Meet the Coelhos

Frank and Bernadette Coelho run their organic dairy farm with the help of their four children: Frank Jr., Clarissa, Elainna and Chantelle. The Coelhos milk 220 cows and manage 312 acres of certified organic land, 262 of which are in permanent pasture.

Frank is a third-generation dairy farmer, and the Coelhos have owned their present farm since 1982. They were first certified organic in 1999. The Coelhos have always pastured their cows, but in 2000 they began an "intensive rotational grazing" system, where the cows are rotated through a series of small pasture "paddocks" each day to browse on fresh grass. Rotational grazing is a very efficient way to feed, because the cows do all the harvesting, saving both labor and fuel (less tractor use). The cows also distribute manure uniformly across the pastures, recycling soil fertility and minimizing polluting runoff. Rotational grazing also helps to prevent soil erosion, since most of the land is in permanent grass.

Studies show that grass-fed cows produce milk with more Omega-3 fatty acids, which have shown promise at promoting health and preventing some forms of cancer. So not only is grazing healthier for the cows and the land, it's good for milk drinkers too!