Well, Joanne and Wes came to see our family last month at our farm near Gympie, Qld. They said there’s lots of discussion on Nourished Magazine about our milk. I happened to come across Nourished Magazine myself a few days beforehand and gotten involved in the conversation, so we were pleased to Sponsor Nourished Magazine by joining their directory. We also want to support anyone who wants to exercise their right to raw milk from healthy grass fed cows.
So here I am, ready to answer your questions to the best of my ability and to share more about what it is we do.
Apr 24th, 2008 at 3:47 pm
Hi, I am having a lot of trouble trying to get Cleos milk, not to mention we have just moved house to Burpengary and I dont know any shops that sell it here. I have a 3 year old daughter who cannot tolerate the other milk, we had to give her some and we had the worst day of our life, she had diarreaha, stomach cramps and the foulest temper ever.
If you know of any shops in my area that sells it, it would be very much appreciated, kind Regards, Christine
Apr 25th, 2008 at 5:17 pm
i was wondering why cleo’s milk does not have the cream sitting on top when you open new bottle, like the other organic unhomogenised milks?
Apr 25th, 2008 at 8:00 pm
Thank you Peter and your happy cows for you nourishing milk which I purchase from Northey St, Sunday markets Brisbane. Do you offer Cleopatra’s butter too?
Apr 26th, 2008 at 1:40 am
I have just discovered your milk and my whole family enjoy it. I am now pregnant and being advised not to have raw milk due to listeria. How would listeria get into raw milk? Is it only present if the milk is packaged under poor sanitary conditions? I’m sure you have been asked all of these questions before, but I am just curious.
Thanks for a lovely product
Apr 28th, 2008 at 1:28 am
Peter,
I was interested to know if you used antibiotics with your cows (for eg. mastitus)and also what you do for fly and tick infestations in your herd. I would assume you maybe get buffalo fly out there near Gympie? Also, as demand grows for your product are you currently in an expansion phase of your herd size?
Your milk is fantastic and much appreciated, and it also is sold out very quickly in Murwillumbah.
Apr 28th, 2008 at 7:17 am
Hi Peter,
Hunting down your milk has had me obsessed at times - thankfully i think i have a fairly stable supply at present. Oh, and my skin feels brilliant.
A question: Pasteurisation knocks off and out all the good stuff, yes - and it’s done by heating. I’m curious about how much heat Cleo’s can handle and still remain intact as a bath milk. What would you think would happen to its quality if it were heated to say, latte temperature? I.e, warm but not boiled and reaching this temperature in about 30 seconds. Would this be similar to pasteurisation and a no-no?
Best regards and a big thank you for doing what you do,
Sam
Apr 28th, 2008 at 11:46 pm
Hi Peter,
your milk is great thankyou. I had a few questions re whether you used antibiotics in your herd, for things like mastitus, and also how you went about controlling for fly and ticks? A final question, are you expanding your herd as demand increases? Keep up the good work!
Apr 29th, 2008 at 1:25 am
Hi! I don’t have any questions here but I just wanted to say thankyou!
I heard about your milk a year ago from a friend in the USA. He taught my family and I about the benefits of Raw Milk and Weston A Price. We searched everywhere and found you!
My family are in Noosa and I live on the Gold Coast now. I’m glad that it is available in more than one place.
I never drink anything else now and never experience the asthma I used to. So it has benefited me in a big way.
I am just so grateful that you are here. Thankyou!
Jessie :-)
Apr 30th, 2008 at 4:37 pm
I don’t have any questions - I simply want to extend my gratitude to you for such a wonderful product. My son has mild Autism Spectrum Disorder and, not unusually, associated digestive issues. At seven years of age, he was also diagnosed with bone age delay - meaning he has a smaller stature due to his bones not growing in synch with his actual chronological age. While this is supposed to correct itself in the latter teenage years, I fear soy-based infant formula had something to do with its onset. We’ve had some success with A2 milk; however, it is raw milk which has been the outstanding product. Not only does it cause him no issues, I am confident he is finally getting all the nutrition one has the right to expect from a dairy product. I appreciate the concerns some people have regarding raw milk, however, having grown up on a farm where we regularly milked our own cows, and having used your product liberally for over a year, I am convinced my choice is the right one. My whole family now enjoys exceptional health and I don’t doubt it is, in significant part, attributable to your product. Thank you for committing to such a worthy cause.
Apr 30th, 2008 at 8:37 pm
I am not asking a question, but I just love your milk! Can’t get enough of it!
May 1st, 2008 at 5:40 am
Thank you so much for your courage and persistence which enables the rest of us to enjoy and benefit from this wonderful milk. Our organic store agreed to sell it just a couple of months ago. We’ve not been able to access raw milk before this. I’m extremely grateful. Liz WA
May 1st, 2008 at 9:30 am
Hey Peter,
I had a what might be an irrelevant question on your herd, have you tried to increase the proportion of A2 cows?
