Did my cow just eat that?

Asa called me the other day with a story from the pasture. He was there shortly after Sandy had given birth. The calf was up and good and then the cow passed the afterbirth. As she did, a group of the older mama cows formed a loose circle around her while she consumed it.  As soon as she was done, they dispersed and went back to grazing themselves.  

This was story-worthy not because she consumed the placenta, we've seen that many times, and I truly understand the power of it. I, myself consumed placenta after Farmhands 3 & 4 were born and my recovery after was SO much easier than with Farmhands 1 & 2. So we always hope the animals will eat the afterbirth knowing it has benefits to both mom and baby.  

What made it worth a mid-day call from the field was how the other cows behaved.  The herd instinct was to give Sandy some extra protection right then. Keeping her calf close to her and any possible predators or nosey yearlings away. I've seen one of our cows have to fight with a fox for afterbirth, so knowing that when they are grouped together with all ages, they have this instinct to protect each other is amazing to see. The best part is three days later Asa witnessed it happen again after Sapphire gave birth, so we know it was not just a fluke.

The Natural Role of the Placenta on Pasture

In nature, nearly all mammals eat the placenta after birth. This behavior, called placentophagy, serves multiple purposes:

• Nutrition and Recovery: Birth is hard work. The placenta is rich in iron, protein, hormones, and essential nutrients that help the mother recover quickly and support milk production. My experience was it also helped my energy levels! What new mom would not want that?
• Predator Protection: In the wild, the scent of afterbirth can attract predators. Consuming the placenta helps hide the evidence of a fresh birth and protect the vulnerable calf.
• Instinctual Bonding: The process of licking the calf and consuming the afterbirth stimulates hormones that help the cow bond with her baby and encourage nursing.

We want our cows to follow their instincts. We believe animals should be respected for the wisdom built into them, and that includes behaviors that modern, industrial farming might see as “messy” or “unnecessary.”

So if you happen by the pasture this calving season and catch sight of a new mama munching on something unexpected—now you know. She's not being gross—she’s doing what cows have done for millennia, guided by the same natural rhythms that help her raise a strong, healthy calf.

We raise our animals in the fresh air and sunshine, with space to move, forage, and do what animals are meant to do. That includes birth—and all the beauty, mystery, and mess that comes with it.

We are able to raise our animals as close to nature as possible because of the support of customers like you. This only works when we have people who want their meat and eggs raised in this way. So thank you for being a partner in our farm family! Be sure to check out the "Grill Bundles" just released yesterday. If your freezer is full now, you can join our CSA and be the first to know when more beef and chicken are ready.  

If you're in the area, be sure to drive by the cow field and see if you can catch sight of these wonders of nature occurring.

Aila