Can grass-fed cow’s milk be better than organic? Here's what to know when choosing your milk

MANILA, Philippines — Imagine the rolling landscapes of New Zealand, where the air is crisp, the grass is lush, and cows graze freely, happily making liquid gold. As ideal as it sounds, did you also know that the quality of milk these cows produce is connected to their diet and their environment?

The journey it took from the lush pastures to one’s table is easily overlooked because most of us don’t realize that commercially farmed cows, more often than not, are fed with grain rations inside concrete cubicles. This is where conventional milk comes from.

Organic milk, meanwhile, is a different story—we’ll have more on that later.

Beneath the surface

New Zealand being one of the world’s best sources of cow’s milk is no exaggeration.

Its pasture-fed cows offer milk that’s enriched with essential nutrients—famed for the balance of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids that’s fundamental to human health.

A standout component of this milk is conjugated linoleic acid (CLA)—simply, this is a beneficial fatty acid with potential anti-inflammatory properties.

Now, the milk aisle isn't only about different fat percentages. It’s now a choice between plant-based, conventional, organic cow’s milk, and the newest entrant—grass-fed.

Organic milk is certified by stringent USDA standards and is a testament to cows’ natural living and consumption habits. Yet, grass-fed cow’s milk has another layer of complexity.

Grass-fed cow’s milk emerges as a victor, not just for cows but for the consumers, too. The cows' all-grass diet produces milk that’s filled with beneficial omega-3s, outshining even the organic variety.

According to a scientific study in 2018, grass-fed cow’s milk contains 147% more omega-3s than conventional milk and 52% more than