What is grass fed?

[paradisesprings]

I'm curious, after reading the thread about what to feed grass fed cows in the parlor, what exactly is grass fed? Everyone seems to have different things they feed on top of pasture grass, including clover, alfalfa hay and pellets, and in my case, sprouted barley. I don't believe that sprouted barley and oats have the same properties and high proteins as rolled or ground grains do and don't create acid conditions in the rumen like grain fed cows get. And a little clover or alfalfa in with the grass hay never made me think twice either, neither do I think about wildflowers, berry plant leaves, herbs and other forbs being consumed. The milk they produce from this diet tests as the best milk in Idaho (4th biggest dairy state) almost every month, SCC less than 100,000 average through the year and low or no bacterial counts.
And what about root veggies like carrots and beets? My cows love them. They even love garlic raw at certain times of the year.
The biggest problem I see with non grass fed commercial cows is they never see live plants or pasture, and receive a ration instead of well grown hay. The ration is usually made up of the cheapest materials available that will produce high quantities of milk, no matter the milk quality or the long term health of the cow. To me, grass fed means as much live pasture as the weather allows and no concentrated rations, especially corn based.
Some who are more stringent than me, can you define the guidelines that you use and how it helps the milk? Would be very interesting for me.

Thanks,
Mike

[AnnB (NE)]

For most folks here, "grassfed" should be called "forage-fed". Alfalfa and clover are forages, as are the various non-grass plants in a pasture.

Ann B

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[rosalind]

Yes, "grass fed" is about as mis-used as the word "organic"! True grass fed would mean the cow would be on only pasture or grass hays. Not even alfalfa!

Some include silage because they say "Well, corn is a grass"... Well, the stalk may be, but the corn itself is a grain. Most "grass-fed" people seem to feed alfalfa, which is a legume.

We just say we feed what the cow needs to be healthy and productive. That may include grains (soaked, sprouted, cracked, etc.); vegetables (beets, etc.); legumes (alfalfa, clover, etc.); molasses; minerals/clays/etc.; grasses and I'm sure some types of weeds or herbs; and as much sunshine as we can get them! We don't have a need to "label" what we feed our cows. We just try to do the best we can!

[Jenn]

I feed my animals just grass when I can, but did buy some alfalfa hay because that was all I could get. Beggars can't be choosers. My cows have the highest production with good pasture and a nice grass hay...brome, orchard grass, even bermuda and fescue. My hay guy knows how to put it up well, kind of rare around here.

Even though my cows are fairly strictly grass fed, I like to call them forage fed...because even the best hay doesn't substitute for fresh grass. We strive for year round grazing, weather permitting.

If I were buying milk, I would choose a pasture based cow fed a small amount of GMO grain over a "organic," stall fed animal.

-Jenn