Calf at Foot - the calf-friendly, cow-kind micro-dairy
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 9 พ.ค. 2017
- There are many reasons why people are concerned about industrial dairy, including the distress the cows experience, the spread of disease among cows kept in close quarters, imported feeds, environmental pollution, male calves shot at birth and, in general, an approach which is profit driven at the expense of animal welfare and health.
Fiona Provan of Calf at Foot Dairy, deeply concerned about this growing trend, set out to find a healthy symbiotic way of working with cows. She started up her own micro-dairy in Somerleyton near Lowestoft, Suffolk, where the cows’ welfare is prioritised above human gains. By being in tune with the cows’ natural instincts and herd relationships, Fiona has developed a ‘Calf at Foot’ dairy model where both female and male calves stay with their mothers until they naturally wean themselves at around 9 months old.
The Calf at Foot concept has inspired other farmers to move to a model like Fiona’s. Fiona hopes that in the future ‘Calf at Foot’-ing’ will become a common practice. This film provides a glimpse into a day at the dairy, where milking starts at 7 am and each cow is individually milked while standing unrestrained. The herd of 16 Jersey milking cows produce a rich creamy milk which is sold as raw whole milk from the farm gate as well as online. The cows enjoy a 100% grass-fed diet without any added feed cereals or grains and the dairy is certified ‘Pasture for Life’ by the Pasture Fed Livestock Association.
The bull cows become a high-quality beef, while older female cows are retired and stay with the herd. Fiona sees education as a vital part of her work, and trains apprentices who wish to learn about her methods. The farm is also open to the public and has school visits where young people can meet the cows up close as they are used to being around people. This unique dairy demonstrates that there is a truly compassionate way of producing milk, where cows live healthy and contented lives.
This is just beautiful. God love you for your work with animals. I would gladly pay triple the price I currently pay for dairy products here in the States if I knew it were going to an operation with your ethics.
We have a micro farm and we foster calves the big dairys pull of their cows ....we hate this practice and will and do not do it to our girls ever ....we milk every morning and night ...We know our girls and they know thier names they get brushed every day ...I wouldnt have it any other way ...love them ...
Barbara Bridger hey there, just saw this video, had NO idea a dairy like this existed! Sounds awesome! I take it, by reading your comments that you run something very similar where you are? I really wish it was made much easier for consumers to be able to readily source products like yours for themselves, sadly, here in Australia, it's actually quite difficult to do so. As someone who doesn't consume much milk, the idea of paying a reasonable sum for milk produced like this is a great one. I can remember the first time I tried fresh, full cream milk, thought that was awesome! I suspect tasting the fresh milk from a cow who is 'sharing' her milk with you, almost in return for allowing her to keep her calf would be so much better! Well worth AUD$6-$7 per litre. They say 'a happy cow produces good quality milk' i'd imagine a cow giving you milk she'd lovingly give to her own calf would be out of this world! THANKYOU for the farming you are doing, your cattle will probably never know just how fortunate they are to be with you, as they'll never see a factory dairy farm's quality of cow life. I wish you all the most success on your operations, great to hear more and more consumers are interested to support farms like yours! Kind regards🐮😀😊
Me either how can one get milk from such farms stateside?
I love what you’re doing. I am in Oklahoma in the United States and my husband and I are just getting started on our dairy cow adventure and plan to run our operation just like you do. We will be purchasing our first cows in spring and are super excited to have them rotationally graze along side our Savanna goats. Blessing to you and yours!!
Elissa Pond hey there, I wish you and your husband the very best with your plans there🐮😀😊
Why not specialize in cheese to make up for lower production? The cheese would be known for it's unique full unmatched flavor, and for it's health benefits and you'd make more money. I hope you do so I can buy a lot! Please find a way to keep us posted. GOD Almighty YESHUA bless you as well.
I just subscribed so I can buy your products if you sell them online (another reason to sell cheese as it can be shipped all over the world by mail needing only a cheap Target store vacuum bagger).
