Frequently Asked
Questions!

Our method of making butter started in 1894 and was sold in bulk pieces of random sizes. WWII caused the need for rationing butter which forced Minerva Dairy to begin making consistent, 2-pound butter allotments, to comply with the nation’s standards. Using the hand butter-rolling technique employed by the Amish at the time, we were able to form rolls of butter to exact measurements. Likewise, Amish butter refers to a classification of butter that has 84%-85% butterfat (as opposed to commodity at 80% or European at 82%-83%). Today, we still pack our 85% butterfat butter in 2-pound rolls.

Our cows eat fresh, pasture grass resulting in their milk containing more beta-carotene. Beta-carotene is the same pigment that gives carrots and pumpkins their orange color. In the same way, it makes our butter a deeper, more golden yellow.

Making our butter in smaller batches and churning it slowly results in a thicker, creamier, and richer butter than that made in high-volume factories where speed pumps trap air in the butter. When air is trapped in the butter, it loses texture and flavor. By making ours in smaller batches and churning it slowly, we maintain that flavor and texture making a higher quality product.

Pasture-raised means that our family farms allow their dairy cows to roam and eat fresh grass in the pastures. Their cows are not confined to a barn, but are allowed to lay in the pastures and take in the fresh air whenever they like. Pasture raised is not the same as grass-fed however, as our farmers’ cows are fed a grain ration in order to sustain them as well-nourished and healthy milk producers. Pasture-raised dairy cows are healthier than grass-fed cows since feeding a dairy cow only grass results in a nutritional deficiency.

Minerva Dairy butter can be frozen for up to 24 months. To protect against freezer burn, which can alter the taste, we recommend placing the original packaging in a resealable plastic bag for additional protection.

Store our butter in its packaging to protect it from absorbing flavors from other foods. We recommend eating our butter at room temperature to fully appreciate the complex flavors and make it easier to spread. Keep a portion of your butter in a butter dish on the counter or on the dinner table, while the rest remains in the refrigerator. Then, as you use the butter at room temperature, replace with the portion that’s refrigerated. As the butter in the refrigerator nears its best-by date, relocate it to the freezer to extend its shelf-life.

No, the butter is not expired after the best-by date; however, we do recommend putting it into the freezer by that date to preserve the yummy butter for future use!

Pasture-raised cows consume more omega-3s and less omega-6s as a result of their time spent in the pasture and diet of pasture grass. This difference in their diet produces a milk that contains 62% higher proportions of omega-3s than conventional milk.

No, it’s not possible to make butter with homogenized milk.

Our milk comes from local, family-owned farms that pasture raise their cows. The cows are allowed to graze in green, grassy pastures, resulting in healthier cows producing the highest quality milk possible.

Yes! All of our butter is pasteurized.

All milk is tested for antibiotics before being received at our dairy. According to FDA standards, any milk that tests positive for antibiotics is rejected.

All six of the dairy breeds in the northern hemisphere are represented in the milk from our pasture-raised family farms. The farms have been milking for generations and raise their favorite breeds, or cross breeds, because they work best for the surrounding land and barns. At Minerva Dairy, we respect the breed selection decisions of the family farms because they know their land and capabilities better than anyone. None of the breeds have a clear majority, but listing them from most to least popular: Holstein, Jersey, Aryshire, Brown Swiss, Guernsey, and Milking Shorthorn. Just like the USA is a melting pot so is the selection of breeds from our family farms!

Our family farms understand that quality milk comes from healthy cows. For this reason, their exceptional cow care practices are centered around the cows’ health and comfort. By providing clean, dry housing conditions, proper nutrition, sanitary milking procedures and veterinary recommended health programs, our family farms are able to produce high quality, wholesome milk.

The farmers we work with own pasture-raised cows. This gives the cows a variety in their diets and allows them to make their own choices. For this reason, the cows eat a variety of forages, fresh grasses, and grains including alfalfa, timothy and clover. Likewise, these vary from farm to farm, but all  our family farms work with nutritionists that actually balance a ratio that includes necessary vitamins and minerals for the cows depending on their unique needs. This all results in a healthier herd, which ultimately produces healthier milk!

We have over 50 family farms with pasture-raised cows that align with our philosophy for humane treatment. Because we trust in their abilities to take care of their cows, the amount of grain included in each diet varies from farm to farm. However, each farm also firmly believes the pasture-raised philosophy is about the lifestyle and choice of the cow. They have access to grass and grain, as well as access to both the barn and pasture. We don’t believe it’s right to advertise 100% grass-fed when all 100% grass-fed cows have a grain supplement for nutrition purposes. Nor is it ethical for other companies to advertise grass-fed when the cows are confined in industrial facilities and never see the light of day.  Since they are transporting grass to a confined animal it weakens the term grass-fed and is misleading to consumers.

A2 protein is a very exciting field, the only breed that naturally produces it is the Guernsey. There are only a handful of Guernsey herds in Ohio, and one of them is a Minerva Dairy Farm. Because of this, only a small percentage of all our milk is from A2 cows. It will be a long time before we see A2 breeding on a large scale to eventually get the milk supply in this region to be majority A2 protein. We are, however, closely watching the evolution of A2 testing.

Minerva Dairy cows are given the freedom to choose to either lay in the barn or roam outside to eat grass in the pasture. Because the weather isn’t all sunny, the cows are provided clean, dry housing that allows them protection from poor weather, sun, rain, and cold. By allowing the cows the choice to either be inside the barn or outside in the pasture, our family farms are creating a healthier, more productive environment for their cows.

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