Whiskey and Cows: An Unlikely Duo in Kentucky's Heartland

Tue, 04 Nov 2025 17:11:03 GMT

When you think of whiskey, cows probably aren’t the first thing that comes to mind. Yet, on a picturesque Kentucky farm, there’s a surprising link between these two seemingly unrelated entities. Thanks to the innovative practices of a family-run dairy, the traditions of bourbon-making and dairy farming come together in a remarkable way.

A Legacy in Campbellsville
Cowherd Dairy, located in the scenic Campbellsville, Ky., stands proud of its rich heritage. With 430 cows and 700 acres of farmland, this family-owned dairy is now managed by its fifth generation, co-led by the passionate Caden Cowherd. For Caden and his family, dairy farming is more than just a job. It’s a rewarding lifestyle.

“This is an industry where you put in maximum effort and maximum time, and you get the results that you put into it,” Cowherd explains.

(Cowherd Dairy)

With a surname like Cowherd, dairy farming was a fitting choice for the family business. Cowherd co-owns the farm alongside his father and grandfather, and his responsibilities range from fieldwork — planting, spraying, and shelling corn — to managing the herd’s feeding routines. Each day, he is involved in the intricate dance of maintaining a productive and efficient farm that can support both his family and his community.

Cowherd’s passion for farming is evident. The young Kentucky farmer says there is nothing more rewarding than owning and operating a dairy farm.

“There’s no other job where you get to see the literal fruits of your labor come to life,” he says, reveling in the satisfaction of watching crops grow and contribute to producing milk.

Adapting and Innovating
The Cowherd family is always on the lookout for new ways to enhance their operation. The farm emphasizes the importance of three essential factors: genetics, cow comfort and feed quality for optimal production.

Byproduct feed isn’t just a means of nutrition. It also reinforces environmental sustainability. The nutritional analysis of dairy cows in the U.S. unveiled that byproducts contribute significantly to their diets, providing much-needed nutrients while also curbing food waste. Feeding byproducts to livestock ranks highly on the EPA’s Food Recovery Hierarchy, further proving the practice’s sustainability.

(Cowherd Dairy)

This is one reason Cowherd Dairy feeds several biproducts to their herd. According to Cowherd, their ration includes soybean meal, soy plus fine ground, corn, citrus pulp, distiller syrup, wheat silage and corn silage, along with vitamins and minerals.

Cowherd herdsman, Billy Wilcher says: “I don’t know another industry that is more environmentally conscious than farmers,” noting farmers are always looking at how best to care for their land, cattle and the environment.

The Perfect Upcyclers
Cows are nature’s upcyclers, capable of transforming almost anything into valuable resources. At Cowherd Dairy, one of the unique byproducts fed to the cattle is syrup from the whiskey-making process. Delivered by tanker truck, this syrup is a sweet treat for the cows.

“For the cows, the syrup is like ice cream to a kid,” Cowherd explains.

Alongside this syrup, the farm also includes other byproducts like citrus, soybean meal and cottonseed in the cows’ diet, showcasing an efficient and environmentally friendly approach to farming.

“We quit feeding dried distillers grain years ago, and then started feeding a liquid distiller syrup,” Cowherd shares. “It just got to be extremely readily available because of all the growing distilleries in our area.”

Located only 30 miles from the Bourbon Trail, distiller syrup is available year around.

“It is very affordable,” he shares. “We only have to pay the hauling bill, which is around $500 for a tanker load.”

Every animal fed TMR gets the syrup in her diet. Cowherd shares the distiller syrup is a good source of inexpensive protein.

“I think it is like 20% protein,” he says. “We like it because it’s sticky and acts like a binding to the forage and prevents cows from sorting.”

The farm purchased and cleaned out old crude oil tanks to store the liquid syrup in. Although Cowherd shares they go through a tractor trailer load in about three days.

(Cowherd Dairy)

“The cows just love it,” he says. “Like those citrus pulp pellets, that’s the waste from them squeezing out the juices from the oranges and lemons. They pelletize that, and it’s an excellent source of fiber and vitamin C for the cows.”

Cowherd says if farmers didn’t use byproducts to feed their cattle, he is unsure where those products would end up.

