Dairy Farm Question:

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What dairy cows eat as well as their breed and stage of lactation can affect the composition of the milk, however these small differences do not impact human health. Cows on organic farms spend the grazing season (at least 120 days per year) on green pasture, and they usually benefit from supplemental feed to fulfill protein requirements. In non-grazing season, cows on organic farms eat the same type of feed that's given to cows on other dairy farms, except the ingredients must be certified organic. USDA has a separate standard for dairy foods that are labeled "grass-fed". Grass-fed dairy cows must get a majority of their nutrients from grazing on pasture throughout their lives, while the pasture diet of dairy cows on certified-organic farms may be supplemented with up to 70% grain.