Studies show that dairy products made from the milk of grass-fed, free range cows not only taste better, but are also more nutritious than milk produced by cows that do not graze grass and/or have a high proportion of cereal and grains in their diet. ¹ ⁸
Benefits of milk from grass-fed cows.
Milk from grass-fed cows, when compared with milk from grain-fed cows has:
- Less saturated fatty acids and more unsaturated fatty acids. 2 8 9 10 11
- A balanced ratio of essential omega-3 to omega-6 fatty acids 3 4 12 14 – refer above.
- Greater concentrations of vitamin E, antioxidants protecting cells from damage, and vitamin A. 5 6 11 24 25
- A higher proportion of the bioactive fatty acid called conjugated linoleic acid 3 4 5 8 9 - which has been shown to have many beneficial effects in human health.
- Beta-carotene, which is converted into vitamin A (retinol) – an essential antioxidant with skin, immunity, and vision benefits, as well as protection against the free-radical molecules that damage cells through oxidisation. 3 8 23
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Benefits of a grass-fed system.
Generally grass-fed systems are very efficient in their use of resources as the feed is grown on farm, minimising the need for purchased feedstuffs and, thereby, the resources used in their production (such as area, energy, transport, and machinery). 6
- Grazing outdoors allows cows to express their normal behaviours, promotes social contact and allows herd hierarchy to occur. Positive animal welfare conditions have been found in cows grazing outdoors. 5 7 18 19 20
- Better soil health – soils under pasture generally contain higher organic carbon than those under cropping or trees,16 with microbial biomass carbon and earthworm numbers increasing over time.17
- The New Zealand grass-fed system has lower greenhouse gas emissions. New Zealand has one of the lowest in the world, at 0.74 kg CO2 per kg FPCM, compared with the USA at 0.96 and Ireland at 1.05.15 This information is correct at the time of publication (March 2025) but may change over time.
