Herd Share
A2A2 Raw Cow, Goat
and Sheep Milk
Herd Share Program
Welcome to Golden Valley Farms’ Herd Share Program.
Our herd share gives you weekly access to fresh, raw A2A2 milk from our 100 percent grassfed cows and goats. This page explains the full program, fees, farming practices, and what you can expect as a shareholder.
Our Dairy Herd
Our dairy herd is made up of 100 percent registered A2 Beta-Casein Guernsey cows and LaMancha and Nubian goats.
We bottle the milk exactly as nature provides it, chill it, and prepare it for weekly pickup at delivery locations throughout Virginia.
Understanding a Herd Share
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When you join the herd share, you are purchasing a portion of the herd. This ownership entitles you to a set amount of milk every week.
Full Share: 2 half gallons weekly
Half Share: 1 half gallon weekly
Your share fee covers the daily care, feed, and management of the herd.
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One-Time Fees
Agistment Fee: $25 per full share, $20 per half share
A 3 percent card fee is added to the agistment fee at checkout.
Monthly Share Fees
Full Share: $55
Half Share: $32
A 6 percent processing fee is added to the monthly share fee.
This covers card processing and administrative costs. -
Raw milk cannot be sold in Virginia. It can be consumed legally if you own the animal producing it.
A herd share provides that structure.
You purchase part of the herd and sign an Agistment Agreement, which authorizes us to board, care for, and milk your animals. -
All of the milk you receive comes from A2A2 cows and goats that are fully grassfed and raised on unsprayed pasture.
This, combined with careful milking, fast chilling, and clean handling, produces rich, nutrient-dense milk. -
Our cows and goats are 100 percent grassfed year-round.
They receive:
Fresh pasture during the growing season
Winter hay from our own unsprayed fields
Free-choice salt, minerals, and kelp
Molasses during winter
Clean water and open access to pasture
We do not feed:
grain
soy
GMO feed
bagged protein or dairy rations
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Our fields are never sprayed with pesticides, herbicides, or chemical fertilizers.
We rely on:
Rotational grazing
Rest periods for pasture regrowth
Low-input, traditional soil care
Natural fertilization from the herd itself
Careful protection of pasture health year-round
This supports the long-term health of the land and the nutrient density of the milk.
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We follow a minimal-intervention approach to herd health.
We do not routinely use:
antibiotics
vaccines
growth hormones
chemical dewormers
If an animal ever requires treatment, she is removed from the milking herd until fully cleared. (Treatment starts with herbal remedies which usually solve the problem.)
We prioritize:
Low-stress handling
Clean, dry bedding
Adequate shelter in weather
Proper rest before calving/kidding
Natural herd movement and behavior
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Milk is:
collected using clean, closed milking systems
cooled and chilled promptly
bottled fresh for shareholders each week
Our milk is tested monthly through a state-run Virginia lab to monitor quality and safety.
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Milk is picked up weekly only at your designated drop site.
Pickup instructions, locations, and timing are provided once your share is approved.
Cow Milk Herd Share
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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.
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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.
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Yes, cow milk is available all year long. Our cows are not artificially inseminated—the bull lives with the herd year-round. This allows calving to happen naturally and at staggered times, which helps maintain a steady supply of milk throughout the seasons.
Goat Milk Herd Share
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Currently no goat shares available.
$72/share (1 gal per week), or $40/half share (1/2 gal per week). The price is the same whether there are 4 or 5 delivery days in a month. (A 6% fee is also added for processing.)
There is a one-time Agistment fee of $25 for a full share and $20 for a half share.
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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.
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YES, we also keep our goats 100% grain free.
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Goats also have a seasonal lactation cycle. In late winter and early spring, there may be a short gap where no milk is available, or you may receive frozen milk that was stored ahead of time. In the spring, when milk production increases, we will send extra milk to make up for any missed or reduced weeks earlier in the year.
Sheep Milk Herd Share
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Currently no Sheep shares available
Monthly Boarding fees
Half shares (1/2 gallon/week) are $52/month for delivery and $45/month for on-farm pickup.
A 6% processing fee applies to all payments.
One-Time Fee
Agistment fee:
$20 for a half share
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YES, we also keep our sheep 100% grain free.
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Sheep have a naturally short lactation window. After July, shareholders will receive milk that was frozen during the spring and early summer to ensure a consistent supply throughout the year. The farmer is attempting a second breeding in the fall, which may allow for another cycle of fresh milk later in the season, though it is not guaranteed.
Pick-Up Locations
Tuesday: Aldie, Broad Run, Centreville, Fairfax, Fredericksburg, Goldvein, Gordonsville, Haymarket, Manassas, Nokesville, South Riding, Stafford
Thursday: Ashburn (2 drops), Falls Church, Great Falls, Marshall, McLean, Palmyra, Reston, Springfield, Sterling, Vienna
Saturday: Bumpass, Charlottesville, Dillwyn, Henrico, Local On Farm Pickup, Richmond (2 drops), Scottsville
Common Questions
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We offer cow and goat shares.
When other programs say “grassfed” or “pastured,” note that we say “100% grassfed” and “100% pastured.”
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.
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.
The majority of all our animals’ diet is from being out on pasture, which is the only way to ensure real, nutrient dense food.
We test our milk regularly by an independent, state-run lab in VA.
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.
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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.
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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.
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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!