Rob Visser, second generation farmer, is passionate about his stud Jersey herd. The gorgeous, fawn-coloured, long-lashed Jersey cows on the lush pastures of Dalewood Farm all have an added sparkle in their eyes. And rightly so, as they are the first step in creating a string of award-winning cheeses.
According to Jo Robinson (author/co-author of eleven published books including Pasture Perfect) dairy products from pastured animals are ideal for your health. They are richer in antioxidants; including vitamins E, beta-carotene, and vitamin C. They also contain an ideal ratio of essential fatty acids or EFAs; omega-6 and omega-3 as well as are the richest known source of the good fat called “conjugated linoleic acid” or CLA (three to five times more than animals fed conventional diets).
Jo Robinson reminds us that a cow raised on pasture produces far less milk than a cow raised in a confinement dairy on a grain-based diet. Dairy products from grass-fed cows have a rich yellow colour that is visible proof of their bonus supply of carotenes. The less milk a cow produces, the more vitamins in her milk. Serve cheese from a grass-based dairy, and everyone will notice the difference.
The happy lifestyle of the cows is of the utmost importance to ensure the cheese produced from their milk is of the best possible quality. Dalewood cows never receive growth or milk production increasing hormones, neither do they receive any unnecessary antibiotics. They graze on regeneratively grown pastures and are carefully bred for optimum health. Bottom line; the cows are happy and happy cows produce valuable, delicious milk, which in turn makes good cheese.
We care about and focus on the well-being of our herd & Rob has won various South African awards for Best Functional Herd Life, Best Herd Genetics, as well as one for Model Herd.