, with the occasional treat of organic comfrey or alfalfa pellets in the milking parlour

There are around 7,500 dairies in the UK and less than 1% of these are cow-calf dairies. A cow-with-calf dairy keeps the cows and calves together and is a movement inspired by Fiona* of The Calf At Foot Dairy (the original cow-calf contact micro dairy) and championed by Christine from Smiling Tree Farm

Here at The Rare Dairy, our cows and calves stay together, forming a life long bond. It’s truly a joy and privilege to witness the intergenerational interactions between family members within our little herd 🙂

*Fiona has kindly endorsed our dairy, giving us the permission to call ourselves a calf-at-foot dairy, currently one of only three in the UK and the only one that is certified organic with rare breed Shetland cows…we really are a rare dairy!

We are certified organic by the Soil Association, the organic certifying body with the most rigorous standards in the UK

Organic is an agroecological and regenerative way of farming that offers many benefits. By opting for organic you’re supporting a way of farming that’s:

– better for the planet – no artificial fertilisers, healthier soils that store more carbon…and zero pesticides or herbicides here at The Rare Dairy

– has higher animal welfare standards – organic farming has the highest animal welfare standards of any international farming system; this means truly-free range animals, encouraged to forage, graze and roam, with plenty of space, fresh air and conditions that allow them to express their natural behaviours. Smaller herds and more access to the outdoors means organic animals don’t have to be routinely treated with antibiotics and wormers

– better for wildlife – organic farms are havens for wildlife and provide homes for bees, birds and butterflies. On average, plant, insect and bird life is 50% more abundant on organic farms, and there are around 75% more wild bees on organic farms, compared to industrial farms

– better for people – organic means fewer pesticides – we actually use zero pesticides, herbicides or antibiotics at The Rare Dairy. A study published in the British Journal of Nutrition in 2014 showed that organic milk and meat contain around 50% more beneficial omega-3 fatty acids than non-organic. These nutritional differences also apply to organic dairy like butter, cream, cheese and yogurt. The difference in Omega 3 is a result of organic animals eating a more natural, grass-based diet. Organic meat had lower concentrations of two saturated fats, and organic milk and dairy were found to contain higher concentrations of iron, Vitamin E and some carotenoids. In addition, organic fruit and veg were found to have up to 68% more antioxidants than non-organic

Raw milk is milk that has not been processed in any way. Our milk is simply passed through a paper filter straight into glass bottles, cooled and then placed in the fridge, ready for you to drink!

Raw milk has not been pasteurised, homogenised or standardised*, giving you milk with a wonderful creamy layer. Nothing is added or taken away, it’s purely milk as nature intended

*Pasteurised milk is milk that has been heat treated. Homogenisation breaks the fat globules apart under high pressure and standardisation alters the original fat content of the milk to a ‘standard’ % either by skimming or adding cream

Kefir is a fermented milk drink that is highly nutritious and contains live probiotics (bacteria and yeast), which consume the natural sugars (lactose) within the milk

Kefir has a tart and tangy flavor and a consistency similar to drinkable yogurt. Due to the fermentation process, kefir may taste slightly carbonated. This happens because the microbes produce gases as they digest the sugars in the milk

Our organic kefir really is unique. It’s made fresh every morning, with warm milk from our certified organic rare breed Shetland cow-calf microdairy, and organic kefir grains

Kefir grains aren’t actually grains but a symbiotic community of bacteria and yeasts that look a bit like cauliflower florets when they’re really happy (stressed grains are much smaller). They ferment milk into kefir, which is packed with probiotics that can help support a healthy microbiome, which in turn supports better immunity, gut and skin health

Fermented milks such as kefir contain very little lactose (the bacteria convert the lactose to lactic acid), so may be better tolerated by people with lactose intolerance

We deliver within a 3 mile radius of the farm, on a Thursday and Friday – please contact us if you’d like to be added to our current delivery route or waiting list

You are welcome to collect milk from the farm but please contact us first to check we have any left, as we sell out quickly!

We have looked at lots of options but unfortunately haven’t yet found a sustainable way to send milk out in the post

We have contacted a supplier of paper & bamboo bottles and are waiting for their bottles to pass food safety tests. If you’d like to be added to our waiting list for postal milk, please send us a message and we’ll contact you once we’ve found a solution

We refuse to be a part of the plastic waste problem and will never use plastic bottles

We love sharing our little herd with our customers when they collect their milk – let us know when you’d like to collect milk and we’ll introduce you to the cows & calves 🙂

You can order via the website or just text 07794440075 with your order and we’ll organise the rest

You can pay via the website or with cash or by card if you collect directly from the farm

For regular orders we are happy to invoice at the end of the month and accept payment by BACS

We currently don’t keep pasteurised milk in stock but can pasteurise to order – just contact us at hello@the-rare.co.uk to place your order