Difference Between Organic Milk and Regular Milk

The main difference between organic milk and regular milk is that the organic milk refers to a number of milk products from livestock raised according to organic farming methods while the regular milk refers to milk products from livestock raised according to conventional methods. 

Organic milk and regular milk are two types of cow’s milk that are available in the market.  Furthermore, cows that provide organic milk should not be treated with antibiotics and growth hormones. 

Key Areas Covered 

1. What is Organic Milk
     – Definition, Feeding the Cows, Pros and Cons
2. What is Regular Milk
     – Definition, Feeding the Cows, Pros and Cons
3. What are the Similarities Between Organic Milk and Regular Milk
     – Outline of Common Features
4. What is the Difference Between Organic Milk and Regular Milk
     – Comparison of Key Differences

Key Terms

Antibiotics, Conventional Milk, Growth Hormones, Omega-6 to Omega-3, Organic Farming, Organic Milk, Regular Milk

What is Organic Milk 

Organic milk is obtained from cows raised on organic farming methods. This means cows have to be allowed to graze and be fed with organically certified fodder and forage. 30% of the cows’ total diet should come from grass grown without the use of pesticides or commercial fertilizers. Also, the cows should not be treated with antibiotics and hormones. Some of the medications are not allowed as well.

Figure 1: A Grazing Milk Cow

Since fewer farms produce organic milk, it is not readily available. Therefore, organic milk has to be preserved in such a way to have a longer shelf life. On that account, organic milk is pasteurized at very high temperatures (around 280 ˚F). High-temperature sterilization may increase the sweet taste of the milk. However, high-temperature can reduce the nutritional value of the product. 

What is Regular Milk 

Regular milk is obtained from cows that are not raised according to organic farming methods. So, regular milk is also called conventional milk. Therefore, cows live inside barns, eating non-organic feed such as corn, grain, soy, alfalfa, etc. Corn and soy increase the omega-6 fatty acids in the milk, producing an unbalanced omega-6 to omega-3 ratio. This may increase the risk of diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. The healthy omega-6 to omega-3 ratio should be 2:1 or 3:1. Also, regular milk may have fewer amounts of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) when compared to organic milk. Also, the two products, recombinant bovine growth hormone (rBGH/BGH) and recombinant bovine somatotropin (rBST), and antibiotics may be given to cows in order to maintain their health. Thus, regular milk may also contain these substances.

Figure 2: A Glass of Milk

However, regular milk is heated to a lower temperature (160˚F) than organic milk during pasteurization. This helps to retain most of the valuable nutrients in milk than in organic milk. 

Similarities Between Organic Milk and Regular Milk 

• Organic milk and regular milk are two types of cow’s milk available in the market. 
• They are secreted by the mammary glands of the cow. 
• They serve as nutrition sources that are rich in proteins, fat, vitamin D, B12 and minerals like calcium and potassium. 
• Both types of milk production are environment-friendly as both results in low greenhouse gas emission. 

Difference Between Organic Milk and Regular Milk 

Definition 

Organic milk refers to a number of milk products from livestock raised according to organic farming methods while regular milk refers to the milk products from livestock raised according to conventional methods. 

Omega-6 to Omega-3 Fatty Acids  

Organic milk has a healthier ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids while regular milk has a less healthy ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids. Furthermore, regular milk has a higher omega-6 fatty acid content while organic milk has a higher omega-3 fatty acid content. 

Other Nutrients 

Organic milk is rich in conjugated linoleic acid, vitamin E, selenium, and beta-carotene when compared to regular milk.  

Antibiotics and Growth Hormones 

Antibiotics and growth hormones are not given to the cows that provide organic milk while antibiotics and growth hormones may be given to the cows that provide regular milk. 

Preservation 

Organic milk is pasteurized by heating to 280 ˚F for 2-4 seconds in a process called ultra-high temperature (UHT) processing while regular milk is pasteurized by heating to roughly 160 ˚F (71 ˚C) for at least 15 seconds using the standard method. 

Shelf Life 

Organic milk has a longer shelf life while regular milk has a shorter shelf life when compared to the organic milk. 

Productivity 

A lesser number of farms produce organic milk while most farms produce regular milk. 

Organic Certification

Organic milk comes with the Organic certification while regular milk does not come with the Organic certification. 

Conclusion 

Organic milk is obtained from cows raised by organic farming methods, allowing to feed on some amounts of grass. On the other hand, regular milk is obtained from the cows raised inside farms that are fed with non-organic diet. Thus, organic milk does not contain harmful substances when compared to regular milk. The main difference between organic milk and regular milk is the farming practice. 

Reference:

1. “Types of Milk: Including Whole, Low-Fat, Skim, Fat-Free, Organic, and RBST-Free.” HealthyEating.org, DIARY COUNCIL of CALIFORNIA, Available Here

Image Courtesy:

1. “happy-cows-beef-milk-cow-cows-263766” (CC0) via pixbay
2. “1029493” (CC0) via pxhere