Dairy Farms in LOS?

[HeijoshinCool]

I can’t say that any of the brands I’ve tried are all that tasty, but that does make what someone told me, that all Thai milk is imported as a powder, seem plausible, and makes me wonder the source of the “water” used for reconstitution!

On the other hand, Foremost Heavy Cream has been an excellent experience. I’ve even shook a half-filled carton, after it’s been frozen, and ended up with whipped consistency.

So where does Thai milk come from? I’ve been everywhere in Thailand, driven the back roads extensively, and have yet to catch wind of a dairy farm.

Anybody seen one? Been on one?

[patongphil]

Plenty around in Maha Sarakham. Drive past 2 on the way into the local town.

[soi41]

Try to google: Thai Denmark Milk.

In Pala U, 50 km west of Hua Hin, they have hundreds of dairy farms. Working as contract farmers under the Thai Denmark umbrella!

[jvs]

We buy fresh milk straight from the cow every other day for half the price it is in the shops.

Great taste and very healthy,i like raw milk.

[AnotherOneAmerican]

Loads of cows in CM

Big dairy opposite the zoo, selling raw or pasteurized milk in plastic bags.

(120bht for 5l)

Edited July 5, 2013 by AnotherOneAmerican

[arthurwait]

Small ones turn up at shows selling their milk and isn't chok chai a diary farm. Whether it's big enough for all the milk they sell I've no idea.

[kikoman]

I would like to buy fresh milk, does anyone know of a dairy farm near or in Nakhon Sawan city.

Please let me know if you know of one.

Thank You!

Cheers:

[ThomasY]

I am surprised that Thailand has not become a big producer of cheese. Real mozzarella cheese from Italy is made from water buffalo milk. Why someone has not set up a cheese processing plant is beyond me.

[Thanyaburi Mac]

Lots of dairy farms in Saraburi area, A. Wang Muang being just one of them. And one of the oldest is the Thai-Danish facility in A. Muak Lek, right on Hwy 2.

Do a Google for: thai danish dairy muak lek

Several hits, including some threads on ThaiVisa.

Mac

a frequent visitor to Wang Muang

[toybits]

Pak Chong district of Nakhong Rachasima province has lots of dairy cattle. I see a milk tanker in Chiang Rai every so often - so I presume there are several farmers cooperatives that produce milk. Sure would like to get some fresh milk so I can make some cottage cheese!!!

[arthurwait]

I am surprised that Thailand has not become a big producer of cheese. Real mozzarella cheese from Italy is made from water buffalo milk. Why someone has not set up a cheese processing plant is beyond me.

Because the buffalos are always sick.

[jvs]

@ thomas y,they do and there are Italian buffalo being imported to Thailand to improve milking abilities.

[theblether]

Spotted next to the Tiger Kingdom at Mae Rim, Chiang Mai.......

Looks like it's needing a good feed

[jocko]

When i first came to Thailand i wondered where they got the milk from as i had'nt seen any cows about so i asked the gf i had at the time and she told me the milk comes from the supermarket.

Case closed

[MrWorldwide]

One of the girls told me sometime back that they have dairy cattle in her province - I think it was Kalasin. Or Buriram. No, wait - Surin.

Man, I really need to cut back on the sauce

[PaullyW]

Spotted next to the Tiger Kingdom at Mae Rim, Chiang Mai.......

Looks like it's needing a good feed

I call those pathetic looking Thai cows "Soi Cows". The milk they produce lacks a normal amount of fat which is why you get that weird "off" taste in Thai milk.

[theblether]

^^ Absolutely not a healthy specimen. In the UK you would be questioned for having an animal in that condition on your farm.

[AnotherOneAmerican]

I case nobody else noticed, I don't think that is a cow!

[memkuk]

I am surprised that Thailand has not become a big producer of cheese. Real mozzarella cheese from Italy is made from water buffalo milk. Why someone has not set up a cheese processing plant is beyond me.

I've been playing around with making cheese, just for fun. The main beneficiaries were me and my friends. Got a lot of offers to start making it professionally, especially from people around Korat who had farms over there. Preferred to keep it as a hobby though. Got some pics here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ericvercauteren

BTW, I got my fresh milk by the kilo from a Coop in Ban Bueng, about 60 Km from Pattaya. The local farmers bring their milk over there, where it is tested for antibiotics, etc. Guaranteed safe and good quality... and excellent cheese (even I say so myself).

[memkuk]

Spotted next to the Tiger Kingdom at Mae Rim, Chiang Mai.......

Looks like it's needing a good feed

I call those pathetic looking Thai cows "Soi Cows". The milk they produce lacks a normal amount of fat which is why you get that weird "off" taste in Thai milk.

Is it just me, but from the looks of it, it only produces sperm. Hench maybe the "off" taste...

