Why is Canadian milk so expensive?

[Mars2012]

Lulz. No family I assume. I have 2 small kids and we go through 12 litres a week some weeks. I really do not want to know what the teen years will bring.

You have every reason to be scared. I have three teenagers, we go through at least one four liter jug a day. I know milk has its share of controversies, but I'll keep putting it on the dinner table. Knock on wood, but none of the children have ever broken a bone. I attribute some of that to having strong bones. Children who drink nothing but pop are not doing their future selves any favours, imo.

[eiad77]

Health Canada's recommended daily allowance of calcium for teenagers is 1300 mg. One glass of milk contains about 300 mg of calcium. So basically, 1 litre of milk per teenage kid per day is perfectly within the government's recommendation.

You can get calcium from sources other than milk.

[laihama]

You can get calcium from sources other than milk.

Exactly where did I say that milk is the only source of calcium?

I was responding to 2 others who were saying that 1 litre of milk per day is too much milk. My response was to show that it's reasonable. You can get a surplus of calcium from other sources if you want.

[TH3R]

I really don't understand how/why people think milk is expensive. Think about what you're getting. Not only do farmers need land and shelter for these cows, they need to take care of them, feed them, milk them, and then pasteurize the milk. I'm sure there's more steps than that, but COME ON!!! All this, and you guys are complaining about paying about $1 per liter? C'mon man...

How much do people pay for soda pop, which is unquestionably bad for you? And all those "energy" drinks? Like what, $2 for 250ml at it's cheapest? Which is equivalent to $8 per liter. How much profit is in these energy drinks? Why do you think Red Bull is so rich, they have their own F1 racing team?!

I'm not going to debate whether cow's milk is good for you or not (that's for the reader to decide), but I will debate those who feel milk is overpriced. I'm not a rich person by any means, but I have no problems paying for milk, or the organic milk that I choose to buy.

[death_hawk]

To me anyway, Milk isn't expensive it's the byproducts of milk that are.

Ice Cream is the biggest one. When Frozen Dessert ends up being $6 per <2L there's something wrong.
Cheese isn't horrible.
Butter is TERRIBLE. I can't even get good butter in Canada, at least not without paying $20/lb.

Funny thing is... Water is like $5/L depending on where you buy it. More if it's at an airport.

[time space]

As for Canadian butter... it's inedible compared to European butter.

Butter is TERRIBLE. I can't even get good butter in Canada, at least not without paying $20/lb.

Okay, okay - I think many of us are aware that there are plenty of European butters that are to die for, but I disagree that that means Canadian butter is "inedible" or "TERRIBLE"...

Canadian milk and butter are much better tasting and better to cook with/bake with than USA.

...it's really all just a great continuum...

[packardbell]

quebecer pay more for milk than ontarians.
but so called fresh milk in costs more.
you can try alternatives like soy some member mentioned.

[Mars2012]

Okay, okay - I think many of us are aware that there are plenty of European butters that are to die for, but I disagree that that means Canadian butter is "inedible" or "TERRIBLE"...

There is nothing at all wrong with Canadian butter. I use it exclusively for baking and (some) cooking...it's certainly better than that Parkay/Imperial crap. Now, if artisan butter were in any way affordable, I'm sure I could get used to eating it, but it's 2-3 times the price, so no thanks.

[candeal]

Canadian dairy comes from GRAIN fed cows. That's why Canadian butter is so pale. Often Canadian butter will include colour just to hide the near white colour otherwise. I just spent time in the UK (England, Scotland) and France. Dairy (milk, cream, butter, cheese, etc) is less than 1/2 the Canadian price and fantastic. Golden yellow butter from cows that eat GRASS, full of beta carotene, vitamin K, etc. European Organic dairy is less than 1/2 price of regular Canadian dairy, with no BST etc. Yes, Canadian dairy also has no BST, but it is easy to buy organic, grass fed, BST free dairy in the US for 1/2 of regular Canadian dairy.

Just ask your local dairy or 4H kids, grass while the cows are young (6 months or so), then onto GRAIN as soon as they can tolerate it. Makes the most mediocre dairy.

Next time you're in the US try a stick of Kerry Gold butter (Irish). Cheapest is Trader Joe's. I seriously don't buy Canadian butter if I can avoid it, I stock on Kerry Gold in the US.

I've searched and haven't been able to find grass fed butter in Canada. Maybe somewhere in Quebec but not available in BC.

[jayt90]

Canadian dairy comes from GRAIN fed cows. That's why Canadian butter is so pale. Often Canadian butter will include colour just to hide the near white colour otherwise. I just spent time in the UK (England, Scotland) and France. Dairy (milk, cream, butter, cheese, etc) is less than 1/2 the Canadian price and fantastic. Golden yellow butter from cows that eat GRASS, full of beta carotene, vitamin K, etc. European Organic dairy is less than 1/2 price of regular Canadian dairy, with no BST etc. Yes, Canadian dairy also has no BST, but it is easy to buy organic, grass fed, BST free dairy in the US for 1/2 of regular Canadian dairy.

Just ask your local dairy or 4H kids, grass while the cows are young (6 months or so), then onto GRAIN as soon as they can tolerate it. Makes the most mediocre dairy.

Next time you're in the US try a stick of Kerry Gold butter (Irish). Cheapest is Trader Joe's. I seriously don't buy Canadian butter if I can avoid it, I stock on Kerry Gold in the US.

I've searched and haven't been able to find grass fed butter in Canada. Maybe somewhere in Quebec but not available in BC.

As I travel through Ontario, I see a lot of dairy herds on pasture, and a lot of hay being cut and baled for winter feed. In B.C. this may not be practical.
One co-operative, Organic Meadow encourages grass fed dairy, and is lobbying against GMO alfalfa. While reading their farmer profiles, ( http://organicmeadow.com/who_we_are/...peeters_family ) it seems that most feed hay in winter and totally grass in summer. I have sent in a request to confirm this.
Organic Meadow butter is expensive, but I'll try it as it is likely to be grass fed at this time of year.

[scoobydoo]

Maybe they need to boil it longer.

Ironically, humans are the only animals to drink another animals milk after a certain growing age.

[nauru]

That's what I've read too. Same for eggs/cheese/etc.
Essentially it's like OPEC. Limit supply to put a floor on the prices.

The term you are looking for is cartel. Canada has a milk cartel, an egg cartel, cheese cartel, etc with the primary purpose of artificially restricting supply to drive up prices and line the pockets of producers of these goods. Mexican and Colombian drug cartels do the same thing to keep the price of cocaine as high as possible. If you produce milk without the prior approval of the cartel, you will be shut down and thrown in jail. If you produce cocaine without the prior approval of the cartel, you will be killed (and maybe your family will be killed too, to send a message).

[time space]

The term you are looking for is cartel. Canada has a milk cartel, an egg cartel, cheese cartel, etc with the primary purpose of artificially restricting supply to drive up prices and line the pockets of producers of these goods.

Damn straight!

Did you see the article on Canada's billionaire dairy farmers in this month's Forbes?

[highvibes]

Maybe they need to boil it longer.

Ironically, humans are the only animals to drink another animals milk after a certain growing age.

We are also the only animals who cook their food and I'm not about to start eating raw meat :p

[ippon]

Maybe they need to boil it longer.

Ironically, humans are the only animals to drink another animals milk after a certain growing age.

how is that ironic???