If you are looking to buy a new milk for your family, you may want to consider buying a milk that comes from cows that are fed grass. These cows produce a better-tasting dairy product because the cows get to eat 100% grass. In addition to the flavor, these milks have more omega-3s, CLA (conjugated linoleic acid), and other nutrients than regular milk.
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Increased milk yield
Grassfed dairy milk has increased in popularity and demand. It’s a growing sector of the organic milk market. However, grassfed dairy farms need to meet strict regulations. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has a program that supports pasture-based farming, including grassfed dairy milk.
Various factors contribute to the nutritional value of milk. A study conducted at Penn State found that supplemental concentrate supplementation can have a significant impact on milk fat and protein.
Increasing milk yield is a common goal of pasture-based dairy farmers. Using zero grazing, also known as cut and carry, allows farmers to optimize the use of grazing land and reduce nutrient losses. In addition to increasing production, it can increase the quality of milk.
Another study at Penn State looked at the effect of supplementing cows with ground corn and non-forage fiber. This increased the amount of protein in the milk by 0.2 to 0.3%. Adding a partial total mixed ration (TMR), a mixture of feed ingredients that may include forages, grains, and legumes, can increase the amount of fiber and energy in the milk.
Improved soil fertility
The production of milk from grass-fed dairy cows differs from conventional cows in a number of ways. Milk from grass-fed cows can contain more omega-3s, which may be a health benefit to humans. However, it’s important to note that grass-fed milk does not have an official “Grass-Fed” label.
Moreover, the composition of milk from grass-fed dairy cows is influenced by the type of forage and grazing management employed on the farm. In fact, studies have shown that the quality of the forage and grazing management affect the functional and chemical properties of milk.
Specifically, research suggests that milk from cows on pasture has a higher concentration of omega-3 fatty acids than milk from cows fed a traditional grain-based diet. These fats can be critical for human health, and can help prevent certain chronic conditions.
While the consumption of grass-fed milk may be a healthy and environmentally sound choice, it is important to remember that it can also be expensive. Grass-fed cows require more space on the farm, and it takes longer to produce.
Omega-3 fatty acids
Grass-fed dairy cows produce milk with higher levels of beneficial omega-3 fatty acids than conventionally-raised dairy cattle. The higher concentration of ALA (alpha-linolenic acid) and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) in grass-fed dairy milk helps reduce the risk of metabolic and cardiovascular disease.
Grass-based dairy systems, including organic, produce milk with a healthier balance of omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids. Grass-fed dairy cows on the farm receive nearly 100% of their Dry Matter Intake from forage-based feeds.
Organic Valley (OV) tested the fatty acid composition of milk from farms that fed 100% forage-based feeds before launching its national Grassmilk brand. Their results showed that organic milk has a significantly lower overall dietary omega-6 to omega-3 ratio than conventionally-raised milk.
OV also found that switching from conventional to organic dairy products reduced the LA to ALA ratio of milk by more than half. This decrease may have contributed to an increase in the total amount of CLA in the diet.
Reduced greenhouse gas emissions
The goal of this study was to identify entry points for mitigating greenhouse gas emissions from small-scale dairy farms in Lembang Sub-district, West Java, Indonesia. For this purpose, life cycle assessment (LCA) of small-scale dairy farms was carried out. This included calculations of GHG emissions per hectare, total system GHG emissions and milk carbon footprint.
In addition, the study used data on the characteristics of farms producing the highest and lowest levels of milk. The most productive farms had 15% lower emissions of GHGs than the least productive farms.
The study aims to examine how reducing dairy cows’ energy consumption could reduce greenhouse gas emissions. A higher amount of feed intake reduces the emission intensity of a kilogram of product, so increasing dairy cow productivity may be a promising climate change mitigation strategy.
It is expected that the overall global demand for dairy products will increase over the next decade. Therefore, agricultural food production systems need to maximize efficiencies. Dairy production systems are responsible for around 30% of anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions.