There is no denying that feeding cows grass is the best way to feed them.  They are ruminants, they have multiple stomachs, and they can turn green grass into rich milk and meat.

On the other side of the grass-fed debate is the grain-fed cows.

This is where people get snarky

We can all agree that putting cows into a feedlot and forcing them to eat only grain (and who knows what else) is not good.

One of the downsides to the feedlot system was the decline in the nutrition in the meat.  Feedlots caused the amount of CLA in the meat to plummet, the Omega 6 (bad fats) to skyrocket and the Omega 3 (good fats) to decrease.  source

Grain-feeding is not good or natural for cattle.

1. It’s bad for the cows.
2. It’s bad for those who consume dairy or meat products from these animals.
3. It is bad for the environment.  You can not imagine how much manure a herd of cows can produce.  Enclose cattle into a dry lot (no grass) and before long they will literally be thigh-high in their own manure.
4. And it is bad for the farmers caring for those herds too.

“This (feedlot finishing) paved the way for an epidemic explosion in rates of cancer, weight gain, diabetes, and heart disease. This becomes obvious when comparing causes of death statistics from 1900 to those of today.”  -Global Ag Investing

Grass-fed is so much better.

BUT…

There is a HUGE “BUT”  in this conversation.

I do not think grain is evil

I believe it is OK to feed a little grain to a grass-fed cow.  

Gras-fed is more of an art than a “put the cow in the grassy field.”

All Grasses are not equal.  All cows are not equal.

This is why we have elected to raise PASTURED cows instead of GRASS-FED cows.

PATURED is different from GRASS-FED

Pastured cows live in pastures.  BUT they get other healthy stuff too!

My cows are on beautiful pastures and eat all the fresh grass they want.  In addition to the fields, they have free-choice (always access) hay and I give them a little grain each day.

My milk cows get grain every day, usually when they are in the milk barn.  This grain is a locally made mixture of corn, beans, and wheat.  It is filled with protein, vitamins, and minerals.

It is kinda like an ‘insurance policy’ for the cow.

It is hard to know if a pasture is providing all of a cow’s dietary needs.  In order to avoid health-surprises, we give our cows access to good minerals and a few pounds of cattle feed each day.

Cows have nutritional needs just like the rest of us.  And just as different foods supply different needed substances, different grasses supply the many dietary needs of cows.

And, y’all brace yourself…

If you thought that buying products labeled grass-fed meant that the animal never ate corn, you may be surprised to learn

Corn is a grass.

Corn is not as bad for cows as you may have been told.

Did you know that cows can consume the ENTIRE corn plant – not just the little yellow kernels on the cobb?

The ENTIRE corn plant is good for cattle.

I believe we all are trying to do the absolute best we can for our cows and have good intent in our hearts.

I am not an expert on the dietary needs of cows.

I’m going to jump on my soapbox here and say that I believe you can feed a pastured cow a few scoops of (healthy) grain, and still maintain the grass-fed goodness.  Offering a little grain while I milk, does not make all the probiotics, good fats and nutrition disappear.

Does that make sense?

People much smarter than me have determined that feeding small amounts of (healthy) grain to a cow does not suddenly condemn her or her dairy products into unhealthy foods.  Nor does a scoop of feed suddenly remove all the CLA and Omega 3’s from her milk.

I want to give you permission to feed your cow some healthy feed.  

Why should you consider giving your grass-fed cow a little grain?

Because she may need it.

You may think your cow is in great condition and then one day it can fall apart.

Trust me, I’ve been there.

Wobbling, shaking, stumbling, can’t walk.

If you own cows for a while, you will eventually experience a few bumps or medical issues.

Many of these problems are a result of something missing from their diet.

• milk fever is a lack of calcium
• grass tetany is a lack of magnesium
• ketosis is a lack of carbs
• low phosphorus can cause weakness and muscular issues

Many of these issues can be avoided if the cow is consuming a balanced diet.

Crazy eh?

I’m not saying that if you give your milk cow a bucket of grain each day you will never have a sick cow, what I am saying is that you may deal with fewer problems if her dietary needs are met.

A GOOD DIET

A sufficient diet for a cow includes pasture, free-choice hay, good minerals, extra magnesium during peak grass-growing seasons, extra calcium when calving, AND giving them the best diet you can on a daily basis.

Giving our cow high-quality cattle feed each day has been amazing for her health.  She looks better, she has more energy, and she is in great condition (not too thin, not overweight).

What grain do we feed our gal?

As I mentioned, a local feed mill makes our cattle feed for us.  Our vet had a say in the mixture.  We give our cow 6 pounds (three in the morning, three in the evening) of her feed each day.  It is a 16% protein feed made with corn, beans, and wheat.

Offering them a little grain in addition to their free-choice hay and pasture is one step we can take to keep them at their best.  I look at my cow with pride and know that she is not only the prettiest cow in the world, she is also one of the healthiest.

XO,

Candi

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