8 Things You Should Know About Grass-Fed Dairy

A dozen cows grazing in a lush green field, while a farmer holds grass and looks on; mountains in the background.

Animals outside, where they belong, eating what they’re supposed to eat — is it any surprise this leads to tasty, nutritious milk? Read on to learn why grass-fed dairy just makes sense.

1. All Certified Organic Milk Is Grass-Fed

USDA Organic standards require that, during the grazing season, all organic dairy cows spend a minimum of 120 days on pasture and receive at least 30% of their diet from fresh pasture grasses. On average across our co-op, Organic Valley farms far exceed this standard, with our pasture-raised cows receiving more than 50% of their diet from pasture during the grazing season.

2. Organic Valley Cows’ Diets Are Centered on Grass

The term “grass-fed” can mean a little or a lot of grass in the diet, but at Organic Valley, we’re very picky about how it’s used. The term is not regulated across the dairy industry, and this may mean the is used very loosely. To us, "grass-fed" cows should receive the majority of their diet from grass and forages.

To address the problem of inconsistency and confusion around grass-fed label claims, we worked with other organic industry leaders to launch a Certified Grass-Fed Organic Livestock Program. This certification provides a definition for what “grass-fed” means for organic dairy, verifiable standards for third-party certification, and a Certified Grass-fed Organic Dairy seal so that you will know what you’re getting when you see it on organic foods. In fact, Grassmilk^® farms were some of the first to get certified by this program!

Two cows enjoy grazing on grass in the pasture.

3. Not All Grass-Fed Is the Same

The terms grass-fed, 100% grass-fed, and pasture-raised describe different, overlapping aspects of how a cow is raised. All Organic Valley cows are pasture-raised and “grass-fed,” but not all are “100% grass-fed.” Our pasture-raised cows may receive a ration of grain in their diets to ensure balanced nutrition, but grass and forages still make up the bulk of their diet. (Read more about what “pasture-raised” means here.) Farmers must follow a rigorous process to make the claim of 100% grass-fed. Not all farms (or breeds of cow) are suited for a 100% grass-fed diet. Milk from our 100% grass-fed cows goes into our Grassmilk^® line of dairy products.

4. The 100% Grass-Fed Difference

100% grass-fed dairy means exactly what it says: milk from cows that eat grass and only grass.

No corn, no soy, and no other grains, ever. The cows may receive nutritional supplements if needed, like molasses and minerals, but it’s a very small amount — similar to a human taking a daily vitamin. Our Grassmilk^® products are made by 100% grass-fed cows.

A boy and girl sit in green pasture and a cow comes over to watch. — Elsenpeter family farm, Minnesota

5. More Grass, More Omega-3s

Organic grass-fed milk and 100% grass-fed milk both contain more beneficial fatty acids.

Peer-reviewed studies have shown that a higher proportion of grass in a cow’s diet translates to measurably higher levels of beneficial CLA and omega-3 fatty acids, and an optimal ratio of omega-3 to omega-6.

6. Organic Grass-Fed Dairy Supports Soil Health

Organic agriculture, by definition, does not use toxic chemicals or synthetic fertilizers that contribute to environmental pollution. On top of that, permanent perennial agriculture like pasture has been shown to reduce runoff and build healthier soil. Organic and grass-fed is the model for sustainable dairy practices of the future.

7. Taste the Grass-fed Difference

The more grass in a cow’s diet, the more flavor and creaminess you’ll taste in the milk. You can taste these unique flavor profiles in 100% grass-fed dairy like our Grassmilk^® milk, and even more so in cultured product like our Grassmilk^® cheese, which further concentrate those flavors.

Holstein cows on organic pasture under blue skies and white clouds. — Cows on organic pasture at the Miller farm, Iowa.

8. What Grass-Fed Means for Beef

Grass-fed beef is distinctly its own industry, where “grass-fed” (or “grassfed”) is used in a variety of ways.

Similar to grass-fed dairy, feeding beef cows mostly or all grass is good for the animal and results in beef containing around 50% more beneficial omega-3 fatty acids than non-organic, grain-fed beef. But “grass-fed” is sometimes misused in the beef industry to describe any animal fed grass at any given time in its life, even if it’s just a little bit. You may see an additional term, “grass-finished,” on a package, but that doesn’t necessarily mean the cow lived its life grazing pasture. That’s why it’s important to know where your food comes from!