Herd-share only in Michigan. Herd shares are permitted under Department of Agriculture policy and require a written contract. Only fluid milk and cream may be transferred, no value-added dairy products.
Last reviewed: 2026-05-08. Source: Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund. Verify with the Michigan Department of Agriculture before buying or selling.
Tier
Herd-share only
Retail legal
No
On-farm legal
No
Herd share legal
Yes
Pet food allowed
Yes (separate licensing)
What Michigan actually allows
Herd shares are permitted under Department of Agriculture policy and require a written contract. Only fluid milk and cream may be transferred, no value-added dairy products.
Legal channels for Michigan raw milk buyers: herd shares or cow shares.
Find a working dairy in Michigan
Live directory, filtered to raw milk in your area.
Retail and direct on-farm sales are not legal in Michigan, but herd shares are. You purchase an ownership share in the herd from a participating dairy, then pay a monthly boarding fee. The milk you receive is technically your own, not a "sale," and is legal under the state's herd-share rules. Use the live directory to find dairies in Michigan that offer herd shares.
Herd-share only in Michigan. Herd shares are permitted under Department of Agriculture policy and require a written contract. Only fluid milk and cream may be transferred, no value-added dairy products.
Where can I buy raw milk in Michigan?
In Michigan the legal channels are: herd shares or cow shares. Use the farm-to-door directory filtered to Michigan to find working dairies near you.
Are herd shares legal in Michigan?
Yes. Herd shares are recognized in Michigan. The buyer purchases an ownership interest in the herd, then pays a monthly boarding fee for the milk they receive.
Can I bring raw milk into Michigan from another state?
Federal law prohibits selling raw milk across state lines for human consumption, but does not prohibit possession or personal consumption. You may legally bring raw milk you bought in a legal state into Michigan for your own use. You may not legally resell it.