Comfort Farming, Measured

The Five Freedoms Behind Our Milk

At Snowville Creamery, we use the word comfort very intentionally. It’s not meant to be sentimental or abstract. Comfort, for us, is something that can be designed into farming systems, observed in daily routines, and evaluated through credible, third‑party research.

That belief is at the heart of our Comfort Farming approach — and it’s why we look to a globally recognized animal‑welfare framework known as the Five Freedoms.

What are the Five Freedoms?

The Five Freedoms are widely used by scientists, veterinarians, and animal‑welfare experts to describe the essential conditions animals need to live healthy, low‑stress lives. Rather than focusing solely on productivity, the framework centers physical health, mental well‑being, and the ability to behave naturally.

The Five Freedoms are:

1. Freedom from hunger, malnutrition, and thirst

2. Freedom from fear and distress

3. Freedom from heat stress or physical discomfort

4. Freedom from pain, injury, and disease

5. Freedom to express normal patterns of behavior

Together, these freedoms provide a practical way to evaluate what good animal care actually looks like on a working farm.

Comfort Farming, Evaluated by Independent Research

Snowville Creamery does not own cows. Instead, we rely on long‑term partnerships with a small number of family farms that share our commitment to animal care and responsible agriculture. Because of this model, independent evaluation matters.

A Social Return on Investment (SROI) analysis conducted by the Ohio University Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Service examined the broader social and environmental impacts of Snowville Creamery’s sourcing practices — including dairy cow welfare.

Using the Five Freedoms as its framework, the study concluded that cows on Snowville Creamery partner farms experience the Five Freedoms to the greatest degree that can reasonably be exercised within a farming environment. This finding was based on detailed evaluation of living conditions, care practices, and daily routines on partner farms.

Rather than treating animal comfort as a marketing claim, the SROI analysis evaluated it as a measurable outcome of how these farms operate.

What the Five Freedoms Look Like on Snowville Partner Farms

 While every farm has its own rhythms, Comfort Farming shows up in consistent, intentional ways across Snowville Creamery’s partner farms.

Freedom from hunger, malnutrition, and thirst

Cows are fed a primarily high‑quality forage diet designed to support long‑term health. Clean, fresh water is always available. Nutrition decisions prioritize digestion, resilience, and overall well‑being — not short‑term yield.

Freedom from fear and distress

Care practices are designed to minimize stress throughout an animal’s life. Calves are placed with other calves so they have companions after separation from their mothers. Calving cows are supported using modern, evidence‑based techniques that prioritize care and nourishment. Management practices aim to reduce unnecessary stress and prolong healthy lifespans.

Freedom from heat stress or physical discomfort

Cows are housed in spacious indoor barns where they have personal space and the ability to move freely. Comfortable sand bedding helps prevent discomfort and udder ailments. Ventilation and cooling systems reduce heat stress and deter flies. Cows are also able to milk on their own schedules, rather than being forced into rigid routines.

Freedom from pain, injury, and disease

Preventive care, daily observation, and prompt treatment are central to herd management. Illness rates are significantly lower than those found in conventional commercial systems, and cows live substantially longer lives — a strong indicator of sustained health and welfare.

Freedom to express normal patterns of behavior

Cows are able to eat graze, rest, drink, and milk according to their natural rhythms. Pasture, feed, water, and milking areas are located close together, allowing animals to move easily and make choices throughout the day.

Why Animal Comfort Matters Beyond the Farm

Animal welfare is not just an internal value — it matters to the people and organizations Snowville serves. Many of our customers actively consider dairy cow welfare when choosing products, and they look to Snowville Creamery to uphold those expectations.

Comfort Farming reflects a deeper understanding that:

• Healthy, calm animals support safer, more sustainable farm work

• Responsible animal care strengthens trust with families, schools, and communities

• Long‑term well‑being creates value that extends far beyond a single product

Comfort as a Foundation, Not a Feature

The Five Freedoms give structure and language to what good farmers have practiced for generations: attentive care, thoughtful systems, and respect for animals as living beings.

For Snowville Creamery, Comfort Farming isn’t an add‑on or a trend. It’s a foundation — supported by independent research from the Ohio University Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Service — and reflected every day in how our partner farmers care for their cows.

Comfort, when done right, is intentional. And it shows.