[Issangeorge]

I case nobody else noticed, I don't think that is a cow!

It looks like it's been photoshopped.

Sent from my i-mobile IQ 6 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[juggernaut]

I am surprised that Thailand has not become a big producer of cheese. Real mozzarella cheese from Italy is made from water buffalo milk. Why someone has not set up a cheese processing plant is beyond me.

There are several.....this one being the largest:

Minor Cheese Limited (MCL) produces a wide range of cheeses and cheese blends including mozzarella, cheddar, string cheese, parmesan, mascarpone, cream cheese and sour cream. With a maximum capacity of approximately 1,900 tons of cheese per annum and annual sales of over THB400mn, MCL is not only a key supplier to various restaurant operations of its parent, MFG, but also a major supplier to companies in the Thai and regional food service sector. Currently, MCL’s manufacturing facility in Nakornratchasima province has 61 employees (29 of which are full time and the remainder are part-time and outsourced).

Edited July 6, 2013 by juggernaut

[masuk]

^^ Absolutely not a healthy specimen. In the UK you would be questioned for having an animal in that condition on your farm.

I'd be worming that poor cow. Yes, I've had dairy cows, and they looked a lot healthier than this one.

Bear in mind though, that this breed (Frisian in most countries, but I believe the Americans call them Holsteins) comes from northern Europe, and I can't see that they'd thrive in the tropics.

I would imagine that most milk made into UHT is reconstituted from powder, but I'm only guessing. I've tried to buy full cream powdered milk here, but cannot find it.

[schondie]

Down south there's Phatthalung Dairy, I used to pass it quite often. There's a herd of Fresian cows on the road to Thale Noi as well.

Also there's plenty of buffaloes in that area but too.

[attento]

Spotted next to the Tiger Kingdom at Mae Rim, Chiang Mai.......

Looks like it's needing a good feed

I call those pathetic looking Thai cows "Soi Cows". The milk they produce lacks a normal amount of fat which is why you get that weird "off" taste in Thai milk.

Is it just me, but from the looks of it, it only produces sperm. Hench maybe the "off" taste...

at last, an observant man ! Somehow, doubt is this poor specimen will be up to the job of fulfilling his role in life.

Edited July 6, 2013 by attento

[Estrada]

Having worked for Australian/Thai dairies (Mali) and also having run another dairy plant in Malaysia, I would answer the questions raised as follows.

1. There are plenty of dairy farms in Thailand.

2. The farmers Co-operative mainly collect the "fresh milk" from the farms and either pasteurise it for the schools and for sale under their brand names and/or send it to the Major Milk packers.

3. The quality of the milk is not bad but contains higher levels of bacteria and other contaminants than would be tolerated in UK where you are not allowed to buy fresh milk from the farmers.

4. All milk is usually "Standardised" so that "Whole Milk" of "Full Cream Milk" is not whole milk or full cream as received from a particular herd of cows. Jerseys can give 5% cream for instance. The milk is skimmed to 3% so that full cream milk is a standard 3% solids from fat.

5. UHT milk is mostly made from imported milk powder and again is standardised at 3% or less for semi skimmed and skimmed milk. If we manufacture UHT from Thai farmers milk, there is sometimes a problem with the fat content being only 2 - 2.5%, in that case milk powder with a high fat content has to be blended to raise the fat content to 3% for full fat milk.

I would not advise anyone to drink milk directly from the farm. If you must drink it, heat it to at least 72 Deg. C for 16 seconds to kill the pathogens, and then place it in a refrigerator at 4 Deg C.

Edited July 6, 2013 by Estrada

[Torrens54]

We often have cows come to visit and munch the grass on the other side of the creek at the back of our house.

They all look pretty healthy to me but I'm not about to grab a bucket and a milking stool, we have Big C and Makro just down the road.

[market trader]

Spotted next to the Tiger Kingdom at Mae Rim, Chiang Mai.......

Looks like it's needing a good feed

I call those pathetic looking Thai cows "Soi Cows". The milk they produce lacks a normal amount of fat which is why you get that weird "off" taste in Thai milk.

I think if you look closely at that picture,you will see a tuft of hair on the belly. Pretty hard to get milk there. Its either a steer or a bull. But as you say it is lacking a good feeding.

Edited July 6, 2013 by market trader

[Anon999]

I case nobody else noticed, I don't think that is a cow!

+1

[BillyBobThai]

When I lived in north central Thailand, there was a government sponsered dairy that was setup to teach the local Thais about dairy farming.

The lady who ran it had spent 3 years in Denmark learning the trade. I wanted to buy a 5 day old bull calf to raise for beef. She would

have nothing to do with that. If I had said as a pet, no problem. Live and learn. This was was a pure holestien bred to a Thai type bull.