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Alexandre Family Farms has been leading the way in proving that dairy can be regenerative, both from an ecosystem management perspective and for human health. Their dairy is south of the Oregon / California border, where the redwoods meet the Pacific Ocean along the rugged, beautiful coast.

Their farm is truly a family affair. Blake and Stephanie proudly manage the farm with their children and their families, a testament to their commitment to the land.

The Start of Alexandre Family Farms

In 1992, Blake and Stephanie Alexandre purchased their dairy in Cresent City, California. Farming has been in their families, both being fourth-generation themselves. In 2001, they received their organic certification, making them the 9th certified organic dairy in California. And that was just the start of their leadership and innovation.

A Farm Where Life Flourishes

My fiance and I visited their farm earlier this year, driving north along the Pacific Coast Highway. Before getting to Cresent City, you can drive through the Avenue of the Giants in Humboldt, where small patches of old-growth Redwoods groves remain. Seeing 300-foot (100 meters) trees leaves a sense of awe and humbleness of how unique and beautiful this area of the United States is.

Arriving at Alexandre Family Farms, we were struck by its beauty. The lush green grasses amongst the soft rains created a perfect backdrop for learning more about what makes this regenerative organic dairy so unique.

Farming Regeneratively & Humanely

Today, Alexandre Family Farms manages five separate grass-based, regenerative organic dairies across northern California, spanning over 4,300 acres. They do this while conserving land for wildlife and restoring riparian zones, and without pesticides or synthetic fertilizers, a truly remarkable feat.

Their dairies are regenerative certified through both Regenerative Organic Alliance and Land-to-Market, giving them multiple metrics to ensure their claims.

The temperature rarely gets above 70º F or below freezing, and they receive 70" of rain annually, allowing their cows to graze lush green grass year-round. Their milking cows graze on pasture 18 hours a day, walking to and from the grass pastures for about an hour, in the free-stall barn for 2 hours, and the milking parlor for 3 hours each 24 hours.

Every morning, their “Cow Pusher” drives a four-wheeler out to the herd and guides them to the milking parlor, where they voluntarily enter to be milked. In the free-stall barn, they eat their mixed organic ration of alfalfa, grass silage, vitamins, and minerals.

Compassion and humane treatment of their animals are of the utmost importance, which is why they use a third-party animal humane certification program, Certified Humane, to ensure they are doing all they can to give these cows the best life possible.

Wildlife Conservation & Ecosystem Management

Their farm is home to hundreds of bird species and wildlife that choose to live here, even if they are passing through during their migratory journey along the Pacific Flyway.

In the spring, Aleutian Geese make their way south, and Alexandre Family Farms is a crucial stopping ground for them on their way to Modesto, California.

For the record, 35 geese can eat as much as 1 dairy cow, and tens of thousands spend time in the area each year. Alexandre has farmland adjacent to State Parks, which they set aside in the spring so these geese have plenty to eat. Their efforts, along with those of private and state landowners in the area, have significantly contributed to removing the Aleutian Goose from the Federal Endangered Species List.

In 2009, a herd of 52 Roosevelt Elk crossed the Smith River onto their property. Since then, they have nearly tripled in numbers while calling their farm home. These are just a few examples of successful conversation efforts achieved by their regenerative focus.

Teaming up with the California Fish and Wildlife Service, California State Parks, the North Coast Regional Land Trust, and the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), they are restoring habitat around the farm, including riparian zones directly flowing into the ocean just miles away.

Grazing-First Genetics & Global Crossbreeding

If you visit most commercial dairies, you will see one type of cattle — Holsteins. At Alexandre Family Farms, you see a wide diversity of cows of different colors due to crossing breeds from all over the world — New Zealand Kiwi Cross, German Fleckvieh, New Zealand Ayrshire, Dutch Holstein, and Danish Jersey.

The diversity of these crossbreeds has produced a shorter-statured cow with strong feet and legs to be better grazers while roaming their vast, wide-sweeping pastures 365 days a year. And one trait every single cow on their farm shares is that they all produce A2 milk; a beta-casein protein that differs from most commercial dairy milk.

The A2/A2 Difference & Why Not All Milk Is Equal

Today, the protein found in cow’s milk comes in two variants: A2 beta-casein and A1 beta-casein. Originally, cow’s milk only had the A2 beta-casein protein present (A2/A2), the same primary protein found in human milk, making it the most natural form for the human body and more easily absorbed and digested.

However, the protein has changed over time—from A2 to A1 beta-casein, which is what most commercial dairy contains. A1 beta-casein is more difficult for humans to digest and has been linked to inflammation and gut discomfort, which is why many have strayed away from milk and other dairy products.

Alexandre Family Farms genetically tests their dairy herd to ensure all their animals only produce A2 beta-casein milk. If you or anyone you know has issues with dairy, have them try Alexandre Family Farms products and see if they can tell the difference both grass-based management and A2 genetics play on the quality of the milk

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