Hi Elissa, did you do it? Were you able to start your micro farm?
What a beautiful herd! The calves scampering about, too, is just adorable. I had a laugh when the first one came running when her name was called! Thanks for this lovely film. I needed it after watching several Vids about Factory Farming. Terribly upsetting. ♥️
A wonderful dairying story and shows what can be done humanely.
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THANKYOU. Hello from Australia 👋 Your video is exactly what Ive been looking for. We have a freerange farm here and knew we needed to have milking cows with their calves. Any other way is just cruel. Thankyou!
This is both humane and a very realistic approach. I had no idea anything like your little dairy existed. One question: Do the calves remain with you until they are ready for slaughter, and do you have any control over how the calves are treated when they are transported to slaughter and slaughtered?
Janet Zimmer great question you raise, depending on which country you're in, I believe some government recognised animal protection organisations do provide ether indorsement approvals or actually physically manage abbitoirs and transporting facilities for livestock, though, at a higher price than many standard options to the farmer. I'd say this though, I'm certain the farmers in this video have looked into that already, and arranged the best option suited to their operation. Still thankyou for mentioning that aspect too!🐮😀😊
There’s a post about this on the Calf-at-Foot Facebook page. Fiona takes them herself in small groups to a small local slaughterhouse.
Their beef is incredible. A piece of rump I had was probably the best steak I’ve ever eaten - the texture of fillet but incredible flavour.
There's a place in heaven for you.
Robin Revell hey there, quite possibly true that! The Bible does provide us with enormous advantages over animals yes, but it also states we must 'look after the animals' not exploit them to no end. It would also seem these farmers have provided a heaven for their dairy cattle on their farms. Just imagine how envious a dairy cow on a factory dairy would be of this, her calf would still be with her! Thanks for your comment BTW!🐮😀😊
I love what you , amazing.
Do you sell your breed out of your country?
@@messyjc8653 I'm happy to report I have quit "all mammal" (as much as I can control). Dairy, leather, meat. I can't imagine what it would feel like to have my babies stole from me at birth. Tragic! 😭
I need a ticket to the UK now
Fantastic! I have an interest in calf-sharing type dairy practices. I don't even have a cow yet, but I'm looking at breeds. I'm sort of a tenant farmer myself renting on a large acreage, yet working full time.
aNaturalist hey there, I sincerely wish you the very best success with your calf share dairy ambitions, I personally like the idea of cross breeding cattle breeds to work towards a well suited animal for local climatic conditions, along with a calf share micro dairy of sorts. Sadly, if that EVER happens, will be some years away yet! (Crossing a Holstein or Jersey with a water buffalo, the mother cow being the buffalo obviously, to better handle the dry and at times very hot conditions here in Australia. Traditional dairy breeds often struggle here in summer). Still, hope you achieve all that you hope for with your planned operation!🐮😀😊
Also, water buffalo are found in large wild herds roaming central Australia. They'd experience 50°c at times!
BEAUTIFUL! I love your dedication and commitment!!
We dont cull our low producers or old ones .they retire on the property...
Barbara, where are you? Are you all still operating?
I bet that milk wouldn't make my stomach bloated or crampy. That looks like great milk.
Great job , I’m Montagnard indigenous when I grow up no body have milk even today . Now I live in USA I can drink milk lol.
Very good cows and calves
I like your Jersey cow's videos
Just love what you are doing Fiona - well done
Love your farm..
I can't tell you how happy I am to see that this Dairy method is happening. I hope like permaculture this spreads all over the planet.
nice concept, Jerseys are wonderful, data on your with the cow calves gain vs calf being bottle fed, both with pasture access, would be interesting
This is fantastic!
I want to work in your dairy farm
Absolutely wonderful!!!
V nice... I like it v much ..
That’s beautiful ❤️
That's the way to be fair with animals. Keep going.
I love your whole ethos! I will happily buy your milk when I move back to UK! I love animals as individual souls.God bless you your family and all your farm and animals 🤞👍👏🦋🌻🥀🌺🌸🌼
absolutely beautiful !!
