Dairy Cow Comfort: Do They Like Dirt and Mud?

As humans, it’s easy to assume what cows should or shouldn’t like based on our personal comfort preferences and impose our believes on them. I, personally, don’t like sleeping in the dirt or in mud, and if I’d never stepped foot on a dairy farm it would be easy for me to assume that cows wouldn’t like that either.

But I’m not a cow.

I have observed dairy cows my entire life and work with them every day so when cows choose to lay down to chew their cud in dirt instead of in lush, green pastures I am zero percent shocked.

Our cows are out in pasture late spring through fall, depending on the weather, and if they’re not laying in a stall in the barn, they’re strong-willed in their choice to choose dirt. To them, it’s the most comfortable.

Instead of imposing what we believe they should be doing, what if we just let them be cows.

Derrick Josi

Derrick Josi is a 4th generation dairy farmer from Tillamook, Oregon, where he milks Jersey dairy cows and farms corn and grass silage.

Wilsonview Dairy, a family farm established in 1918 by Derrick’s great grandfather, Alfred, after arriving from Switzerland as an indentured servant in 1912, is located near the Pacific Ocean where dairy cows enjoy a relatively mild climate on their centennial farm.

The Josi family is proud to play a part in making delicious cheese by providing quality milk to the Tillamook County Creamery Association.

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Dairy Cows Confined Indoors

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Sunrise over a Coastal Dairy Farm