The Cows

We believe freedom to graze should be a right for dairy cows.

Methane and Cows

The main source of carbon produced on farm is via methane from rumen fermentation. Carbon lost to the atmosphere could be used by the cow for regular bodily functions and to produce more milk. By reducing the amount of carbon lost and instead having it maximised by the cow, you reduce the carbon footprint. You lower the environment impact and produce longer living, healthier cows.

Good cow management helps to create happy cows and as a consequence improves herd fertility and longevity, resulting in reduced costs from treatments and therefore higher overall output. It has long been established that herd health has a direct impact on the efficiency and profitability of a farm.

Cows not only graze a minimum 180 days per year, they also spend a minimum of 120 nights outside as well. Studies show that cows enjoy being out at night.

This is why herd management is a key component to efficiency, keeping cows healthy and helping to cut the carbon footprint on Free Range Dairy farms.

Grazing is Amazing

When grown efficiently grass is a low carbon feedstuff and it makes great tasting milk. Our farmers are also planting herbal leys because they improve soil structure and health. Deep roots encourages soil resilience through structure and fertility as well as great forage for the cows in the winter.

Monitoring Free Range Dairy farms performance is vital to help improve overall efficiency, and we want to make sure we are making the most of the pasture being grazed. It is well documented that efficient farms are more profitable, and importantly, with lower greenhouse gas emissions.

The farmers already host hives for the local bee community, and this will give the bees plenty of new species to feed on. As well as improve the biodiversity and increase the resources for pollinators such as birds and insects, it is also a great way to increase the number of worms in the soil. Worms play an important role in nutrient cycling as well as improving drainage and aeration of the soil.

Herbal leys can extend the grazing season, and improve feed quality for livestock, and we’re all about the grazing.

Cows and Climate Change

Reading many of the media headlines on climate change you might think cows are killing the planet. However, by blaming all cows for climate change we are in danger of grouping all farming practices together, when some dairy farming practices can play a positive role in food security, health, and the environment.

We instinctively knew we were running a low impact system, but we wanted to work Alltech E-CO2 to look at the carbon footprint on Free Range Dairy Farms and to look at how we can improve.

Alltech E-CO2 works with the Carbon Trust to certify its assessment tools to the internationally recognised PAS 2050 and ISO 14067 life-cycle analysis standards. Dairy EA™ is also consistent with the International Dairy Federation guidelines for carbon foot printing.

What Alltech found when assessing the carbon footprint is that all the Free Range Dairy farms assessed performed in the Top 10 percent in regard to lower carbon emissions in comparison to standard milk producers. It has also given us a roadmap on how to keep improving both efficiency and lowering the carbon footprint.

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Why choose Pasture Promise free range milk?

Pasture Promise free range milk gives traditional family dairy farms a badly needed identity in the marketplace and gives you the chance to make a more informed choice about the kind of farms your milk comes from. By making the Pasture Promise you can help us to win a fair deal for farmers and cows.

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    Free Range

    The Pasture Promise logo means a minimum of 6 months at grass.

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    Great Taste

    Wonderful, fresh milk that tastes like ‘proper’ milk should.

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    High Standards

    The milk is produced to our strict free range standards and is collected, processed and bottled separately.

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    Supporting British Farmers

    Delivering family farms a fair reward for keeping cows in fields.

Contact Info

Carol : 07904 265639

Joins Us

You can join us as a farmer member or a supporter.
We invite both those who produce milk and buy milk to work together so we can secure the freedom for cows to graze in fields and make milk great again.
Join Us