The Milky Way
to great taste

There are some places on earth where one might actually like to be a cow.

Cow in the Lodalen Valley .
Photo: Øyvind Heen - fjords.com

Green grass, clean flowing water, and fresh country air.

Cows grazing in Undredal valley .
Photo: Øyvind Heen - fjords.com

Nature makes Norwegian dairy and beef fresh, tasty and good.

Here are ten reasons why:

Norwegian milk .
Photo: Matprat.no / Astrid Hals

1. Almost no antibiotics

In Norway, only sick animals are treated with medicines.

Cows .
Photo:

2. Looong summer vacation

Cattle, sheep, and goats are entitled by law to graze freely for at least 8 weeks of the year. Many even spend the entire summer season outside.

Goats in Norway .
Photo: Spætt Film / Visit Norway

3. Free to roam

Many old breeds of livestock, such as the traditional Norwegian Urfe cattle breeds and Spælsau sheep, are kept outside all year round.

Sheep in Nærøyfjord .
Photo: Øyvind Heen / fjords.com

4. Yummy milk

Stølsmelk (milk from summer mountain farms) is more nutritious and tasty than ordinary milk. It's been proven!

Cat drinks milk .
Photo: Spætt Film / Visit Norway

5. Our best landscape gardeners

Animal grazing shapes and preserves the cultural landscape, and prevents overgrowth.

Renndølsetra, Innerdalen .
Photo: Thomas Rasmus Skaug / Visitnorway.com

6. Plants and insects love it too!

Grazing ensures biodiversity.

Omaholmen island in Hardangerfjord .
Photo: Sverre Hjørnevik / Fjord Norway

7. The magical Norwegian combi-cow

Mooo! As much as 70 percent of our beef production is based on a special Norwegian breed called Norsk Rødt Fe (NRF).

This cow produces both meat and milk, making it a real combi-cow!

Renndølsetra in Innerdalen .
Photo: Thomas Rasmus Skaug / Visitnorway.com

8. Loving farmers

Cows Klara and Litago play freely, eating grass and sauntering over to get a good scratch every so often.

Many Norwegian farmers are at the forefront of animal welfare, and care a lot about their animals.

Fannremsgården farm in Trøndelag .
Photo: Leikny Havik Skjærseth / Visitnorway.com

Milk from these beloved animals is used to make some of the world's best cheeses and dairy products, including the famous sweet Norwegian brown cheese.

Norwegian brown cheese .
Photo: Runar Andersen

9. Lights in the houses

By supporting small scale farming, you support the life of villages and valleys, and a vibrant countryside.

Many Norwegian farms have cosy farm shops and offer farm stays.

Sample the best of rural Norway. Spoil yourself with some countryside luxury, like here at Kvitnes farm in Vesterålen.