Furthermore with your date coding system how long a use-by do you give? i.e. what milk date does a use-by date correspond to?
The milk is great in Perth, available from ‘Organic on Charles’, and even better kefirated.
Any chance of a raw butter skin cream?
Kindest regards
CE
May 1st, 2008 at 1:27 pm
Hi Peter,
Do you do any other dairy products such as cream and butter. Would you consider it in future?
May 2nd, 2008 at 2:51 am
Hi Peter,
I just wanted say Thank-you for your company.
My husband and I use Cleos milk. The only milk that is ever in our fridge is Cleos.
I bought some this week from a health food shop and the lady who served me could not stop talking about how much her family loves your product.
Congratulations on providing a product that supports people wanting to return to traditional and natural diets.
kind regards
Bec
May 2nd, 2008 at 4:18 am
Hi, all at the farm. It is at least 5 years we have been offering Cleo’s milk to the public. It was Pet’s milk then, and the State Government made a law whereby it was unlawful to feed pets unpasturerised milk. So it became Cleo’s milk. If only we had recorded all the testimonies in the shop of people who said “this is the only milk my children will drink” and “since drinking this milk they are much healthier” and comments to this effect. As we all grew up on raw cows milk, it only makes common sense that this raw food ought to continue to be available to those who chose it, without fear of breaking a law. It has not been an easy road for the Mahaffey family to provide this milk consistently and I would like to say thankyou to them for sticking to their democratic right to do this in this democracy. I have heard that work is being done to make raw milk available for human consumption legal again and shortly. Is this the case? Lesley Parker, previously from Go Vita Margate Health & Organics. Now In house Naturopath at Healthy LIfe, Northlakes.
May 2nd, 2008 at 4:14 pm
Hello Peter
I have just found out about your most excellent Bath Milk. As a novice Cleopatra, I am looking for a supplier of the said Milk in the Forster NSW area. I am new to the area, having fleed the desert regions of the West to find greener pastures amongst the Wise Men and Women of the East.
In my opinion, your most excellent Bath Milk will be a pleasurable accompaniment to my Pure Aromas Candle products which can be found on the above website. This is my way of spreading the Good Oil - Pure Essential Oil, of course!
Pure and natural is the only way to live the Good Life.
I encourage you in your venture and may many bodies find themselves saturated by the Milk of Cleopatra.
Kindest regards
Wendy
May 4th, 2008 at 1:46 am
Hi, I just wanted to let you know that I absolutely love your Cleo’s Bath Milk. I’ve heard about raw milk and its benefits and had been in search of it for a long time with no success until someone mentioned Cleo’s Milk. I did a search and had my very first taste of it several weeks ago. I will never go back to the standard milk ever again. Please keep up the good work!
I do have a question, how long can you keep the milk forzen in the freezer? And how soon do you have to consume it once it’s been defreezed? Many Thanks!
GS
May 4th, 2008 at 4:08 am
Dear Peter, Trevor and Sheryl
I just wanted to say BIG THANK YOU for existing! It is so wonderful that you are selling raw milk, the way nature intended. You set a perfect example to all other dairy farmers and the health you give to people is priceless. I’m sure your cows love you too! It was about 1 1/2 years ago now that I discovered raw milk was being sold in Australia, one of the best discoveries of my life. It has greatly helped me and I am especially happy to see my little one enjoy raw milk too. We enjoy Aphrodite because we live in Victoria.
All the best to you,
Cathy and Nina.
May 4th, 2008 at 8:25 pm
Hello Peter,
We’ve been buying Cleopatra’s Bath Milk for some years now, and have noticed that it’s getting a bit tricky to find. We ordered it for a while from a health food shop in Keperra, but they’ve not been getting any supplies lately. We just missed out on getting it from the Northey Street Markets, so will have to get up earlier! They told us their supplies are small, particularly during the winter months.
The other place we can get it sometimes is Fundamental Food Store at Paddington.
Is this difficulty in obtaining your lovely milk due to increased demand, climatic conditions or something else? Hope it’s demand!
Sue
May 5th, 2008 at 7:19 pm
Hi Peter
Can you tell me where your milk is available to buy in WA?
Thankyou
Jemma
May 8th, 2008 at 10:32 pm
Hi Peter!
Firstly could I give you a most hearty vote of thanks for your continued efforts to supply us here in the big smokes around the country with living, healthy natural raw milk! I regularly travel about 40km a week specially just to buy your milk, and my retailer told me recently that they have a customer who comes down from the Blue Mountains every week to Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs for the same reason. There is a crying need for good health in our society, and more and more people are becomeing aware that dead pasteurised and processed foods are slowly, relentlessly making us sick. Thank you for continuing to provide us with what is literally a life-line to good health!
