Our cows can do this if it was spring here all year round. There are 2 ttypes of farm cows---one is trouble-free farm cows that are put in a field to consume grass and different vegetation they are those that gets fattened for butchers shops and there is the dairy farm cows that are taken care of plenty in a diverse way and that they are fed hay--corn--silage and different meals for them to offer milk purely. In today’s feedlots, however, cows fed corn and other grains are eating food that humans can eat, and they are quite inefficiently converting it into meat. Cows can’t tell that there are pesticides in the grass, so they carry on eating as normal. What Do Cows Eat? The vast majority of cows in America eat a heavy amount of grains, specifically corn, after their first year. Dairy cows mainly eat grass, hay (which is just dried grass and alfalfa) and silage (fermented grass, alfalfa or corn). The Word "Grass-Fed" The word "grass-fed" can be confusing because cows and other grass-fed animals may eat a wide variety of plants besides grasses. What You Should Know About Grass Fed Beef Fact: All cows eat grass. Tanja Esser/Shutterstock. Our cows can do this if it was spring here all year round. Grazing generally refers to the eating of grasses, and browsing usually refers to the eating of leaves, twigs, or bark from bushes or trees. When the grass is cut it contains 75-85% water. It’s no surprise that livestock animals like cows, sheep, and goats love gnawing on grass. However, there are three other seasons that get their turn. Grass-fed beef, on the other hand, comprises less than 3 percent of the market. For cows, a natural diet consists of plants that can be "grazed" or "browsed." Cows Need Grass, and USDA Agrees. For that matter dogs, cats and other pets have no warning that there are pesticides present. Unanswered Questions. When we’re convinced that cows only eat grass, we make pastures that are just grass, and we move them when we all the grass is eaten, even if there are other plants there that would be perfectly good forage. During the winter, we feed them hay. The buffalo didn’t even do this on just grass. Your teacher is wrong they eat more then grass. I’ve also read articles online that compare grass-fed cattle to “cattle raised in feedlots”. Sign in. Let’s explore how cows are able to eat grass… The court case highlights the ongoing debate over what “grass fed” dairy produce means and if there are benefits to it. The grass is young and fresh and in the early stages of its life cycle, full of protein and energy. 100% grass-fed dairy means exactly what it says: milk from cows that eat grass and only grass.