Kiss the Cow Dairy

Rating
Farm/Brand HeadquartersSouth Royalton, VT
ProductsFluid milk, ice cream
Websitewww.kissthecowfarm.com/
Market AreaNew England
Total Score1550

Kiss the Cow Farm is an organic, grass based, A2 dairy selling ice cream as well as raw and pasteurized milk from our herd of Jersey and Normande cows. We also grow vegetables, and raise pastured eggs and chickens. We sell our products through a farm store, seasonal CSAs, weekly farmers’ markets and area co-ops.

This farm is certified by the Real Organic Project:

real organic project logo

CriteriaPointsComments
TOTAL (possible score is 1600 plus extra credit) 1550
5-Cow Rating | Top-Rated
Farmstead dairies earn the most points. Corporations that have a history of skirting the organic rules receive the fewest.
Ownership structure
100Family farm
Farms that produce 100% of their milk receive the most points. Milk from "open market" or known confinement dairies receive the fewest.
Milk Supply
100Single farm
100% organic farms receive the most points. Split operations with conventional dairy on the same property receive the fewest.
Organic Production
90Organic fluid milk only, sells conventional ice cream
Farms that completed the survey in detail received the most points.
Disclosure of Information for Verification
100Full disclosure
Points determined by integrity of the brand’s organic certifier.
Organic Certification
100Vermon Organic Farmers
Animal Welfare Approved and Biodynamic certifications receive the most bonus points. Producers are not penalized for not having additional certifications beyond organic.
Other Labels/Standards
100Real Organic Project
100% grass-fed with independent verification of standards
Grass-fed
100100% grass fed
No points are given for this but the information may be useful to certain consumers looking to avoid soy.
Soy Free Ration?
Yes
Sliding scale based on policies, enforcement, acreage/cow, days/year on pasture, and permissible exemption.
Pasture
100Excellent pasture compliance
One time/day receives the most points. Two times per day is standard.
Times Milked
95Varies (1-2 times per day)
Lower cull rate scores better, with under 10% receiving the most points.
Cull/death Rate
75Low cull rate
Farms with closed herds receive the most points. Farms that sell organic calves and buy conventional replacements receive the fewest.
Replacements
100Closed herd
Standard practice is removing calves shortly after birth, with extra points given for unique ways of managing calves
Calves
90Calves moved to larger pens at one month, outside at three months
Farms that prohibit antibiotics receive the most points. Farms that allow young stock to receive antibiotics (under one year), receive the fewest.
Antibiotic Use
100No antibiotic use
No hormones is the standard, however some farms do use oxytocin for therapeutic purposes.
Hormone Usage
100No hormones used
Farmstead dairies (owner lives on-site) receive the most points. Fewer points are given as oversight declines.
Farm Support
100Lives on premises
All ingredients sourced from inside the organization or on the farm receives the highest points. Ingredients from confinement factory farms and/or imported ingredients receive the fewest.
Procurement of Ingredients
100No outside ingredients used
Various levels of extra credit given for 1) providing full organic systems plan, 2) providing details on all farms (multi-farm brands, details on largest five required), and 3) sourcing feed on-farm or domestically.
Extra Credit
0None