Organic stewardship at Aurora Organic begins with the care and stewardship of our animals to ensure their health, well-being and comfort. In our experience, healthy organic cows are those which lead stress-free lives, fed with rich organic forages and feed crops and cared for by experienced employees. These healthy, organic cows produce high-quality, delicious organic milk. Domesticated millennia ago, dairy cows have provided a valuable source of food to the human diet to a degree that milk is practically inseparable from a notion of good nutrition. Our long-term experience in organic dairy has proven to us that good, organic milk starts with healthy, organic cows.
Our organic cows are mostly Holsteins, with a few Jerseys, Guernseys and Brown Swiss. These wonderful animals are renowned for their hardiness and curiosity, as well as their gentle natures. All of the female calves born on our farms are integrated into the herd at two years old, while our cows are bred naturally to bulls from outside the herd to maintain genetic diversity and healthiness.
Healthy Cows are Contented Cows
An organic dairy is only as healthy and productive as its organic cows. Creating a stress-free, natural environment where cows lead healthy, productive lives is the first step an organic dairy must take.
To us, a healthy cow is the following:
- A contented cow that lives outdoors all year-round, with 24-hour access to water, and that is fed a nutritionally-balanced diet of organic pasture, organic mixed forages (such as alfalfa hay, grass hay and silages), organic grain (such as soymeal, ground corn, wheat, sunflower and flax seeds) and an organic vitamin and mineral supplement. Learn more about our Organic Feed.
- A cow free of infections, diseases and parasites that is never given antibiotics. If ever sick, the cow is treated in our “Early Sick Cow” program -– rest, fluids, homeopathic and probiotic treatments, with a focus on preventative healthcare and early recognition.
- Living as naturally as possible, a healthy cow gets pregnant on time, doesn’t have problems during its birth and doesn’t have reproductive constraints.
- Healthy reproduction is paramount to a dairy farm. We choose to breed our cows with bulls rather than through artificial insemination, as we feel this is the more natural process.
- Healthy cows are well-cared for by compassionate specialists in animal husbandry and maternity, veterinary science, animal nutrition and herd management. We have pasture herdsmen and herdswomen, maternity specialists, feed mixers, large animal veterinarians, crop farmers and corral maintainers, to name just a few of our animal management experts. We employ these experts on a full-time basis so our cows are constantly watched over by people who specialize in caring properly for them.
- The best sign of a healthy cow is a productive cow that gives high-quality, delicious milk. Our milk consistently ranks in the top percentile for flavor, nutritive value and quality.
Healthy Cows Are Relaxed Cows
Another key element to preserving the health of our cows is the reduction of stress. The life of a domesticated animal can be very stressful if the care of their environment is not closely managed. We go to great lengths to give our cows a stress-free environment so that they may live natural, happy lives.
Relaxed cows:
- Have good nutrition so that there is no stress from food and so that their milk production does not unduly tax their body systems.
- Have access to pasture so that grazed forage is a part of the diet.
- Are milked 3 times a day to reduce stress on the udder. This frequent milking more closely mimics how often a cow would nurse her calf.
- Do not stand on concrete for long stretches of time, which stresses their feet and legs.
- Live outdoors all year-round, rather than spending months of the winter living in dark, concrete-floored barns.
- Have clean bedding and corrals.
- Have loafing sheds and shelter available at all times.
- In the hotter climate of Texas, have fans and misters to cool the animals in the heat of summer.
- Are watched over all the time by people who are experts in their care.
We dedicate significant resources to creating a healthful, stress-free environment in which our contented cows live and work because we understand that the first principle of organic dairying is the health and well-being of our organic cows.