Seeing the intro where the soil is bare and being handled is getting harder these days knowing the soil health principles. Nice herd. It would be even nicer if they were mob grazed/AMP grazed on pasture to improve the soil and the grass within the field.
Well said, its a hard sell to stubborn farmers tho, but in the near future when there crops fail year after year they will be forced to look at the soil hopefully it won't be too late
Can someone tell me what that amazing incredible looking green “hay” (I don’t think it’s Hay but I don’t know what else to call it) is? At the 1:37 mark…what is that beautiful greens they are being fed?
Love the story and what you are doing
Fabulous work, I hope this catches on.
1:54 aaaawwwww cute!!!!😊💚
Beautiful woman. I wish she was in the US.
thanks fr share this video.
Damn if only I didn't have a dairy intolerance...
a2 is the answer
This type of milk is known for being tolerable with people with lactose intolerance.
Their beef is incredible. A piece of rump I had was probably the best steak I’ve ever eaten - the texture of fillet but incredible flavour.
Fabulous
awesome
I don't understand
You start with 10 cows for instance , then they have calves, you keep them, they have more, what happens to the "surplus" if you wish to keep the herd small and what happens to the male calves ?
THE MALE CALVES ARE REARED FOR BEEF
The male calves are eventually slaughtered for beef..... but at least these calves have very good life for two years until they are slaughtered
Do you milk them once or twice a day
She only milks them once.
You are amazing.. you need to make people aware I wasn't until I searched for a farm like yours after seeing dairy farms on TH-cam. Your market is with the Jewish and Muslim Communities. They are very strict with all animal products if you contact all butcher stores in a large community you will expand your business. Animal cruelty is seriously taken in these religions. Good luck! I will definitely be a customer.
Nadooda J You couldn't be more wrong...Jewish and Muslim butchering practices are the cruelest in the world, outlawed in most countries...get an education before making dumb-ass comments.
Anders D hey there, sadly, you're right there, I think you'll find that tradition is by far favoured over preventing animal cruelty in many religions. Though many religious texts certainly prohibit cruelty to animals, traditional practice doesn't seem to adhere to this too well sadly
Very nice dairy farm small and happy same I have
I am hoping one day soon here hopefully march or the next month i won't have to buy milk from the grocery store anymore as I recently bought A bred Jersey Heifer we named her Daisy Mae she is hopefully due in March or the next month I don't like buying milk from the grocery store as that is from all the dairies that take calf's away and I don't like giving them my money and sadly I don't know any where i can get raw local milk that is not an hour or so away.
Once my Jersey Heifer has her calf I will not be taking him or her from her I will milk her two times a day without separating them for a few weeks then only separate during the night time and milk in the morning and then let the calf have all the milk during the rest of the day and milk again that evening. If it is a Heifer i plan on keeping her for another milk cow if it is a bull I plan on making it a steer and raising it for my own meat.
I hate supporting the local dairies that steal calves away from there mothers and put them in tiny crates til they meet there fate it is horrible.
What are the bulls name
Kyle Choy hey there, yeah, they didn't say there. Given the nature of those cows, would be interesting to see how a breeder bull would be on that farm!
🙏
Very nice cows know her name
How are the cows slaughtered? (I hate that word)
😍❤💋
I want 2 nos jersey cow.
Show the face of cow please🙏
Please make cheese so that we can buy it in the US for a price that would resolve financial issues. I think the cows are happy to share milk in exchange for a place, medical care, protection, food, water, etc. Also I read a father allowed the grass to grow to heads and the cows only ate the heads and moved to the other grass allowing the previous to grow heads and said that in wild nature they eat grass head but eat hay and grass out of hunger because humans who don't know being not cows provide only cut grass and hay and that the milk produced is more and richer and lactose tolerant.
YESHUA GOD ALMIGHTY bless you, "the righteous cares for the life of the beast, but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel" - Proverbs KJV
But we don't produce beef or veel
cutting cow !!
is not kind