Herd Share

Please note: We currently do not have any goat herd shares available.

Cow shares will be available at the end of December. Please join the waitlist.

A2A2 Raw Cow

and Goat Milk

Herd Share Program

Welcome to Golden Valley Farms’ Herd Share Program! Our herd share allows you to enjoy fresh, high-quality raw A2A2 cow milk directly from our farm. Here’s everything you need to know to become a member:

What is a Herd Share?

A herd share is a legally recognized arrangement that allows individuals to co-own a dairy herd and receive a portion of the milk produced. By purchasing a share of our herd, you become a co-owner of the cows. This model is designed to provide access to raw milk in compliance with regulations that prevent direct sales.

Herdshare fees are due at start up and are nonrefundable. The monthly boarding fee is the only recurring fee that we charge.

Our Dairy Herd

Our dairy herd is made of 100% registered and A2 Beta-Casein Guernsey Cows and LaMancha & Nubian Goats. Our Guernsey and goat milk is complete as it comes from nature – we chill it and bottle it for shareholders to pick up at one of several delivery locations we have throughout Virginia.

What is a Herd Share

  • Buying a share entitles you to a specific amount of milk from our herd. Each share provides you with one gallon of fresh, raw A2A2 cow milk or goat milk per week.

  • This arrangement operates under our herd share program, allowing us to distribute raw milk. It ensures compliance with regulations while protecting both our farm and our members.

  • Your purchase supports our farm’s sustainability, covering costs such as feed and maintenance. This arrangement directly benefits the health and well-being of our grass-fed herd.

  • Enjoy the benefits of raw A2A2 milk, which is often easier to digest than conventional milk. Our cows and goats are 100% grass-fed, providing you with rich, nutrient-dense milk.

  • Pick up your milk weekly at your designated location. Details on pickup times and locations will be provided once your share is confirmed.

  • By joining our herd share, you’re supporting ethical farming practices and becoming part of a community that values high-quality, locally produced food.

Cow Milk Herd Share

  • Jersey’s are a popular family cow. Guernsey’s and Jersey’s both provide superior milk, and are far better than the other cow breeds in terms of cream, taste and nutrition. However, given a choice, we prefer the taste of Golden Guernsey milk (even though we hail from generations of Jersey dairy farmers). Guernsey’s have the highest of all breeds for A2-A2 Beta-Casein genes and Omega 3, and are said to have the better overall ‘balance’ of nutrients compared to Jersey’s.

    If you’re switching to us from Jersey milk, you may think our milk is less creamy by the “look” of it. This is because the fat globules of Jersey milk are the largest of any dairy breed, which causes the cream to rise faster and separate more clearly than in Guernsey milk. Both breeds are very similar in butterfat content. If we were to mix some Jersey’s into our herd, all the milk would separate more clearly into skim milk and cream. We prefer the smoother, silkier, more naturally homogenized appearance and taste of our Golden Guernsey milk—this is similar to the reason raw goat milk appears naturally homogenized due to smaller fat globules.

    The Guernsey’s didn’t receive the nickname “golden” just because of their coat. Their high-fat milk is also that beautiful, sun-kissed shade because it’s loaded with natural, orange beta carotene.

  • A2 Beta-Casein Guernsey cows are a result of almost 1000 years of perfection that result in the best milk available!

    *Naturally has only the A2 beta-casein protein that is said in trials to help to aid in digestion.

    *Contains 12% more protein.

    *Has higher concentrations of beta carotene.

    *Contains 15% more Calcium.

    *Naturally occurring Vitamin D and Vitamin A (not artificially fortified!).

    *Is the perfect balance of Omegas.

Goat Milk Herd Share

  • We raise registered Nigerian Dwarf, Nubian, and LaMancha goats because they have the highest butterfat and sweet tasting milk of all goat breeds.

    For the same reason we choose to only milk Guernsey Cows, we focus on quality goat milk over quantity. Our goat milk is as sweet as it can be from mother nature.

    We are picky about our goats as much as we are about our cows. Our goats come from prized bloodlines and were bred for the most outstanding of qualities in their breed.

  • YES, we also keep our goats 100% grain free.

Pick-Up Locations

Tuesday: Ashburn (2 drops), Falls Church, Great Falls, McLean, Reston, Springfield, Sterling, Vienna

Thursday: Aldie, Broad Run, Centreville, Fairfax, Fredericksburg, Goldvein, Gordonsville, Haymarket, Manassas, Nokesville, Palmyra, South Riding

Saturday: Bumpass, Charlottesville, Dillwyn, Henrico, Local On Farm Pickup, Richmond (2 drops), Scottsville

Common Questions

    1. We offer cow and goat shares.

    2. When other programs say “grassfed” or “pastured,” note that we say “100% grassfed” and “100% pastured.”

    3. Our cows and goats are kept healthy while being 100% grainfree. This is only possible by offering high quality forage, free choice minerals, expansive pasture, and rotational grazing.

    4. Our chickens and eggs are pastured, organic & soy-free, not just “non-GMO pastured” which means their chickens are fed non-organic feed and soy as a cheap, controversial protein source.

    5. The majority of all our animals’ diet is from being out on pasture, which is the only way to ensure real, nutrient dense food.

    6. We test our milk regularly by an independent, state-run lab in VA.

    7. When comparing our program to others, first ask if they are physically located in Virginia, willing to provide their exact farm location, and if they allow members to visit.

  • In Virginia, it is illegal to sell raw cow milk, but it is not illegal to drink fresh milk from the cow that you own!

    It is as simple as purchasing/owning your own cow or a partial ownership in a herd of cows and boarding them at a local farm. The farmer (or Agister) performs a service for you by feeding, caring for, and milking your own or cows/goats. This arrangement is called cow boarding, the legal form for it is an Agistment Agreement.

  • All of our products are organic, non-gmo, and soy free. The farm produces food following Weston Price principles, including rotational grazing, no antibiotics or growth hormones, and farming beyond organic standards. We belong to a limited number of milk producers that do not resort to feeding grain to our cows. We believe in providing them fresh pasture to graze on and chemical free hay during winter.

  • In the last 6-8 weeks of pregnancy, the cow instinctively prepares for her new calf and gives herself a “rest” from lactation. The cows have calves at different times of the year so that we have sufficient milk for our share-members. We do the same for our dairy goats.

  • We welcome our current shareholders to arrange a visit to the farm! In addition, we host an annual Farm Day where shareholders are invited to attend, meet the farmer, visit with the animals, watch demonstrations, sample farm products and enjoy camaraderie with other raw dairy and grass-fed food enthusiasts!