Pasture and Soil

Our cows are free ranging on a mixed sward pasture 24/7/365. When planting the untreated seed, we follow regenerative practices such as a no till approach - this keeps the carbon sequestered in the soil and does not upset the very important microbiology under the soil, in turn increasing the organic matter. We also regenerate pastures by resting some paddocks, leaving grass to grow and seed drop, reseeding the pasture naturally.  As organic dairy farmers we are committed to ensuring healthy soils as healthy soils means healthy animals producing healthy, nutritious milk.  We never use artificial chemical fertilisers, super phosphates or artificial nitrogen, such as urea.  We soil test for both nutrient levels and soil biology and we only fertilise with what the soil requires, we use natural products such as lime, fish and seaweed fertiliser plus liquid humates. We never use any 'icides' - herbicides or pesticides. We noticed a colony of dung beetles had naturally migrated to our farm a few years ago and have made it their home. Dung beetles only stay around if they are in a healthy habitat. During times of the year when grass growth slows, our cows are supplemented with hay and baleage, which is all made on our organically certified farm and our organically certified farm support block (where we live) in the summer months. Feed and minerals (when required) are all organically certified and GMO-free/GE free. We have never fed Palm Kernal Expeller (that is not allowed on an organic farm). Our calves are fed their mother's colostrum for a week and then they are reared on fresh cows milk. Calves are kept warm and dry inside when they are small where they always have access to fresh water and high quality hay and as much milk as they like. Once they are old enough to venture outside onto the grass, they continue to be reared on cows milk for a natural period of time (around 9 months). We do not send any bobby calves - our calves either grow up on our farm to join the milking herd when they are older, we raise some calves for organic beef and we have a select few beef breeders who purchase some of our young calves to rear to fully grown on their farms.