Ever wonder where your milk really comes from? Dr. Michelle Schack didn't grow up on a farm, but she's become one of dairy farming's most trusted voices. As a UC Davis-trained veterinarian, co-founder of DairyKind, and TikTok educator with over 400,000 followers, Michelle bridges the gap between consumers and the dairy industry.

In this episode, we dive deep into the questions most of us are too afraid to ask: Why are antibiotics in milk such a concern? What does "factory farm" actually mean? How do we know our milk is safe? Michelle shares the truth about modern dairy farming, animal welfare audits, and why technology on farms is often designed to help animals live better lives.

We also explore the concept of "bucket terms"—words like "factory farm" that mean different things to different people—and why clarifying our definitions is essential to solving real problems in our food system.

Key Topics Discussed

Understanding Dairy Safety:

• Why antibiotics aren't in your milk (withdrawal periods explained)
• How milk is tested for safety (tanker testing vs. spot checks)
• The difference between organic and conventional milk safety standards
• Veterinary prescription requirements for antibiotics in dairy

Animal Welfare & Farm Audits:

• How veterinarians assess cow welfare on dairy farms
• The National Dairy Farm Program (covering 99% of milk supply)
• Pre-audit systems and ongoing veterinary oversight
• Why modern dairy cows may live better lives than those 100 years ago

The "Bucket Terms" Problem:

• What "factory farm" means to different people
• Why terminology matters in food system conversations
• How to have productive discussions about agriculture
• The importance of defining terms before debating solutions

Education & Transparency:

• DairyKind: training farm workers in multiple languages
• Why farmers want what's best for animals (regardless of farm size)
• The disconnect in our food system (farmers don't know where food goes, consumers don't know where it comes from)
• Using social media to answer consumer questions

Behind the Scenes:

• What happens during a cow C-section
• How dairy farms use technology to improve animal comfort
• The reality of small farms vs. large farms
• Why buying from "your neighbor with a cow" isn't automatically better

Guest Bio

Dr. Michelle Schack is a California-raised, UC Davis-trained veterinarian specializing in dairy cattle. After growing up in Alameda County without knowing where her food came from, she now helps bridge the gap between consumers and agriculture as "The Dairy Doc" on social media. Michelle is the co-founder of DairyKind, an education company providing training for dairy farm workers in multiple languages. She's passionate about transparency, animal welfare, and helping people make informed food choices.

Connect with Michelle:

• Instagram/TikTok/Facebook: @dairydoc
• YouTube: Dairy Doc (coming soon!)
• Website: michelleschack.com
• DairyKind: dairykind.com