The farm’s success hinges on utilizing byproduct feeds, a practice that aligns with the EPA’s Food Recovery Hierarchy and reinforces environmental stewardship by curbing food waste. Cowherd Dairy strategically incorporates a diverse ration, including soybean meal, corn, and wheat silage. However, the most unique component is the liquid distiller syrup sourced from nearby distilleries along the Bourbon Trail—a sweet, year-round treat that Caden Cowherd likens to “ice cream to a kid.”

This distiller syrup, a byproduct of the whiskey-making process, offers a powerful economic and nutritional advantage. It is extremely affordable, with the farm only having to pay the approximately $500 hauling bill for a tanker load. The syrup is a valuable source of inexpensive protein, registering at roughly 20% protein content. Furthermore, its sticky texture acts as a binding agent in the Total Mixed Ration (TMR), preventing cows from sorting through their forage and ensuring a balanced diet for every animal.

By relying on byproducts, which also include citrus pulp pellets (a waste product of the juicing industry providing fiber and Vitamin C), Cowherd Dairy efficiently manages its No. 1 cost: the feed bill. This strategy is part of a broader trend, as extensive research from 2019 to 2024 shows that byproduct feeds now cover up to 60% of the protein needs for lactating cows across the U.S. By being “mindful of their resources,” the farm is utilizing readily available, cost-effective inputs that local distilleries once struggled to find an outlet for.