Why is Grass-fed Whey More Expensive?

Why Does Grass-Fed Whey Cost More?

This is great question and one that should concern most consumers when being led to pay a premium for a product that falsely claims to be grass-fed. Grass-fed milk is costlier to produce compared to conventional milk due to the costs associated with adhering to the standards and principles of sustainable Grass-fed farming. These costs include:

Land –

The acreage required to support each cow is up to 70 % greater for Grass-fed farms.  Have you ever wondered why there are products out there that are incredibly cheap?  With the advent of Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs), cows live each day in essentially a plot of land that allows the to stand in a single direction all day with both their sides touching another animal.  We do our best to expose these inhumane farming practices, especially products that use the "grass-fed" claim to market products derived from CAFOs. 

Economies of Scale –

Grass-fed dairy farms are up to 90 % smaller compared to conventional farms with similar fixed capital & operational expenditures, thus a drastically reduced economies of scale compared to conventional farms.

Farming intensity –

Less milk is produced per cow on strict grass-fed farms compared to conventional farms. The reduced yield can range upwards of 35%. Our cows attend the milk parlor only twice per day, very little compared to a bovine fed a nutrient rich grain diet able to be milked several times per day.  Remember, grain diets optimize quantity at the sacrifice of quality.

Supply & Demand –

The demand for both Organic and Grass-fed milk continues to increase, while the supply is limited by geography, rainfall, & acreage.