Secondly, I have a question. I saw the pictures of you and your farm, posted in a link over at the main raw milk discussion page at http://editor.nourishedmagazine.com.au/articles/raw-milk-vs-pasteurized-milk , and I noticed that the cows seem to be eating a mixture of plants that don’t look like straight grass. Is this a special mix of herbs & greenery you and other dairy folk have devised, and is it the same used in all your grazing pasture, or are there grass-only fields as well?
All the best and keep up the good work!
May 11th, 2008 at 7:35 pm
Hi Peter
Can you please tell me where your milk is available in WA?
Thanks
Jemma
May 15th, 2008 at 2:38 am
Hi Peter,
Just a quick note to thank you for your wonderful contribution into providing your lovely “bath” milk to the community. There is no other product to my knowledge that even comes close to your milk!
Unfortunately, I have recently been hearing rumours you may be “retiring” from the business, and coupled with the current short supply of Cleopatra in store… I would really like to know if there is any truth to the rumours??
May 16th, 2008 at 7:10 am
Hi Peter
Just wanted to drop you a note to say thankyou for what your family does. I was advised of your bath milk from a friend over here in Perth WA. Every week I go into town, about 1/2 hr to pick up my order, my dad loves it. He recalled stories when he was a kid going to a family farm and drinking raw cows milk and how it never harmed him or anyone he knows. It’s fantastic. Yummo. Heading to Vic for a hol in a couple weeks and would be good if I could get your product there.
May 19th, 2008 at 5:26 pm
Hi Peter
Loving Cleo’s Milk here in Sydney (love to bathe my taste buds in it - especially that first bit of milk all rich and creamy).
Thankyou for all your hard work keeping us supplied with your amazing milk (it’s now so popular I have to dash out of work around the time that I know the milk arrives at my healthfood store each week and lurk about out the front until it arrives so I can buy some before it all runs out).
I’m wondering if there is any type of campaign, action group or petition to try and change the law as it currently stands regarding raw milk in Australia? If there is, I would love to get involved and if there isn’t - WHY NOT? If there isn’t, this is something that I would love to pursue but am not sure where I’d start so any feedback is welcome.
Lots of nourishing food, thoughts actions
Sarah
May 22nd, 2008 at 7:37 pm
Hi Peter
I live in the dandenong ranges outside Melbourne in Sassafras. Do you know who sells raw milk like Cleopatras or Aphrodites? Thanks Liz
May 23rd, 2008 at 7:01 pm
Hi Sarah, try this one: http://realmilkaustralia.com - lots of info and an opportunity to get involved.
Cleo’s is rather in short supply so on the Gold Coast, we also have to race around on the day trying to get our weekly quota! Can’t live without real milk now.
To Jemma: you can buy Cleo’s milk from Organic on Charles, Shop 7, 299 Charles Street, North Perth WA 6006, p: (08) 9227 7755 f: (08) 9227 7711, www.organiconcharles.com.au
May 24th, 2008 at 12:26 am
Hello,
It is great to hear people are getting access to cleo’s milk. I am looking for a chemical free or organic dairy farmer around the Ipswich/ Toowoomba region, can anyone help me find one?
May 25th, 2008 at 4:39 am
Can someone please tell me where to get Cleo’s milk in Sydney. Thankyou, Gary
May 25th, 2008 at 10:29 pm
Hi Nourishers, just a quick note while Pete drags himself away from his cows and beans to answer your queries about the farm. The Mahaffey family are not allowed to sell unpasteurised milk for drinking and thus they make it available as a cosmetic. We here understand that taking it in our bodies is our choice and our risk. entirely. I’m glad to hear such wonderful stories of healing and enthusiasm and hope that one day, the Mahaffey family will be able to sell it as the healthy food it is.
May 27th, 2008 at 2:43 am
Hi Sarah, try this one: http://realmilkaustralia.com - lots of info and an opportunity to get involved.
Cleo’s is rather in short supply so on the Gold Coast, we also have to race around on the day trying to get our weekly quota! Can’t live without real milk now.
