How many people here have a milk animal

[michiganfarmer]

I grew up on a dairy farm in the 80s, and we always had fresh raw milk. Dad sold the cows in '87. I bought a milk cow last year, and we now have our own fresh raw milk.

How many others have their own cow, or goats for home milk consumtion?

It doesnt have to be consumed raw. Im just wondering how many here produce their own milk.

[Jack T.]

Just got our first milk cow a couple weeks ago. Likely that we'll get another one in the next month or so.

[Sherrynboo]

I bought two dairy does that freshened last Feb. We milked them until Jan of this year and they are due to freshen again in about 3 weeks. I love having our own milk supply! We have had to buy milk since January and I didn't realize how much we used.

Sherry in GA

[michiganfarmer]

I am considering a second one so we wont be without milk while one is dry.

I dunno. Is probably cheaper to go to the store for 3 months, than feed a second cow all year

[goatsareus]

:banana02::bouncy :

been milking for 31 years and had no childhood background for it. dh and i just bought a new hay wagon, we're hoping to keep milking until we are 70, 13 more years.

[Callieslamb]

on a dairy farm - holsteins coming out our ears. I always had raw milk. When I moved away from home for college, it was hard switching to 'store bought'. However, I know exactly the limitations milking can put on a family. My dad almost missed my graduation - he did miss my sister's. I just decided he wasn't missing mine and we milked as fast as we could and I only arrived 10 minutes late. Hey, I might not have gotten to walk in with everyone else, but I did get to have my Dad there.

Though I would love the milk, we aren't in a possition to be here twice a day, at the same time, every day. Perhaps in the future, when we convince the grandkids to come here for a visit? Right now, to see family, we pretty much have to go to them. I would love to raise mini-jerseys though.

[tickranch]

I have milk goats~

[TxCloverAngel]

I sooo want a milk cow. But we live in BEEF country.. and any milk breeds are high high $$ cause the ranchers use em for their calfs.... someday....

[Wags]

I would prefer a milk cow, but all we can afford are dairy goats. Our first kidding should, G-d willing, be the beginning of May.

[veme]

We got rid of our goats last year because we got tired of feeding & milking goats.
Plus there is only the 2 of us and we were drowning in milk!

Now a days we buy a gallon of raw cow milk from a friend once a week.

We want our own milk again (just not goats) and DH is in the process of "taming up" a beef heifer calf to milk.

He is touching her udder when he feeds her in the pasture. She doesn't like it but puts up with it.

He has plenty of confidence he can tame her to "steal" a little milk.
I'm not so sure ........

[matt_man]

We have Jerseys. Milking one, and getting another this weekend. Also raising up our heifer calf for a first calving late next year.

Rachel

[RockyGlen]

We have three Jerseys - two that we milk and a heifer who will be bred this year. We are going to sell one, just no idea which one yet. As TXClover said - in beef country, milk cows are expensive. Our main cow gives 4 gallons a day at peak, while nursing two calves.

TXClover - before we had the Jerseys, we milked a Scotch highlander. You might look into it. She did not give as much milk, and of course the butterfat was not as high, but that breed was plentiful and it is an all purpose breed - milk, meat, and fiber. I miss my Scotchy!

[doodles]

I have 6 Jerseys and 35 milking Alpines. I can't even drink milk from the store.Yuk! I love my raw milk, butter and homemade cheese!

[CookingPam777]

I am currently milking one Saanen goat she give 3 to 3 1/2 quarts a day. I hope to increase this to 5 milkin' goats. Then one day to 20 but that is far in the future.

[Scrounger]

We had a LaManchs goat, but she was a PITA. We just got two milkers (Kinder) goats this past week, and are getting them used to us milking them.

[BarbG]

We have a jersey/holstien cross that should calve late April. Looking foward to having fresh milk (cheese, yogurt, ice cream, cream) again. Drinking frozen milk now and only dd1 really likes it.

[jim/se kansas]

I am milking one Nubian doe, another just came fresh two days ago. Dexter heifer will calve next month. Love that milk.

[RedTartan]

I have one nubian goat in milk right now and I'm loving all the yogurt and cheese I'm making!!! I have a second doe that will be big enough to breed this fall, so next year I'll have two!

RedTartan

[everado2]

We have had the dairy (Cows) until the end of 06 and moved them over to another dairy to lease and milk. We are, thankfully, still able to get the milk when needed and in the meantime we bought 100+ head of dairy goats and milk those. So milk is "the real thing" here on our farm. Don't care for store bought. When one of the grand children comes for visits (Shawn/Spankie) he always asks "Nanny can I have some REAL milk?" We laugh at that every time!

[Cloverbud]

Dairy goats here. DD loves raw milk as much as she loves the goats. I adore cows, but we (I) can manage goats more easily on our small place.