At Mecox Bay Dairy, we believe that ‘Happy Cows Make Happy Cheese!’ Animal comfort and care is paramount and a driving concern of all that we do. Our capable herdsman, Claes Cassel, has spent over thirty years in the care and keeping of cattle, and tends to our herd of over 20 milkers. We also raise heifer calves born here on the farm, along with ten beef cows per year.

Our beef cows are all grass-fed on over 30 acres of pasture that has been in the Ludlow family for five generations. Our milking cows are also primarily pastured, eating hay in the winter, which makes for excellent milk and therefore delicious cheese!

Most people who visit us expect to see Holsteins – black and white cows – but we raise exclusively Jersey cows. Jerseys are not only known for being especially sweet and friendly, but also for producing milk that is higher in fat and protein. For a cheese-making operation, this is an important quality, as it contributes to the uniquely rich and flavorful quality of our cheeses.

All our cheeses are made with raw milk: milk that has never been pasteurized. The pasteurization process destroys all probiotics and vitamins that occur naturally in cows’ milk, and the cheese that comes from pasteurized milk is inevitably less flavorful. When you purchase a gallon, we bottle it here on the farm right in front of you, so you can be sure that your milk is pure and fresh.

A great deal of care goes into the making of each cheese – we believe this is the way it should be. Our artisan approach produces unique cheese you won’t find anywhere else. Because it’s handmade, you can expect to encounter subtle differences wheel-to-wheel, but the high quality and depth of flavor is constant. 

We recommend trying each one to find your favorite. As Art likes to say, his favorite cheese is whichever one he is eating at the moment!

All of our beef cows are raised on the farm, antibiotic-free, and grass-fed on our 30 acres of pasture. Beef is USDA inspected and humanely processed by Smucker's Meats in Mount Joy, PA. We offer the following cuts of beef:

Our pigs are 100% Berkshire heritage breed, known for making the most flavorful pork. Producing pork fosters a symbiotic relationship with the dairy because the pigs are fed whey, a byproduct of our cheese-making operation. This diet also contributes to the superior quality of the meat. Like our beef, our pork is antibiotic-free and USDA inspected & processed at Smucker's Meats. We offer the following pork products:

Our famous Thanksgiving turkeys are raised on pasture next door to our cattle, and served to you fresh, juicy and delicious! Bring the joy of #localism to your Thanksgiving table.

Reserve your 2023 turkey here.