Just like you and I, cows have basic needs to survive and thrive. Here at Freedom Hill Farm, these needs are our priority. Simply put there are 3 main factors that affect how cows feel: Food/Diet, Comfort and Social environment. Today we will focus on what they like to eat.
Just like humans, what cows eat plays a big role in how they feel and how much milk they produce. Our cows are grass-fed which means they don’t eat corn or high-starch grain based feeds. Grass is easy for cows to digest. Fresh, young grass is high in sugar which gives them the energy they need. It’s also packed with lots of vitamins and minerals which makes their milk extra nutritious. Cows are extraordinary animals, they have bugs that live in their stomach which help them digest fiber (the tough parts of plant materials that most other animals can’t digest), so they get even more energy out of their food. The bugs also provide the cows with a balanced protein source, helping to keep them extra full and healthy.
In the winter when there is no fresh grass, we feed dry hay and fermented grass which cows love. The dry hay gives them lots of fiber and a little bit of protein. Fermented grasses give them more protein and carbohydrates (energy) for the bugs to break down and make sure they get a balanced meal.
If they need more fresh sugar we can give them molasses which has similar sugars to grass and is easy for them to digest- but they only get a little bit otherwise they’ll get a tummy ache! We work with Cochecton Mills to get our feeds tested and make sure our cows get the nutrients they need to stay healthy and happy.
