The cornerstone of an organic dairy is the comprehensive health program that is used to keep organic cows healthy and productive. Just as in human health, cow health is comprised of a number of important factors that affect the overall well-being of the animal. We are focused on a general system of health maintenance –- this system focuses on the environment, nutrition, stress-reduction and “early sick cow” recognition. To this end, we have a dedicated, full-time staff of animal health specialists ranging from large animal veterinarians to feed managers and maternity specialists.
The Environment: Our farms are located in Colorado and Texas, two climates with excellent environmental factors for raising healthy, productive organic cows. Our dry environment is naturally lower in parasites, bacteria, animal diseases, plant diseases, destructive insects, and “bugs” in general. Weeds are less prevalent and require less expensive eradication. The climate is good for organic dairy animal health, with lots of sunshine (over 300 sunny days per year), fresh dry air for good ventilation and lung health and mild dry summers with lower heat / humidity index, leading to less heat stress. The winters are dry and sunny as well, allowing not just occasional “outside access” but nearly daily outside residence, resulting in much greater exercise compared to barn-confined animals elsewhere and lower rates of leg and foot problems. Animals are meant to live outdoors with constant access to air, light and water. While our cattle have access to shade and shelter should they need it, they live outside as they are meant to. Many dairies located in harsher climates have to keep their cows living in barns throughout the harsh winter months. Like all organic cows, our animals are never exposed to the chemicals commonly used in non-organic dairies or on non-organic feed crops.
Nutrition: Our animal health program focuses on providing proper nutrition. As with human nutrition, there have been great advances in understanding about what constitutes a balanced, healthy diet for milk cows. Health is dependent on obtaining this excellent diet. As such, our animal nutritionists have devised a proper diet for our cows which consists of organic mixed-grass forages, organic silage, organic grain and an organic vitamin and mineral supplement. Please visit Organic Feed to learn more about our animal nutrition. All pasture and food is organic, which we believe also contributes to the overall health of our animals.
Stress-Reduction: A stressful environment can lead to illness and poor immunity. For example, leaving a cow to stand on cold concrete in a dark barn has been shown to increase several different health problems including hock joint injuries, lameness and teat injuries. Exposure to stressful conditions can lower an animal’s resistance and make them vulnerable to infections and disease. As such, we work to eliminate as many stress-factors in the lives of our cattle as possible. Living outdoors, obtaining a healthy, balanced diet designed for optimum nutrition, being milked 3 times per day and living in an ideal climate all contribute to a minimally-stressful existence for our contented cows.
Early Sick Cow Recognition: We invest significant resources on preventative health management. Because we have a dedicated staff of animal health experts, we are able to manage an “Early Sick Cow Recognition” program. This program requires close attention to all of our cows so that should any one of them appear to be in less than optimal health they can be treated early with preventative techniques. In many cases, these techniques are the same ones used for humans. For example, recognizing when a cow needs extra rest and extra fluids, or perhaps providing homeopathic or probiotic remedies. Often, we find that if we are able to recognize a potentially sick cow before she has become fully sick and we treat her with the various methods listed above, we are able to avoid more serious illnesses. Should a cow ever become more seriously sick, the cow is removed from the herd in order to prevent the spread of sickness.
Natural Breeding: Our dairies are among the only dairies in America, organic or conventional, which rely completely on natural breeding rather than artificial insemination for reproduction. We have very experienced and talented reproduction experts who successfully manage our breeding program with completely natural methods. These methods result in excellent rates of reproduction and a system that is much closer to the organic ideal of promoting “natural behaviors” for our animals. Once pregnant, our cows are treated with very special care and close attention by experts who have an extensive knowledge of this unique time in each animal’s life.
Animal Health Specialists: We have several thousand animals under our management on our farms. In order to provide the close attention and the dedicated organic stewardship techniques to maintain their health and well-being, we employ nearly 110 various animal specialists. We have herdsmen, milkers, maternity specialists, feed mixers, pasture herdsmen, quality managers, outside managers, farm managers, farm research development directors, large animal veterinarians, crop farmers and corral maintainers. This dedicated staff manages every aspect of our sustainable, organic dairies. Compassionate and trained to properly care for the animals, our cows are always in good hands!
Other Organic Principles: The raising of healthy, organic cows differs significantly from the raising of non-organic cows. We consider these differences key elements to the health of the animals.
Organic cows are:
- NEVER treated with antibiotics. The widespread use of antibiotics in animals, and in humans, has resulted in strains of diseases that are antibiotic-resistant. Excessive antibiotic use may also reduce the natural hardiness and disease-resistance of an animal. There is significant concern about the long-term health effects of widespread antibiotic use. We reject the use of antibiotics for our animals.
- NEVER given growth hormones. This practice, instigated as a method to unnaturally increase milk production, is forbidden by the organic rules. There is some concern that the use of such hormones may negatively affect human health.
- NEVER treated with synthetic pesticides or various other forbidden substances that are commonly used on conventional diaries and farms.
- NEVER given feed or grazed on pasture that has been treated with synthetic fertilizers, chemical pesticides, herbicides or fungicides or that contain genetically-modified organisms. Organic cows eat organic food.
- NEVER fed animal-derived feed. This practice has been linked to the spread of “Mad Cow” Disease (BSE) and raises concerns about humane animal treatment as well as the implications for human and animal health. The organic system always maintains strict “no animal byproduct” rules.
Our organic cows thrive due to our devotion to the management of their health and well-being. Healthy, organic cows produce healthy, organic milk.