Written by Natasha Stewart
At Wolfe’s Neck Center for Agriculture & the Environment, we steward a resilient dairy herd adapted to our unique grazing lands and farm management practices through thoughtful decision-making and long-term planning. Through this work, the process of breeding cows becomes inseparable from the process of training farmers.
Planning the Herd with Purpose
On our Organic Dairy Farm, herd planning begins with a question: what does the farm need, both now and in the future?
At any given time, our dairy typically milks between 32 and 40 cows, and ships to Stonyfield Organic. Maintaining a herd of that size requires constant adjustment. Some cows age out of the herd, while others experience health challenges. Each year, a small group of replacement heifers helps ensure continuity.
Rather than expanding endlessly, the goal is balance.
“Every year, those cows are going to have calves, and if you keep every animal, the herd grows really quickly,” said Sabino. “At some point, you run out of space, feed and resources. A big part of herd planning is making sure we’re raising the right number of animals for the system we actually have.”
While Sabino oversees the management of the dairy herd, breeding decisions are made collaboratively between the dairy team, Wolfe’s Neck Center leadership and professional breeding consultants. Together, the team evaluates herd health, grazing conditions, market trends, long-term farm goals and the traits best suited for a pasture-based system in Maine.
The process blends science, experience and observation. Data can help guide decisions, but there is no exact formula for building the ideal herd. Learning how to plan and manage a dairy herd takes years of experience and a deep understanding of both the animals and the land they graze.
By planning intentionally, the team can align the herd with the farm’s resources while maintaining high standards of animal welfare.
Breeding Decisions that Reflect the System
Within the last year, the farm has shifted toward breeding many cows to beef genetics. This approach reflects a growing demand for beef-on-dairy cross calves. In today’s market conditions, all beef-dairy cross calves have high market value as soon as they are born, regardless of sex, because of the strong demand for beef cattle across the U.S. A dairy calf, on the other hand, can eventually have high value if born a heifer but is harder to market if born a bull. Wolfe’s Neck carefully selects a small handful of dairy cows to breed using sexed dairy semen (or sperm processed to have a high concentration of female chromosomes) to ensure the farm produces the replacement heifers it needs.
But even with these tools, breeding is not an exact science. Conception rates vary and outcomes are never guaranteed. As Sabino notes, sometimes the “best” cows are simply the ones that reliably settle and continue to perform well.
What Makes a “Good” Cow?
At Wolfe’s Neck Center, the definition of a high-performing dairy cow goes beyond milk production.
The most valued cows are those that:
- Calve regularly, maintaining a steady production cycle
- Move easily across pasture and thrive in a managed grazing system
- Produce high-quality milk
- Remain healthy and low-maintenance over time
In fact, the best cows are often the least noticeable.
“The best cows are usually the ones you don’t know that well,” said Sabino. “They show up, do their job, go out to pasture and don’t give you problems. Those are the cows that really fit this kind of grazing system.”
These traits are essential for a pasture-based dairy system, where success depends on animals that can adapt to changing weather, forage conditions and seasonal rhythms.
Timing the Cycle
Breeding on the Organic Dairy follows a seasonal rhythm designed to align with pasture availability.
Cows are typically bred between late May and early September, with the goal of calving between March and the end of May. This schedule ensures that peak milk production coincides with the abundance of spring grass, when cows can meet much of their nutritional needs directly from pasture.
Heifers are generally bred at around one year of age, while mature cows are bred after a recovery period following calving. While timing varies slightly depending on the individual animal, the goal is to maintain a consistent cycle that supports both animal health, farm productivity and our partnership with Stonyfield.
A System That Grows Together
At Wolfe’s Neck Center, the dairy herd and the farmers who care for it are growing together.
Breeding decisions ensure the herd remains productive, healthy and well-suited to a pasture-based system with real-world limitations on forage quality. At the same time, the process creates a living classroom where apprentices can develop the skills and intuition needed to make a career in agriculture.
By investing in both the herd and the people who manage it, we are helping to build a more resilient future for dairy farming in the Northeast.
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Want to see the herd in action? Our campus is free and open to the public 365 days a year from dawn until dusk. Take a stroll on the Farm Discovery Trail where you’ll enjoy the beautiful scenery and have direct access to the Organic Dairy, which includes a Calf Barn, Milking Parlor and Herd Barn. If you don’t spot the cows in the barn, keep a watchful eye on the pastures around campus as they are usually out grazing.
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