To Jemma: you can buy Cleo’s milk from Organic on Charles, Shop 7, 299 Charles Street, North Perth WA 6006, p: (08) 9227 7755 f: (08) 9227 7711, www.organiconcharles.com.au
May 28th, 2008 at 3:28 am
ok sorry everyone,i knew this page was up but didnt realise there were any questions yet,i will just rip through and answer as many questions as i remember and if i forget to answer any,please just post a reminder for me.
christine- gluten free bakery is at burpengary n stocks cleos but sells quickly
lou- our milk is known for being rich n creamy. many people comment on the cream on top. this is very surprising if you dont have cream on top.things that could affect this would be how it was transported, kept, shaken etc.all i can say is that everyday when looking in our cold room cream is visible on top in the bottles.
jan- no we dont offer butter. sometimes we do raw cream, but due to milk demand we havent any at the moment.
peta-has there ever been a case in australia of listera in raw milk from a raw milk dairy?
mark-under bfa gudelines for certified organic farms you are allowed to use antibiotics provided you put the animal in a quarantine hospital paddock for a period of time and keep milk separte for a period of time. in organics the emphasis is on prevention rather than cure, and in our system mastitis is rarely a problem. if it ever does appear we catch it early and use a herbal massage cream which works wonders.for buffalo fly we use a homemade spray of chillies and natural oils and usually spray this 2 or 3 times a week during the fly season. as far as ticks go our herd, over time has built up a natural immunity to them.if natural rememidies do not work in the case of a virus, such as 3 day sickness or tickfever, both of which will kill a cow very quickly we do use antibiotics and follow normal course of action which includes hospital paddock, and milking into a bucket for the required witholding period be it 7, 14, or 21 days so the milk cannot be contaminated.
christian- all a1,a2 research is done in regard to processed milk, which we know affects milk protiens. we feel that a1, a2 does not have an effect in raw milk in its natural state. for the record though, our herd is pure jersey and jersey and gurnesy cattle have by far the most a2 cows on a percentage bases compared to other breeds
wendy- our wholesaler eco-farms in brisbane may be able to help you in the forster area.
sueb- availability is due to a number of reasons. demand continues to grow, its very dry and feed is scarce. we are trying to improve supply by more irrigation, better pasture etc. it all takes time and money tho.
peter yellowtop- we grow a pasture mix of ryegrass, white clover, redclover, lucerne, tonic plantain and chicory.this has many exceptional benefits including milk production, animal health, soil nutrition, drought tolerence etc. we also grow oats in winter, legumes in summer plus a few paddocks of tropical grasses.
mark- we are not retiring.we are 3 and 4 generations on the one farm, are passionate about organic farming, my grandfather is still on the farm. no one in our family believes in retirement anyway. we are blessed to be in a beautiful exceptionaly fertile part of the world and wont be going anywhere
thanks everybody for your patience. if i missed a question please re post it. now i realise people are posting i will be back soon.
Jun 1st, 2008 at 5:07 am
I would like to try your milk with the view of stocking it for my allergy suffering patients.
How do i go about it?
Jun 1st, 2008 at 9:01 pm
Peter,
Can you advise how one would help organise a shop to carry cleo’s? Currently I am 600 km from the only source about.
Regards Helen
Jun 2nd, 2008 at 5:14 am
Hi Peter, we are planning to buy a gurnsey cow soon (in about 9 mths after she’s calved) and I’m very interested in some more info about the herbal massage cream and homemade buffalo fly treatment that you make. Also, any good information souces for taking care of milking cows. Mum & I (on the same farm) thought that getting our own cow may work out cheaper as we currently go through about 18L of your milk /week (when its available) plus butter, cream, yoghurt etc.!!!
thanks.
Jun 4th, 2008 at 1:11 am
Sam’s question about how much can you heat up Cleo’s milk without affecting it and without it becoming pasteursied, got me intrigued. I love Cleo’s. My kids drink it like ther it no tomorrow.
We drink it out of the bottle, withouth eating it, usually, but for myself, sometimes I like to make hot chocolate and for me, I like having it made with hot milk, as a an occasional treat.
So how much and how long can we heat it for without affecting it?
Jun 6th, 2008 at 10:37 pm
Where can I get your milk in Sydney, please?
Jun 7th, 2008 at 10:18 pm
I am very interested in buying raw milk? I live in Victoria, and have read how people are trying to test the law. I have emailed our victorian gov, and the australian gov to.
Lets rally altogether to allow our right to have raw milk.
Jun 20th, 2008 at 10:19 pm
Hi Peter having read all the emails to you I will try Northey St Market on Sunday but will you be supplying the varios health food shops like Fundmentals in Paddington and Wray Organics in Newmarket still.Thank you for your efforts in supplying us with your milk, it cant have been easy at times
Jun 30th, 2008 at 5:58 am
Hi Peter
I was told recently that you are not subjected to the normal routine screening and testing applied to all licensed dairy farmers that sell milk for human consumption. I presume, though, that you ensure that your milk is disease-free before selling it. Could you tell us about your testing regime - how often, what you test for etc?
By the way, I love your milk too!
Cheers Justine
Jul 22nd, 2008 at 4:12 pm
Hi Peter
I saw Justines question and I too am interested in what tests you do to make sure your milk is safe.
I have seen some comments stating that if the cows are purely pasture fed there should be no bugs in the milk but I know there are other ways for bugs to get in. It would be good to know that Cleo’s is disease-free for all out there who regularly drink it.