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Organic milk, grass-fed cows and yoga

Vital with Kristján Oddsson and Dóra Ruf, at Neðri Háls in Kjós

Kristján Oddsson and Dóra Ruf are engaged in organic milk production at Neðra Háls in Kjós. When the milk has been pasteurized by MS, it is sent on to Biobú, which is owned by the couple. It makes organic yogurt, Greek yogurt, skyr and more. Hrefna Sætran chatted with them.

Why organic pods? Kristján: I have always had a problem with artificial fertilizers. I noticed as a boy that he had to burn the fields. One could hardly inhale it or have one's fingers in it, it is so poisonous. Later, I went into organic research and soon noticed that many people had begun to think along similar lines. But it was probably not until I met my wife from Switzerland that I began to take this really seriously. And even more serious when I started practicing yoga and listening to the yoga teacher talk about how important diet is. It's probably been around 1984.

Were you among the first in this country? Dóra: Yes, it might be said. We introduced our first organic carrots in 1989. We actually started growing organic vegetables and then moved on to milk. At that time there were no standards for organic farming, but in 1992 a regulation was issued on organic farming. We got a certification for our milk in 1996.

When it came to marketing this organic milk, I wanted it to be pasteurized. But with that, everything went wrong in society. Subsequently, we collaborated with MS. They did not manage to sell all the milk from us, so we reacted to the idea of starting a company that buys the milk back, which they cannot sell. Biobú became. But the collaboration with MS is very good and they help us with distribution.

What makes your milk healthier? Kristján: We made the decision to only feed on grass, which is very important for the fat composition of the milk. What also happens is that the proportions of omega fatty acids are completely reversed. Organic milk contains more Omega-3. This is important because today people are consuming too little Omega-3 but too much Omega-6. This is good for improving balance. It is most desirable that the proportions be equal.

What's so good about grass? Dora: Animals are herbivores. The grass contains Omega-3, which is the grass' antifreeze. It is actually positive how cold it is in Iceland because that way we get more Omega-3 in the grass. The higher the grass grows in the mountains, the healthier it will be.

Do cows milk as much when they are fed grass? No, they milk less. Our average is 3800 liters per year but the national average is 6000 liters. In order to fill the quota, we need more cows, but of course that means more work.

Where do you get your own milk? Kristján: We live on unpasteurized milk. We use it on the porridge. Then we often mix seeds and flakes together which we leave in milk. If there is no milk in the fridge, we go to the barn to get it.

Dora, did you work in Switzerland? Dora: No, but my grandfather did. I learned to milk when I came here. I'm an educated teacher. I came to Iceland as a tourist to get to know a country and a nation. Then I met Kidda. I have been getting to know a country and a nation ever since, or for 28 years.