Cows
If you visit in spring, summer, or fall, the herd may be seen grazing in our lush pastures in the late afternoons and evenings. Our farmers follow a rotational grazing practice to ensure the cows’ access to fresh pastures. Electric fences surround these areas – so please be careful not to touch them!
During your winter visits, you will see our cows resting in the barnyard and in our one-story free-stall barn adjacent to our Farm Road. They continue to enjoy a grass-based diet, as they consume hay (close to 3,000 bales during the winter months) that was harvested from our pastures and those of our generous neighbors.
We usually have fourteen cows in residence, four or five of which are in the milking rotation at any one time. They are milked in the morning and afternoon and generate nearly 25 gallons of milk daily. The milk is stored in a refrigeration tank in our Dairy, and our farmers pasteurize the milk every three days. As a reflection of the cleanliness of our farm and the consistently high quality of our milk, our state-licensed dairy has the honor of being one of the State’s Dairy Farms of Distinction. Our milk is not homogenized, so our cream rises to the top. You can shake the bottle for rich creamy milk or skim it to make butter. We are very proud that our customers are treated to the freshest milk in the area!
Learn more below about each breed of cow that you can see on the farm!
Jerseys
Originate from the British Island of Jersey. They are among the smaller breeds of dairy cow, ranging from 900-1100 lbs. They are most known for their feminine features, long eyelashes, and brown color. While their milk production doesn’t even come close to that of a Holstein, their butterfat percentage ranging to almost 5.5%! Jerseys are said to make a higher quality milk than most other breeds, producing a higher percentage of both protein and calcium.
Dutch Belted
Originating in the Netherlands, these cows are most known for their black coat with a white band around their belly, much resembling an Oreo! (Dutch Belted are not to be confused with the Belted Galloway, a beef cattle breed with similar markings). They range in size from 900-1400lbs. According to the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy, the population of the breed is estimated to be less than 300 in the US and fewer than 1000 worldwide, so they are considered critically rare. Their butterfat percentage has a wide range of 3.5% up to 5.5%.
Holstein Cow
Originating from the Netherlands, these black and white cows can grow to be about 1300-1500lbs. They are well know for their high milk production, producing about 90% of the United States’ milk supply, making them the most popular dairy cow in the United States. A fun fact about Holsteins is that no two cows have the same spots. While they are the highest producers of milk, they do not have the highest butterfat (or milkfat, the fatty portion of the milk). They average around 3.4% butterfat.
American Milking Shorthorn
This dual purpose breed (ideal for beef or dairy) originates from Northeastern England. They are one of the 6 major dairy breeds in the US and one of the first to be brought over from England. They range in color from red, red and white, white, or roan (white coat intermixed with red). Milking shorthorn cows can weigh up to 1100-1300lbs. These cows produce a milk with an approximate butterfat of 3.8%.