At Volleman’s Family Farm, our cows’ health and happiness are top priorities. We often get asked why our cows aren’t 100% grass-fed, and the answer comes down to three key factors: their nutritional needs, the climate in Central Texas as it relates to the crops we can grow and keeping them comfortable in our hot climate. We know this is a very popular question, so we wanted to break it all down and give you an inside look at the reality of dairy farming—straight from the farmer’s mouth.
At the end of the day, our goal is simple: happy, healthy cows that produce the best milk possible. We appreciate all the questions and curiosity about dairy farming, and we love sharing what we do with you. If you ever want to know more, we’re always happy to chat—because transparency (and great milk) is what we’re all about.
Meeting Our Cows’ Nutritional Needs
Just like people, dairy cows need a balanced diet of fiber, protein, and energy to stay healthy. But the ratio of these vary throughout the different stages of their lives. For example, a cow that isn’t being milked needs mostly fiber, a moderate amount of protein, and just a little energy. On the other hand, a cow that has just given birth and is producing a lot of milk needs enough fiber to stay healthy, a lot of protein, and more energy than she can consume without reducing her fiber intake. This is how dairy cows genetically are and why they will lose some weight after giving birth.
Grass alone provides a great source of fiber and protein, but it’s very low in energy. If we only fed our cows grass, they would lose too much weight, which wouldn’t be healthy for them! That’s why, along with grass silage, we also feed them corn silage and grains to balance their diet. Silage is essentially “canned” plants—we chop up fresh grass or corn into 1” long pieces, seal it in an airtight bag or covered pile, and let it ferment to preserve its nutrients for years. Corn silage is an excellent source of fiber, energy, and has some protein. Our grass and corn silage would ideally provide all of the protein and energy needs of the cows each year. However, since nutrient levels in crops vary each year, we supplement with grains like ground/flaked corn, soybeans, cottonseed, and dried distillers grains (mainly from ethanol production but also could be from a liquor distillery) to ensure our cows get exactly what they need.
Farming in Central Texas: A Balancing Act
Farming climates look different depending on where you are, and Texas is no exception! Here in Central Texas, we can grow Bermuda grass, which is very resilient in our heat and dry spells but has less protein than alfalfa, the preferred feed by most dairy farmers located in cooler climates. That’s why we supplement with protein-rich grains. Corn is our main energy crop because it produces the most energy per acre, but we also rotate in wheat or sorghum when conditions allow. The challenge? Texas weather is unpredictable, which means the nutrient content of our crops changes from year to year. We must carefully monitor these fluctuations in protein and energy levels and supplement with grains where needed to keep our cows’ diet consistent and to ensure they always get the right balance of nutrients.
Keeping Our Cows Cool & Comfortable
We love the idea of cows grazing freely in lush green pastures, but in reality, our Texas heat makes that challenging. Dairy cows begin to experience heat stress at just 68°F, which, as you know, is most of the year here! That’s why we keep our milking cows in barns equipped with fans and sprinklers to keep them cool and comfortable.
Years ago, when we let our cows graze during hot weather, we noticed some of them were losing pregnancies due to heat stress. Once we moved them to shaded pens with plenty of water, the problem stopped. That’s why, when the weather is mild and dry, we let our non-milking cows enjoy pasture time, but for most of the year, keeping them cool in barns is the best way to ensure their health and well-being.
At the end of the day, our goal is simple: happy, healthy cows that produce the best milk possible. We appreciate all the questions and curiosity about dairy farming, and we love sharing what we do with you. If you ever want to know more, we’re always happy to chat—because transparency (and great milk) is what we’re all about!
