Working Cows Dairy

Rating
ProductsCheese, Butter, Fluid Milk, Raw Milk
Websitehttps://workingcowsdairy.com/
Market AreaAL
Total Score1225

Working Cows Dairy produces high quality organic dairy products, including raw and pasteurized whole milk, heavy cream, chocolate milk, butter, and cheese. They also produce ground beef. All their products are 100% grass fed.

Their products can be found at their farm store and Whole Foods in Slocomb, AL.

Details can be found on their website and Facebook page.

RubricPointsComments and Notes
TOTAL (possible score is 1100 (plus extra credit)) 1225
5-Cow Rating | Top-Rated
Transparency and Disclosure 100Full and open disclosure with a history of reliability.
Brands that rate highest have a close relationship to their milk suppliers. Those that buy milk from industrial or unknown organic suppliers rate lowest.
Milk Supply and Ownership Structure
100Farmstead with daily, hands-on interaction with dairy cattle and farm business.
Brands that only produce organic products make the biggest investments — in time and money — in the organic systems that benefit us all.
Commitment to Organic Label
100A 100% independent organic dairy brand with dedicated organic sourcing. Some products are not certified but raw milk is.
Pasture management refers to how outdoor areas are managed, with top-rated brands utilizing multiple strategies to maintain high quality pasture, providing environmental and animal welfare benefits.
Pasture Management
100Superb pasture management, far exceeding minimum organic requirements.
The grass-fed percentage category reflects diet, with top-rated brands far exceeding the minimum requirements laid out in the organic pasture rule.
Grass Fed Percentage
100100% Grassfed (with 3rd party confirmation), year-long grazing season
This category focuses on the sourcing of feed, supplements, and any added ingredients in the diet. The category also accounts for brands that source organic dairy from other operations. Top-rated brands produce all feed on farm or buy inputs locally.
Supplemental Feed and Ingredients
100Majority of feed produced on-site
Industry standard is to immediately remove calves from their mothers and individually house them. High scores in this area show that brand suppliers use group housing or otherwise promote calf socialization.
Calves
100Nurse cows
High scoring brands milk only once or twice per day, allowing maximum time for cows to be outside exhibiting natural behaviors.
Times Milked Per Day
1251x a day
Lower cull and death rates receive more points (with some exceptions), as it is one indicator of high animal welfare.
Deaths & Culls
100Very low deaths and culls
Brands that closely monitor environmental factors, including soil and water quality, native species, and wildlife, receive the most points. Brands with specific policies and programs to boost environmental sustainability also receive high points.
Environmental Impacts and Stewardship
100Superb environmental stewardship with soil and water testing, manure management, supporting wildlife, etc.
Brands with specific policies and practices to support animal welfare score best. Brands may lose points in this category if they have a history of animal welfare concerns.
Animal Welfare
100Superb attention to animal welfare.
This category is non-scoring and provided for information.
Organic Certifier (Informational)
CCOF
Third-party labels carried by individual brands or product lines are listed here for more information. These are not scored, but some third-party labels may receive extra credit.
Add On Labels (Informational)
Animal Welfare Approved, Certified Grassfed by AGW
Herd size refers to the number of adult cows in the milking herd. The general denotation for herd size (large, medium, and small) is based on the legal definition of “Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation”.
Herd Size(s) (Informational)
Small
Brands may receive extra credit for practices and polices not reflected in the scorecard (see notes for details).
Extra Credit
100Animal Welfare Approved, Certified Grassfed by AGW
The adjustment section is where any notes and adjustments to the score are indicated, such as penalties for non-compliances.
Adjustments & Notes
Bonus points for AWA and the use of nurse cows. Small bonus for milking 1x a day (versus 2x a day, which is standard).