Dairy Farmer Blake Hansen: A2A2 Milk Could Deliver New Customers

When Blake Hansen describes his family’s seventh-generation Iowa dairy farm, Hansen’s Dairy, as “status quo,” he might need a “sort of” with it. "For now, it's status quo," Hansen told American Farmland Owner from his family operation in Hudson, a community of about 2,900 people in North Central Iowa.

But “status quo” may not fully describe what is happening with the Hansens’ 150-cow farm. Expansion is enticing. But research and development must come first. Patience is the reason for the status quo.

Hansen said, “You don't want to just go out and expand to 300 cows. Because in our situation, we have to have a home for that product…because we can't rely on a milkman to come pick up our milk. So, we have to find the demand for our product before we can go out and expand our herd."

Twenty years ago, after returning from college, Hansen convinced his family to add a creamery. Butter, cheese curds, heavy cream, plus cookies & cream, unicorn tails, and about 20 other flavors of ice cream have followed.

The creamery expansion along with farm tours bring in much-needed revenue and visitors to help offset the low profit margins for their family dairy. But they are still left with gallons of unused milk each week. They give some away as part of weekly promotions and provide a highly sought after protein option with area food pantries.

But Hansen said the dairy farm still needed more ways to increase demand for its milk. American consumers don’t drink as much milk as people did several decades ago.

That is why A2A2 came to mind.

A2A2 Could Offer New Option for Dairy Farm

That demand may come from a new product: A2A2 milk.

“I’ve been working on this A2A2 milk idea for about 5 years… no, going on 7 years now,” Hansen explained. “Trying to have a new brand of milk out there that we can sell on our shelves.”

What Is A2A2 Milk?

A2A2 milk refers to milk that comes from cows producing only the A2 beta-casein protein, rather than the more common combination of A1 and A2 proteins found in regular milk. Some studies suggest that A2A2 milk may be easier to digest for people who experience discomfort from regular milk—not due to lactose intolerance, but because of the A1 protein.

“A2A2 milk is basically a protein in the cow’s milk that is easier to digest,” Hansen said. “You’ve got an A1 protein and an A2 protein. And if you get a cow that has A2A2 and is missing that A1 protein… [that protein] is able to be consumed by a consumer that has stomach issues or something like that.”

He continued, “I wouldn’t say it’s so much a lactose intolerant issue. It’s just a protein issue that people can consume easier.”

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Breeding for A2A2

Transitioning to A2A2 milk production isn't about changing the feed or adding supplements. It is a long-term genetic project that requires careful herd management and planning.

“You have to pick out certain genetics,” Hansen said. “…bulls or sires that carry that A2A2 gene. I had to test my whole herd for A2A2. Basically, figure out which cows are missing that gene, and then continue to breed bulls that are A2A2 to try to get the whole herd to be A2A2 milk.”

This selective breeding approach allows Hansen’s Dairy to gradually transition part of the herd to A2A2 production, giving the family a marketable niche product without the significant input costs that typically come with diversification.

Planning for Future of Dairy Farm

With limited capacity at the creamery, Hansen’s Dairy has to be strategic. “Our creamery is only so big,” Hansen noted. “We’re maxed out with cows and the creamery size. If we’re dumping 500 gallons of skim milk a week, or giving it to a food bank or whatnot, then maybe this A2A2 avenue is going to help reduce that a little bit.”

By offering A2A2 milk, the farm hopes to bring in new consumers who may have previously avoided fluid milk, helping to boost overall sales and reduce waste.

“Hopefully that increases more people to consume more milk,” Hansen said. “…milk is such a nutritious product that we need more people to consume more dairy products.”

And getting more people to consume more dairy could help the Hansen Dairy Farm to be more than status quo in the years ahead.