“I know, at one point, local distilleries were trying to find an outlet for the distiller syrup and distillery byproducts,” he says. “We are happy to use the syrup to feed our cows and prevent from being wasted.”

Dairy farmers like Cowherd are mindful of their resources available and always examine costs, especially when it comes to their No. 1 cost: the feed bill.

“You are foolish not to use what is available,” he says.

The Impact of Byproducts on Dairy Production
Having delved into the vast field of U.S. dairy nutrition, there’s a fascinating trend emerging in the dietary strategies used on farms today. From 2019 to 2024, extensive research has illuminated the growing importance of byproduct feeds in dairy cow nutrition. This transition marks a remarkable shift in how nutritional needs are being met within the dairy sector.

Dairy farmers and their nutritionists are now leveraging byproduct feeds to enhance the dietary intake of their herds. Such feeds have become significant contributors to meeting the protein requirements of dairy cows. In fact, byproduct feeds now account for up to 60% of the protein needs for lactating cows.

Byproducts — such as soybean meal, corn byproducts and corn distillers’ grains — occupy top positions in dairy cow diets across the United States. These findings underline the essential role that diverse byproducts play in maintaining a balanced and nutritious diet for dairy cows.

At the same time, a report put out by Dairy Management Inc. found many stakeholders and most consumers are unaware of the fact that dairy cows recycle valuable nutrients from feed byproducts into nutritious milk.

That’s why Cowherd works with The Dairy Alliance to help tell his dairy story.

“The modern consumer is three generations removed from the farm,” he says. “And, you’re 60% more likely to purchase a product from someone you trust. So, I had an idea to kind of shoot some videos on my dairy and put some posters with QR codes up in the local Walmart to show people where their food comes from. To show them that we’re a family owned and operated business and to put a face with the product.”

(Cowherd Dairy)

The multi-media campaign that resulted was very well received, and Cowherd says showcasing how they feed their cows and the sustainable message of farming is important to let people know about.

“We produce a great product that I’m proud to talk about,” he says. “Dairy farming is not just a job; it is a lifestyle. It’s what I wake up to. It’s what I go to sleep thinking about 90% of the time. It’s our livelihood, and I’m blessed to have what I have here. I think that we’re blessed to be able to produce this quality product. I think that as farmers, we do an incredible job of making a good and reliable and safe product, but we don’t do the greatest job in pushing this message out.”

The unique relationship between Cowherd Dairy and the Four Roses Distillery reflects a creative approach to agriculture that champions sustainability and efficiency. It’s a testament to how two distinct industries can come together to benefit the environment and uphold agricultural traditions.

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Prairie Farms Closing Kentucky Milk Processing Plant

Thu, 12 Nov 2020 05:54:29 GMT

A milk processing plant in western Kentucky will close next month and 52 employees will be out of jobs following the decision.

Prairie Farms Dairy operates the Fulton, Ky. milk processor and plant general manager David Atchley notified the Kentucky Division of Workforce and Employment Services on May 1 of the plant closing. The letter from Prairie Farms indicates that the plant will close on June 30 and the 52 employees will receive a severance package.

Dairy Herd Management reached out to Prairie Farms several times for comment about how the plant’s closing will impact dairy farmers, but no response was made.

Dairy Farmers of America (DFA) cooperative members do supply milk to the plant and according to officials at DFA they are working with those impacted members to find another processor for their milk.

Fulton County Judge-Executive Jim Martin told the Paducah Sun that the plant closing was not a surprise as Prairie Farms mentioned several years ago it could happen. Martin adds that milk production locally has decreased.

The Fulton plant manufactures milk, mixes and ice cream through Turner Dairy Holdings, LLC, a branded partner for Prairie Farms . The other Turner-Prairie Farms affiliated plant processes milk and juices in Memphis, Tenn.

Prairie Farms plans to continue operating a distribution center in Fulton employing 12 people.

Several dairy processors have announced closings or a reduction in the amount of milk they would take in the past year across the country.

Earlier this month Arla informed 11 dairies in Wisconsin they would no longer be taking their milk.
Dean Foods told up to 80 producers in Pennsylvania, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina and Ohio it would no longer be taking milk after May 31 .
Last April, Grassland Dairy Products informed farmers in Wisconsin, New York and Minnesota they would no longer be taking their milk because of trade policies with Canada.