All The Beef About A2 Milk
We’re convinced of the benefits of A2 milk and are thoroughly proud of the milk we produce here at Hill Farm, but what actually is A2 milk?
It’s All About The Protein
Milk naturally contains a protein called beta-casein. There are two common forms of this protein: A1 and A2. Most conventional milk sold in supermarkets contains a mixture of both A1 and A2 proteins because the milk comes from herds with a mix of different genetics.
A2 milk is different because it comes only from cows that naturally produce the A2 form of beta-casein. The important thing to understand is that this isn't something that's added to the milk or created through processing, it's simply down to the genetics of the cow.
In fact, A2 is the original form of beta-casein common to some mammals, going back thousands of years to the earliest domesticated cattle. A1 beta-casein only appeared later, following natural genetic mutation that became widespread over time. So in many ways, A2 milk is simply a return to what cows’ milk was like originally.
Ensuring We Have A2-Producing Cows
The only way to be certain which cows will produce A2 milk is through DNA testing. At Hill Farm, we’ve been selectively breeding and testing our herd for the A2 gene for many years, with every cow in our herd now confirmed A2. Any calves produced by this herd will remain A2-producing, since the genetics it receives from its parents are A2A2.
Our herd is made up of a mixture of Ayrshire, Friesian and Jersey cows and as a general rule they are all bred and reared on the farm, but in the unusual event that we do need to add a new cow to our herd we ensure it’s DNA tested. That means every litre of milk produced by these cows contains 100% A2 protein and zero A1 protein.
The Benefits Of Drinking A2 Milk
Many people who find regular milk hard to digest have reported feeling much more comfortable after switching to A2. The thinking behind this comes down to that A1 protein we mentioned earlier. When it's broken down during digestion, it produces a peptide called beta-casomorphin-7 (BCM-7) that can slow things down in the gut and for some people leads to bloating, discomfort or an upset stomach. Because A2 milk doesn't contain any A1 protein, this simply isn't an issue, which is why so many of our customers tell us they can enjoy their milk again without any of the side effects they'd come to expect.
Interestingly we have found that some customers who have been told they are lactose intolerant can enjoy our milk with no side effects, which might suggest the A1 was actually the issue and not the lactose, but who knows!
What it does definitely offer is exactly the same great taste, creaminess and nutritional goodness you'd expect from a glass of milk, just without the A1 protein that can cause trouble for so many people. For us, that's what makes it worth the effort of DNA testing every cow joining the herd, so that everyone who enjoys a glass of Hill Farm milk can do so with total peace of mind.
More Than Just A2
Producing A2 milk was only part of the picture – we knew if we were going to produce what we believe is exceptional milk, we wanted to do it properly, from the ground up.
Our A2 cows are fed a 100% grass and pasture-based diet, with no grains, GM ingredients, soya or by-products. Grass is a cow's natural diet, and we believe it produces healthier, happier cows and exceptionally nutritious milk. Studies have shown that milk from 100% grass-fed cows can contain improved levels of beneficial nutrients such as Omega-3 fatty acids, Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA), and naturally occurring vitamins including A, D and K2. More importantly, even just a small amount of non-grass feed can really diminish the levels of these nutrients in the milk, so ‘grass and pasture fed’ isn’t necessarily a sign of great quality milk but ‘100% grass and pasture fed’ really is.
We also don't push our cows for maximum milk yields. Lower-producing cows often produce richer, more nutrient-dense milk, which is exactly what we're aiming for.
And then there's the way we choose to bottle it: our milk is raw, meaning it isn't pasteurised or homogenised. We leave it exactly as the cow produces it, without heating or processing it in any way and this means all of the natural enzymes, beneficial bacteria and nutrients stay fully intact, giving you milk in its purest and most natural form. Combined with our grass-fed, low-yield approach, it all adds up to a glass of milk that's as close to nature intended as you can get!
Quality Over Quantity
We know our milk costs more than supermarket milk per litre, and at the end of the day, it all comes down to doing things the way we believe milk should be done. From DNA testing every cow to ensure it's genuinely A2, to feeding our herd a 100% grass-fed diet, to keeping our milk raw and unprocessed, every decision we make is about producing milk that's as natural, nutritious and easy to enjoy as possible.
We're not chasing maximum yields or cutting corners, we're simply doing right by our cows and by the people who drink our milk. So next time you pour yourself a glass of Hill Farm milk, you can be confident you're getting something a little bit different: milk that's gentler on the stomach, richer in natural goodness, and produced with genuine care from field to bottle.