Grazing on Pasture
Grazing – Back to the Future of Dairy Farming
Grazing is a traditional, yet sophisticated method of feeding dairy cows by providing them fields where they harvest fresh, growing pasture – their original diet. The herd gets a fresh, new paddock (about the size of a football field) after each milking, morning and evening. They rotate their way completely around the farm, paddock-by-paddock, starting over at the first field when the grass has regrown. The cows get exercise, stay healthy, and produce milk with an abundance of high-quality, nutrients. The land stays carpeted with grass … a living, erosion-proof groundcover. Up until the 1950’s, most dairy cows were fed on pasture.
Studies at the University of Wisconsin Center for Dairy Profitability* show grazing farms use less fossil fuel, have lower veterinary bills, erode less topsoil and achieve better profitability than conventional farms. Grazing is easier on the land, easier on the cows, and easier on the farmer. It also results in more nutrient-dense food for the public. Grazing is a win-win-win, sustainable style of agriculture. We truly appreciate your support of grazing as a vital alternative in food production, animal husbandry and land stewardship.