Life Of A Mapleton's Dairy Cow

Every morning at 6:00 am. Arwa, our main dairy farmer, feeds breakfast to our 70 dairy cows.

On The Menu

Mapleton's Organic dairy cows enjoy a delicious blend of haylage, silage, dry corn, roasted soy beans and minerals. At this point in the season we're feeding our dairy cows this years first cut, or harvest, of hay. 

Thinking ahead to winter

Our second cut of hay happens in July and a third cut happens in the fall. The hay we grow and harvest over the summer and fall is to last us through the whole winter. The majority of the hay is made into haylage and an approximate 20% of the hay is kept as dry hay, fed to the cows over the winter.

Haylage vs. Silage

Haylage is fermented hay stored in a silo on the farm and has more nutritional benefits than regular dry hay. Silage is feed made up of whole fermented corn stocks.

Out On The Pasture

During the summer season our dairy cows have the pleasure of going out to pasture whenever they please. Cows will spend an average of six hours out in the pasture, munching on numerous varieties of grass, such as timothy-grass, alfalfa and red and white clover. 

Summer Diet

The change in diet during the summer months often has a slight effect on our dairy products. The fresh grasses ingested by the cows in the summer usually results in higher protein content in the milk they produce. We've even noticed their summer diet has an effect on the colour of the milk they produce, giving it a slight yellow colour.

Here at Mapleton's Organic Dairy the health and happiness of our cows is incredibly important which is why we ensure they have a varied diet and the freedom to enjoy life in out in the pasture.