Ruqayyah Snyder
Cows are grazing animals with a natural diet consisting mainly of grasses, legumes, alfalfa, clover, and hay. However, the reality of their diet is often quite different, especially for cows on factory farms, which make up the vast majority of cows in the United States. In Australia, nearly all farms provide pasture to their cattle for most of the year, but what do cows eat for the rest of the time?
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Natural diet | Grasses, legumes, alfalfa, clover, and hay |
| Average food intake | 24-26 pounds of food per day |
| Australian farm diet | Pasture |
| Total Mixed Ration diet | Silage, grain, and other feeds |
| Dairy cow feed in 2019 | 39% corn, 16% DDGs, 13% soybeans, and some hay and grass |
| Beef cow feed in 2019 | 57% corn, 21% DDGs, and some hay and grass |
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What You'll Learn
Natural diet vs factory farm feed
In Australia, nearly all farms provide pasture to their cattle for most of the year. However, the specific dietary composition varies between natural diets and factory farm feeds.
Natural Diet
In their natural habitat, cows are grazing animals that feed on grasses, legumes, alfalfa, clover, and hay. They may also snack on fruits. This diet aligns with the stereotypical image of cows grazing in open pastures.
Factory Farm Feed
In contrast, factory farms often prioritize cost-cutting and sustainability, leading to the use of alternative feeds such as corn, soybeans, and their byproducts. This includes dried distillers grains (DDGs) and silage, which are mixed with grain and other feeds to provide a nutritionally balanced diet. While this approach offers a controlled nutritional balance, it deviates from the natural diet of cows and raises concerns about the inefficient use of human-edible crops and the environmental impact of intensive corn and soybean production.
The difference in diet between natural grazing and factory farm feeding has significant implications. In 2019, dairy cow feed consisted of 39% corn and 16% DDGs, while soybeans accounted for 13% of their consumption. When combining corn and its byproducts, it represented 70% of all feed tonnage given to dairy cows. Beef cows showed a similar trend, with 57% corn and 21% DDGs in their feed, totaling about 80% of all feed tonnage. While hay and grass are still part of their diet, they make up a smaller percentage compared to factory-farmed corn, soy, and DDGs.
The choice between natural diets and factory farm feeds has implications for animal welfare, environmental sustainability, and the efficient use of resources. While factory farms offer controlled nutrition, natural grazing aligns more closely with a cow's natural diet and typical grazing behavior.
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Grass and other plants
The natural diet of cows consists mainly of grasses, legumes, alfalfa, clover, and hay. They also enjoy fruits as snacks. The average cow eats 2% of its body weight per day, which is around 24-26 pounds of food. This is a lot of food and requires a lot of grazing space, which may not always be available.
In addition to grass and other plants, cows in Australia are also fed silage, grain, and other feeds, which are provided in a trough as a Total Mixed Ration. This is done on only around 2% of farms and provides a nutritionally balanced diet to the cows, often in a climatically controlled environment.
While grass and other plants are an important part of a cow's diet, it is important to note that the availability of pasture and the quality of the plants can vary depending on the season, location, and other factors. As a result, farmers may need to supplement the cow's diet with other feeds to ensure they are getting the necessary nutrients.
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Fruits as snacks
Cows are herbivores and can eat a lot of different fruits and vegetables. However, some fruits and vegetables can be too sugary for regular consumption and may cause nutritional imbalances or other side effects. Therefore, they are better off as treats or supplements to a cow's usual diet of grass and hay.
Fruits, in particular, can be great treats for cows as they provide them with essential vitamins and minerals. Apples are a popular treat for cows as they are a good source of vitamins A and C, as well as dietary fibre. Bananas are another excellent fruit snack for cows as they are a great source of potassium and vitamin B6. They also contain vitamin B12 and magnesium, providing a boost to the immune system of calves.
Oranges are another great option as they are rich in vitamins and nutrients, and support proper antimicrobial growth in the digestive tract. Orange peels contain essential oils that aid digestion and kill harmful bacteria. Cows can also eat the entire pineapple, including the top and rind, but this fruit should be fed in moderation as it has a high sugar content. Pineapples can boost a cow's immune system and, unlike many other fruits and vegetables, will not taint the milk of dairy cows with any unwanted flavour or odour.
Grapes are another fruit that can be added to a cow's diet, but they should be included with other feed to reduce the risk of bloat. Ripened plums are also safe for cows to eat, but the pits should be removed as they are large and hard. All other parts of the plum tree are poisonous to cows.
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Corn and soybean products
In Australia, nearly all farms provide pasture to their cattle for most of the year. However, grass production can be unpredictable, and farmers must supplement it with other feed sources. This is where corn and soybean products come in.
ADM, a global agribusiness, has started importing corn and soybean products from its processing facilities in the US Midwest for cattle producers in Australia. Soybean meal and corn gluten feed pellets can be used as supplements in both paddock and confined cattle feeding operations.
While corn and soybean products provide a source of nutrition for cows, they are not the most natural part of a cow's diet. Cows are grazing animals, and their natural diet consists mainly of grasses, legumes, alfalfa, clover, and hay.
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Australian dairy cow breeds
Dairy farming is a significant industry in Australia, with a wide variety of cow breeds. Nearly all Australian farms provide pasture to their cattle for most of the year, with only around 2% of farms feeding their cows a Total Mixed Ration of silage, grain, and other feeds.
The Holstein Friesian is the most common dairy breed in Australia, making up over 60% of commercial milking cows. They were first imported in the mid-1800s and are known for their versatility and large size, with a typical black-and-white colour pattern. They produce a high volume of milk with a medium composition.
Jersey cows are another popular breed, introduced to Australia in 1829. They are hardy, small, and typically light cream to dark brown in colour. Their milk has a high protein and butterfat content, although the overall yield is medium.
Other pure breeds, such as Milking Shorthorns, Guernseys, Devons, Brown Swiss, Aussie Reds, Ayrshires, and Illawarras, make up a smaller proportion of commercial milk cows in the country. Many Australian dairy cows are crosses between these various breeds.
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Frequently asked questions
Cows in Australia are pasture-fed for most of the year. Their diet consists of grass, legumes, alfalfa, clover, and hay.
The natural diet of cows consists mainly of grasses, legumes, alfalfa, clover, and hay. They are grazing animals and also enjoy fruits as snacks.
Factory farms often implement cost-cutting and unsustainable animal feed, such as corn, soybeans, and their byproducts. In contrast, pasture-fed cows eat what they find in the pasture, which is mostly grass.
Nearly all farms in Australia (around 98%) provide pasture to their cattle for most of the year.
There are seven to eight breeds of dairy cows in Australia: Holstein, Jersey, Aussie Red, Brown Swiss, Guernsey, Illawarra, Ayrshire, and sometimes Swiss.
