Økodag, or Dancing Cow Day, as it is affectionately known, marks the beginning of the outdoor season for all organic cows in Denmark. Children pick up hay bales for a better view, and parents hold camera phones ready to capture the magic at noon just as cows are being released across the country. The first odkodag took place in 2005 with 10,000 visitors. Since then, 1.2 million people have participated in the annual ritual. “Thanks to Covid, we have been digital for the last two years, with only one live stream for people to watch, so everyone is looking forward to seeing the cows again,” said Louise Køster, president of Organic Denmark. “The cows are so happy to be outdoors, to feel the sun and the wind, to dance,” he said. “Out in the field, a cow can also go for her favorite dishes – grass, clover, various herbs, etc.” Dairy cows released at Sommerbjerggaard in Jutland from their barns in 2020 Photo: Henning Bagger / Ritzau Scanpix / AFP / Getty Images A certified organic animal must be out and about eating grass for at least six hours a day between April and November in Denmark, occasionally a challenge with Denmark’s unpredictable weather. Farmers had to bring the cows until the ground was free of frost in 2013 and it was so cold in 2014 that the herd ran straight back to the barn after απεkodag’s release. The forecast this year is a more cow-friendly 7C, but day-trippers are still advised to book warmly for the 42 events across the country. In addition to the dancing cows, visitors can take a tractor ride, browse a milking parlor or admire the automatic brushing mechanisms created to make the cows scratch their backs. Everything before being sent home with a bag of organic potatoes, at least if the last personal Økodag in 2019 is a guide. “It’s just the best day,” Køster said. “People really care about it and farmers explain how milk goes from farm to fork, so if you drink dairy, you do it carefully.” There is also an attempt to restore the image of the cow. “We are talking about their role in the ecosystem, how they contribute to biodiversity, how we need fewer animal feed fields and more human food production,” Køster said. “We are looking for ways to keep the cows fed on grass all year round, to dry and tie up the summer grass to last the winter and to give the cows the nutrients and proteins they need.” Denmark was the first country in the world to introduce a state-controlled organic label in 1990. The country has the highest market share of organic products in the world with 12.8% of food bought in supermarkets and every third milk carton is certified organic. But there is still work to be done, Køster said. “Something like Økodag is a great opportunity to highlight how both producers and consumers need to make changes.”
