Besides the occasional backyard garden or homemade bread, many of us today aren’t up close and personal with where our food comes from. So, it’s natural to wonder where exactly we get our beloved milk, butter, cheese and, of course, ice cream. Well, it’s a story of farm to table, ethical dairy farming and the farm families who care for their cows with integrity and intention.
From the rolling hills of New England to the open plains of Texas, and in nearly every other state across the nation, the dairy farms of Dairy Farmers of America (DFA) are family-owned and operated. They’re small businesses, often passed down from generation to generation, run by family farmers who choose this calling as their life’s work and show a deep respect for their animals every day.
In fact, more than 85% of DFA farms have herds of 114 cows or smaller. These are farm families that name their cows. One farm in Ohio has named all 110 of their cows with notable monikers like Skippy John Jones, Black Beauty and Whisper. Another farm in Kansas has a favorite saying they live by: “When we take care of the cows, they take care of us.”
These are just a couple of the nearly 5,500 DFA farms across the country who love their cows and are making delicious dairy — ethically, responsibly and sustainably.
What is ethical dairy farming?
For our
family dairy farmers, ethical dairy farming isn't just a practice, it's a deeply held belief that comes to life through exceptional animal care, proactive environmental stewardship and a commitment to enriching their local communities. It’s also nothing new; they’ve been practicing ethical dairy farming for generations.
It involves treating dairy cows with care and respect, ensuring they have access to clean water, proper nutrition and comfortable living conditions. Ethical dairy farming also means implementing
sustainable farming practices that minimize environmental impact, practices such as recycling water and responsibly managing waste. It also means fostering
community development, such as hosting farm tours, sitting on local school boards and more.
Ethical dairy farming is not just about producing milk; it's about nurturing a system that respects animals, conserves resources and supports farmers and their communities for generations to come.
How do dairy farmers care for their cows?
For dairy farmers, cow care comes first. It’s always top of mind, and dairy farmers ensure the happiness and healthiness of their cows in a variety of ways.
First, dairy cows can eat, drink, move and lounge whenever they want. This freedom is just the beginning, and dairy farmers work hard to provide a cozy barn for their cows, complete with comfortable bedding (perfect for those long, leisurely cow naps) and fine dining on nutritious feed. Self-grooming tools like mechanical brushes allow the cows to scratch their ears, massage their behinds or to just stay clean — keeping them looking and feeling good. This all makes for some seriously content cows.
Ways dairy farmers keep their cows comfortable and happy:
- Fresh bedding daily, such as water beds and sand bedding (like at the beach!)
- Nutritious feed to support them and the production of high-quality milk. (Cows are fed a healthy, balanced diet that includes all the nutrients a cow needs in one optimal mixture)
- Fresh water available at all times
- Food available throughout the day
- Fans and misters to stay cool in the summer months
- Heating systems and curtains to keep the barn warm during the winter
- Mechanical cow brushes for self-grooming
- Fitbit®-like devices track cows' movements to provide insights for farmers on the health of each cow
In addition, imagine having your own dietitian and doctor at your beck and call. Well, dairy cows do thanks to nutritionists and veterinarians.
Nutritionists work with dairy farmers to create exactly the right formula to feed the cows, making sure the ladies have well-balanced, healthy meals. Their meals often include a mix of hay, grains, protein sources, vitamins and minerals. Some interesting and sustainable practices include feeding cows food scraps and byproducts that would otherwise go to the landfill, such as almond hulls, citrus peels and even chocolate for added energy. These practices not only keep the cows healthy but also contribute to environmental sustainability by reducing food waste.
Veterinarians work with dairy farmers to maintain the health of their herd. It all starts with regular farm visits to prevent the cows from becoming ill. Veterinarians focus on keeping herds healthy — rather than just treating cows when they’re sick. Antibiotics are used only when warranted and follow strict withdrawal periods, where the milk is kept separate from the milk for human consumption and disposed of. Milk is tested for antibiotics several times before processing (on the farm, at the manufacturing plant and before shipping to the store) to ensure that all milk is antibiotic-free. Veterinarians, like nutritionists, also ensure the herd has a well-balanced diet, access to fresh water, a clean environment and are comfortable throughout the day.
It’s all part of a day’s work for dairy farmers to ensure they have happy cows.
Dairy farming is responsible farming
DFA is leading the way in
responsible farming through our Gold Standard Dairy Program, which provides (that’s right) the gold standard for animal care and well-being, milk quality, land and environmental stewardship, and workforce development on dairy farms. As a continuous improvement program, Gold Standard exemplifies DFA farms’ commitment to producing high-quality dairy.
The animal care and well-being pillar of the program, which includes industry-wide guidelines and animal care and wellness best practices from the
National Dairy Farmers Assuring Responsible Management (FARM) Program, ensures our farmer-owners’ cows are well taken care of throughout their lives.
Trained field representatives across the country conduct on-farm evaluations at every DFA farm at least once every three years (in addition to regular routine visits).
Some areas our farmers are evaluated on include:
- Quality of animals' feed, nutrition and house
- Calf care practices
- Role of veterinarians, nutritionists and other herd health professionals on the operation
- Care for sick animals
The program was developed in 2007, and for more than 15 years 100% of DFA
farmer-owners have participated. That’s more than 45,000 evaluations conducted!
Dairy farming is sustainable agriculture
Ethical dairy farming includes contributing to a healthy planet. That’s why DFA farmer-owners adopt
sustainable practices to care for their land as well as their herd. It’s all part of producing ethically sourced milk.
Common sustainable practices on dairy farms include:
- Water recycling and reuse – Water gets used multiple times on a dairy farm. The same water used to chill milk to keep it fresh also then flushes the barn and irrigates crops
- Manure management – Dairy farmers ensure manure gets put to good use fertilizing crops or as (dried) bedding for the cows. With the help of anaerobic digesters, dairy farmers are even turning manure into renewable energy
- Renewable energy – Solar panels and wind turbines installed on dairy farms turn nature’s elements into energy for dairy farms, homes and local businesses
- Improving soil health – Dairy farmers are using timeless farming practices coupled with new technology to replenish soil nutrients, reduce runoff and store more carbon in the soil
- Optimizing cows’ diets – Dairy farmers are exploring using feed additives and are continuing to elevate overall herd health to reduce cows’ methane emissions
How can I support ethical dairy farming?
When you choose dairy from DFA farmer-owners, you’re supporting ethical dairy farming and can feel confident in the quality of your dairy products. You’re also supporting small businesses that are family owned, thus sustaining local economies.
For our farmer-owners, dairy farming isn’t just about producing milk but doing so in a responsible and sustainable journey from farm to table.
Want ethically sourced dairy products for your family’s table? Find a
DFA farmer-owned brand near you.
Whether you choose conventional, organic or grass-fed, know that your dairy is safe, nutritious and ethically and sustainably made by farm families who care.