Cows eat grass & grass is grass - Right?
Pasture is the most natural place for a cow to live and the cows that produce the milk for our yoghurt and kefir spend a good part of the summer just there.
On pasture, they eat many different plants that grow here and because they have to come into the barn for milking, they also love to browse on the leaves of the trees and shrubs that line their laneways as well as that of their fields.
The main grass species we find in our pastures are Orchard, Timothy, Brome and Rye grass, tall, Creeping Red and Meadow fescue and Kentucky blue grass. Then there are the various clovers that are very important because they fix nitrogen which helps the grasses to grow better. From the clover family, we see mostly Birdsfoot trefoil, White and Red clover and Alfalfa. The grasses and clovers provide the bulk of the nutritional needs for the cows and because they do not require annual tillage and reseeding they are very energy-efficient plants that help us reduce our carbon footprint.
Beyond Grass
There are also many herbs that grow on the pastures like Wild Carrot, Dandelion and Chicory — to name just a few, and they play a very important role. Like we use spices in our food preparation, so do cows enjoy these herbs. Plus, in small amounts, they have medicinal properties and the cows will look for them when needed. It is a whole interrelated ecosystem which develops uniquely depending on geography, climate and use and we as farmers have to respect and cultivate it.
But going out on pasture has a lot more benefits than that.
Pasture is Best
First, there is the exercise of getting there and walking while feeding. They move as a herd and this is important because they feel most comfortable in a group and can practise their social interactions freely.
As they eat and digest the plants and produce the wonderful milk, they also make the best fertilizer for the land and drop it right there where it is needed. This saves energy and labour to spread manure and closes the eternal loop of regenerative farming.
While doing this, they enjoy sunshine and rain and everything in between (all of the elements!) This is as stimulating for them as it is for us humans.
No matter what the weather, they love to go out, though when the sun gets hot during the height of summer they seek a shady and windy spot and then the barn can be a much-preferred place during the day because cows can not deal with heat very well.
So, it is a fine balancing act for us, farmers, to provide the necessary comforts of a barn during hot or inclement weather while still allowing them the many advantages of pasturing whenever possible.
NOTICED SOMETHING NEW?
Our cups are going green — by going paper. As you may have suspected, we have changed the material that our yoghurt cups are made of in keeping with our mission to reduce our ecological footprint wherever possible.
The new board is 100% recyclable. This means that when you recycle your cup after enjoying our products, the cup now breaks down much easier and more of it can be reused.
