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Brown"s product -- natural or full-bodied milk from grass-fedJersey cows -- is flying off the shelves at the Oxford farmersmarket store and in many restaurants. People in the community thinknothing of driving up to Brown"s family farm to pick up a fewhalf-gallons of milk and a pint of cream. Other producers havenoticed his success at finding niche markets for his milk products,and they often call with questions. Brown takes their curiosity, along with his accomplishment, all instride. "I grew up on a farm, and I"ve worked soybeans, sod,hogs and beef cattle practically all my life," Brown said."By the time I was 15, I was buying beef calves and have beenworking with these animals ever since." Brown had no previous experience managing dairy cattle, but a tripto a local Oxford grocery store one night about two years agosparked an idea. "I was shopping for groceries and noticed organic milkselling for $4 per half-gallon, which was significantly higher thanregular milk," Brown said. "Despite the higher price,people were buying the organic milk like crazy." As he read the label, Brown noticed the organic milk came fromColorado. He reasoned he could do that, too. "Billy Ray Brown recognized a golden opportunity to supplyconsumers in the Oxford area with farm-fresh milk and was wiseenough to thoroughly research all aspects of getting into dairyingbefore investing in the business," said MSU Extension Servicedairy specialist Lamar Adams. Brown worked closely with local and state Extension specialists inanimal science, agricultural economics, and food science, nutritionand health promotion. "He equipped himself with knowledge from his first vision ofstarting a value-added dairy business to the first day he beganmilking cows and bottling milk on his farm," Adams said. Brown built facilities for his dairy venture and purchased fourJersey cows in July 2009. Since that time, he has tripled hisproduction by adding more cows and intensively managing pastures onhis 60-acre farm. "My Jersey cows are on grass all day and consume feed onlywhen they are being milked," Brown said. "We pasteurizeand bottle our own milk, and we do our own direct marketing. Thisis more work for us, but we can control the quality of our productand make a little more money." Each cow is milked twice a day, and the total yield per cow is 40pounds of milk. The milk is deposited into a bulk tank, pasteurizedand cooled. Brown"s wife, Paula, and their three children,Molly, 7, Sarah, 6, and Harris, 3, are a big help. Paula supervisesthe bottling and actually does much of it herself. The childrenwork on assigned chores as they assist their parents. "With 12 Jersey cows, it takes all of us to get itdone," Brown said. The Brown family uses half-gallon glass jugs, which cost them $3each to buy. Customers who return the bottles receive a discount ontheir next purchase, and many do return the bottles. "There is plenty of bottle washing that goes on everyday," Brown said. The milk bottles with red caps are whole milk and those with bluecaps are reduced fat. The family also sells pure cream by the pintand butter in 10-ounce containers. "The No. 1 thing that sells our products is that customersknow where it came from and how it was made," Brown said."We bring our customers to the farm, and they see that we dograss-based dairying. I offer tours of the farm because it is afamily-run business and has a family-based atmosphere." Word has spread about Brown"s milk. As a result, he drives tothe square in Hernando every Saturday to sell his natural milk toregular customers there. "My customers like buying locally, and they like keepingtheir money in the community," Brown said."Today"s health-conscious consumers want to buy milkthat is produced and processed close to where they live. I amliving the dream of supplying these customers with a product thatthey want, and I am thankful to Extension for helping me find theright way to succeed." -30- Released: June 24, 2010 Contact: Lamar Adams, (662) 325-2852 Publications may download image at 200 ppi. I am an expert from turbinewheel.com, while we provides the quality product, such as Turbo Piston Ring Manufacturer , Compressor housing Manufacturer, Repair kits,and more.
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