Dec 1, 20245 min read

Grain-Fed vs. Grass-Fed Dairy

Two glasses of milk can look the same, but that doesn’t mean they share the same qualities — here’s how grain-fed dairy compares to grass-fed dairy based on nutrition, animal and environmental impact, and farmer outcomes.

Grain-Fed vs. 100% Grass Fed Diet
Nutritional Benefits of Grass-Fed Dairy
Grain-Fed vs. Grass-Fed Environmental Impact

Grain-Fed vs. 100% Grass Fed Diet

100% grass-fed cows like those at Maple Hill graze on pastures to eat grass, herbs, and other natural forages — in colder months, they eat stored grass. Grain-fed cows mainly consume filler grains like corn and soybeans.

Cows love to graze — it’s in their nature to roam freely across pastures and eat grasses, legumes, herbs, and anything else tasty that they can find. It’s also a part of their anatomy since cows have fewer teeth than most animals. This makes it easy for them to use their tongue to grab grass and then use their back teeth to grind tough grass into small pieces that are easy to digest. Cows naturally thrive on a grass-fed diet– they’re born with a digestive system that breaks down grass into individual nutrients they can use.

Conventional dairy cows eat grain-based feed like corn, soybeans, and wheat. Because grains are carbohydrates and lack many of the nutrients that cows need, their diet must be supplemented with vitamins and minerals to make the difference. A grain-fed diet can cause digestive problems for cows since their bodies are built to digest and process foraged grass.

Why would a dairy farmer feed their cows mostly grain? Well, the formula for conventional dairy farming is simple: the goal is to get the most dairy for the lowest cost. Nature, of course, does not look at bottom lines– she moves at her own pace, and cows’ natural milk production takes time. Grain-feeding is one way to alter a cow’s natural milk production cycle. Grain is less expensive than hay or silage, and since it’s a carbohydrate, it fattens up cows that would otherwise have a foraged mix that provides a more balanced diet along with protein. This makes sense in a world where conventional dairy is trying to produce as much milk as possible for the lowest price possible. But altering nature’s natural cycle does come at a cost– to the animal, environment, and the quality of the milk.

At Maple Hill, we believe in making only the best possible milk– even if that means our cows produce less of it. That’s why our farmers are devoted to regenerative practices like rotational grazing and a 100% grass-fed organic diet. In a world where more is more, we prefer quality over quantity. And the benefits are clear.

Nutritional Benefits of Grass-Fed Dairy

Numerous studies have researched what makes 100% grass-fed dairy products nutritionally different from grain-fed dairy, and this has an impact on people who consume them. But let’s take a look at the specific ingredients that make 100% grass-fed dairy a better choice.

Omega-3 and Omega-6 Fatty Acids

You need a balance of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids to support your body and brain. Omega-3 fats are unsaturated fats that support heart and immune health, and are found in foods like walnuts, eggs, and fish. Omega-6 fatty acids provide us with energy and are commonly found in refined vegetable oils. You need both, but eating more omega-3’s has been shown to fight inflammation and support your heart.

Grain-fed animals, which make up most of our meat and dairy, are high in omega-6s and low in omega-3s. Grass-fed animals, on the other hand, have a more balanced omega profile. Studies show that grass-fed milk has significantly more omega-3s and less omega-6s than conventional milk, which is the ratio our bodies need. A study by the University of Minnesota found that there was an increase of 147% more omega-3s, and 52% less omega-6 than conventional milk, thus improving that omega 3-to-omega-6 ratio.

CLA

Conjugated linoleic acid, or CLA, is another healthy fat more readily found in grass-fed milk. Studies suggest that CLA can contribute to gut health and support your metabolism. Only three servings of grass-fed milk provides 300 milligrams of CLA, which provides 75-100% of the recommended target levels for adults.

Fat-Soluble Vitamins and Antioxidants

It makes sense that when cows have more vitamins and nutrients in their food, they will pass along those nutrients in their milk. Here are all of the different vitamins found in grass-fed dairy at much higher levels than their conventional counterparts:

Vitamin A: Supports vision, immune function, and skin health.
Vitamin K2: Crucial for bone health and blood clotting.
Beta Carotene: This antioxidant is processed into Vitamin A in the body and supports vision and immune function.
B Vitamins (B2, B7, B12): Vital for energy production, brain function, and cell health.

The nutritional boost of grass-fed dairy is undeniable. With its higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids, CLA, fat-soluble vitamins, and antioxidants, it offers a significant health advantage over conventional dairy products.

Grain-Fed vs. Grass-Fed Environmental Impact

Grazing cows and pastures of grass make a perfect recipe for regenerative agriculture. Each plays a role: the cows aerate and replenish soil while they graze which boosts grass health, and the grass pulls carbon from the atmosphere as it grows. This results in less overall greenhouse gas emissions and of course, happier cows.

When the soil is aerated by moving cows and fed by manure, grass roots deepen and can prevent land erosion. 100% grass-fed farming also requires less water, since cows are getting moisture from the food they forage. This cycle benefits each part of the environment involved in dairy farming: the soil, the grass, the water, and the air.

Because conventional dairy farming is focused on dairy output — not environmental input– grain feeding does not take land health into consideration. Grain feeding requires tilling the soil, releasing carbon into the atmosphere and fracturing the soil itself. Because perpetual grass pastures are never tilled, carbon stays in the ground where it nourishes the grass, which nourishes the cow, which nourishes you. You can see the difference in pasture and soil health when you see a Maple Hill farm compared to a standard commercial feedlot.

The choice between grain-fed and grass-fed dairy is more than just a personal preference; it's a decision with far-reaching implications for your health and the environment. Grass-fed dairy offers a nutritional advantage, supports regenerative agriculture, and promotes animal welfare. By choosing grass-fed dairy, you're not only nourishing your body but also contributing to a more sustainable and ethical food system.

Try the 100% grass-fed difference for yourself with our dairy products, available in stores across the U.S.

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