Haymilk facts for kids

Heumilch in Italian (left) and German (right)

Haymilk is a special kind of milk that comes from animals like cows, sheep, or goats. These animals mostly eat fresh grass in summer and dry hay in winter. They do not eat fermented food, which is often called silage. This traditional way of feeding animals is common in the Alps mountains.

The name "Haymilk" is protected in the UK and the European Union. This means only milk made in this specific way can be called haymilk. It is registered as a Traditional Speciality Guaranteed (TSG) product.

How Haymilk is Made

Haymilk comes from animals that follow a special diet.

What Animals Eat

• In summer: Animals mainly eat fresh grass, clover, and leaves.
• In winter: They mostly eat dry hay.
• Other foods: They can also have some green plants like rapeseed or corn. They might also eat some grains like wheat or oats, and beans.
• Forbidden foods: Animals that produce haymilk are not allowed to eat certain things. These include waste products, old fruit, or potatoes. They also cannot eat fermented foods (silage).

What is Traditional Speciality Guaranteed?

A Traditional Speciality Guaranteed (TSG) label is like a special badge for food products. It means the food is made using traditional methods. It also means the food has a traditional recipe or ingredients. This label helps protect the product's name and its special qualities.

For haymilk, three different types are registered as TSG. This depends on the animal that gives the milk. The name is protected in many languages.

Haymilk in Cheese Making

Haymilk is very important for making certain types of cheese. Some famous cheeses must be made only from haymilk. These include cheeses from the Alps region, such as:

• Vorarlberger Bergkäse
• Vorarlberger Alpkäse
• Tiroler Bergkäse
• Tiroler Almkäse

These cheeses often have a special label called Protected Designation of Origin. This label means the cheese comes from a specific place and is made in a traditional way.