The A2 Difference
Regular milk in Canada comes from Holstein cows that produce milk that is a mixture of A1 and A2 proteins. The type of milk depends on the cow’s genes, so A1 cows produce A1 milk, and A2 cows produce A2 Protein Milk. Many people struggle to digest regular milk, although few know the real reason – and most people assume they are just lactose intolerant. But what if it wasn’t the lactose?
While a small percentage of the Canadian population is truly lactose intolerant, most people are not. If you do not have lactose intolerance or milk protein allergy, your digestive discomfort may be caused by the A1 proteins in milk! Symptoms can feel like lactose intolerance, and most people experience bloating, gas, and issues with bowel movements.
Walker Farms A2 Protein Milk is different. With a herd of only A2 cows and an on-farm processing facility, we produce, process, and package our own milk to ensure it is naturally free of A1 proteins. Our milk contains only the A2 proteins, which may make it easier on digestion for those who are sensitive to A1 proteins.
What’s the difference between A2 Protein Milk and regular milk?
Regular milk contains A1 and A2 proteins, and our A2 Protein Milk contains only A2 proteins.
To break it down, there are many beta-casein proteins in dairy milk. Importantly, A1 beta-caseins and A2 beta-caseins are the most commonly occurring in dairy milk, and we refer to these as A1 Proteins and A2 Proteins.
Today, most dairy cows in North America produce milk that naturally contains a mix of A1 and A2 proteins. The A1 beta-caseins in regular milk can be difficult to digest, causing gastric upset and indigestion. Fortunately, our A2 Protein Milk is naturally free of A1 proteins. For some, pure A2 Protein Milk can reduce symptoms of indigestion and eliminate the gastric upset that was originally caused by A1 proteins in regular milk.
The protein difference between A1 and A2 Protein Milk results in two different paths of digestion. Upon digestion, A1 milk produces a pro-inflammatory by-product known as beta-casomorphine-7 (BCM-7). For some, BCM-7 may cause symptoms of indigestion such as bloating, gas, discomfort and more. Walker Farms A2 Protein Milk is naturally free of A1 proteins, therefore it will not produce BCM-7 when consumed and it may be easier to digest.
Walker Farms A2 Protein Milk is an excellent choice for those who enjoy the taste and health benefits of milk and want to continue enjoying it!
Does A2 Protein Milk contain lactose?
Yes. Our A2 Protein Milk, like all dairy milk, naturally contains lactose. We do not offer any lactose-free products at this time.
Lactose is a carbohydrate in milk, while A1 and A2 are types of proteins in milk. Some people find the A1 protein in regular milk difficult to digest, causing symptoms similar to lactose intolerance such as bloating, gas etc.. Many people assume they are sensitive to lactose, but research suggests it could be the A1 Proteins instead.
If you aren’t lactose intolerant, you may find Walker Farms A2 Protein Milk easier on digestion!
Is A2 Protein Milk genetically modified?
No. The production of A2 Protein Milk is a completely natural occurrence.
Through DNA testing, we can tell which of our cows give A2 Protein Milk and which give regular milk. We choose only the A2 cows for production, ensuring a pure source of our healthy, delicious A2 Protein Milk.
Does A2 Protein Milk taste different?
No, there is no difference in the taste of milk between A2 cows and A1 Holstein cows. However, our milk is produced, processed and packaged right here on our farm, so it is very fresh and comes from a single herd. Walker Farms A2 Protein Milk has a fresh, crisp taste that everyone can enjoy!
Who can drink A2 Protein Milk?
If you love milk but have trouble digesting it, our A2 Protein Milk may be the solution!
Even if you don’t experience discomfort drinking regular milk, you’ll still love the fresh, pure taste of our single farm A2 Protein Milk. We proudly supply local, fresh milk that the whole family can enjoy!
Please note, A2 Protein Milk is not lactose-free.
What kind of cow does A2 Protein Milk come from?
Our milk is produced by Holstein cows with A2A2 genes, and they provide pure A2 Protein Milk.
Naturally, there are A1 and A2 proteins in cows milk based on their genes. Cows with A1A2 or A1A1 genes will produce milk with A1 Proteins. Cows with A2A2 genes produce milk with only A2 proteins, and no A1 proteins.
By testing hair samples to identify which of our cows have A2A2 genes, we’ve chosen the right cows and established our own A2 herd to produce Walker Farms A2 Protein Milk!
How is A2 Protein Milk made?
Our A2 Protein Milk is made on our family dairy farm by a herd of Holstein cows with A2 genes.
These A2 cows produce milk with only the A2 proteins, making it naturally free of A1 proteins that may be difficult to digest.
It’s important to know that we don’t “make” A2 Protein Milk – our cows make it naturally! We don’t have to add anything or take anything away. We identify which cows are A2 cows by using a hair sample and testing their genes. After identifying all of our A2 cows, we created an A2 herd and began producing pure A2 Protein Milk!
Our A2 Protein Milk has to be processed separately from all regular milk to keep it purely A2, so we built a facility on-farm to do just that. In 2020-2021, we built a processing plant and began making our very own A2 Protein Milk. This facility allows us to produce, process and package milk on-site in less than 150 meters!
Is Walker Farms A2 Protein Milk Canadian?
Absolutely! We are proud to be Canadian dairy farmers. As fourth generation farmers, we have been raising dairy cows and producing high quality milk in Ontario for over 60 years.