Will my cow be lonely?

PrettyPaisley · #1 02/28/14, 10:01 AM

In an effort to reduce my stress levels around here a bit - and rescue my pasture with some serious grass planting and rotation - I have a cow dilemma.

I have my milk cow and 2 year and a half old Holstein steers that she raised on my pasture. It's time for one of them to go into the freezer. It was my plan to leave the 2nd with her to keep her company until she calves then put him in the freezer. Well it's been suggested to me that I put one in the freezer and sell the other one. My concern is that she will be lonely - and of course I don't want to have to buy beef if I have beef waiting in the pasture. We have a couple of LDGs out there who I was told will keep her company but I will have to put them in the back pasture with the goats this summer. I won't have the goats in the front pasture for awhile - so she can't be a herd with them.

What would be best?

Ernie · #2 02/28/14, 10:20 AM

Maybe yes, maybe no.

I've had herd animals that absolutely couldn't stand being in a herd. They wanted to be with the people and not with other animals. And I've had other herd animals that just looked like they were going to pine away and die if they didn't get to socialize. They've got different personalities and needs just like people, I suppose.

But yeah, those steers are too useful to use as company. I'd eat one and sell the other, if I didn't end up eating them both. Then have her bred again. She'll soon produce her own calf to keep her company!

I like it when people care about the emotions of their animals. I don't mind eating them, but I sure like my table to be filled up with happy meat instead of the flesh of miserable creatures.

Tango · #3 02/28/14, 10:49 AM

I think it depends too, like Ernie is saying. A cow can be quite happy between calves. I am sure she will miss them for several days. If they can be staggered in departure, I think that would be best

7thswan · #4 02/28/14, 10:51 AM

Can you put a goat in with her.

rambler · #5 02/28/14, 10:59 AM

They are herd animals and like to be with a friend.

But will depend on her own personality mostly, most really don't care, some few need a friend really badly. Is she the strong leader type, or a bit of a scared follower type?

How long between selling the steer and she has her new calf?

Like so many questions, the answer will be 'it depends' but the odds are you and her will be ok.

Paul

FarmboyBill · #6 02/28/14, 11:51 AM

Dad kept his Jersey in the cow lot for years. He might have had 2, I don't remember, one at a time. The only interaction they ever got with the rest of the cows is when they went past the barn from the upper pasture to the lower pasture. The milk cows ate ALOT better than the pasture cows.

Buffy in Dallas · #7 02/28/14, 12:05 PM

When is she due? I think I would put one in the freezer then keep the other with her till she calves.

FarmboyBill · #8 02/28/14, 12:40 PM

yup unless the other is still attacking the udder

MO_cows · #9 02/28/14, 01:04 PM

Do you have other livestock? We kept one steer with one horse for a time, and they weren't scratching buddies or anything but stayed more or less together and kept each other company.

Our yearling steer initially threw a fit when we loaded out the cows (including his mother) and left him behind, he ran the fence and bawled for hours. We were worried he would bust through the fence. But by the next day he had settled down and just hung out with the horse.

It mainly depends on the individual cow. But, this might be the time to get your kids a pony!

JoePa · #10 02/28/14, 03:18 PM

Put the cow in the freezer and your worthy will be over -

Maura · #11 02/28/14, 05:55 PM

She is a herd animal, but being with goats also counts as a herd. She would prefer her own kind, but goats can fill in.

Michael W. Smith · #12 02/28/14, 06:15 PM

Is she still in milk? What about buying a cheap feeder calf - feed him by bottle. Once he is integrated into the herd, thin it out to the cow and calf.

Once she has her own calf / calves, you can decide how long to keep him. If you get him now - and don't need the meat in the Fall, he should bring a profit to you as he should put on quite a bit of weight Spring, Summer, and Fall.

wwubben · #13 02/28/14, 06:33 PM

Butcher one sell the other and buy a young calf to put with her.I always like to have at least two animals to keep them happy.

dkhern · #14 03/01/14, 07:47 AM

imo you are way over thinking this

MichaelZ · #15 03/01/14, 08:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FarmboyBill

yup unless the other is still attacking the udder

And FarmboyBill wins the prize

for the first joke on this thread that was sure to come! Would you like it green, deer hunter blaze orange, pastel pink, or wood grain?

PrettyPaisley · #16 03/01/14, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rambler

They are herd animals and like to be with a friend.

But will depend on her own personality mostly, most really don't care, some few need a friend really badly. Is she the strong leader type, or a bit of a scared follower type?

How long between selling the steer and she has her new calf?

Like so many questions, the answer will be 'it depends' but the odds are you and her will be ok.

Paul

She never really did care for them much but after a couple of years I notice that she will lick them on the heads if they come to her. She is definitely the head of the little herd-they follow her everywhere. She's dry so I can't get another calf and I DO NOT want a bottle baby. No thank you!

I'm having her bred in about a month so if I got rid of them both she would only have the dogs for a fairly long time. I can't put any goats out there now; I'm working on getting them in tip top shape so they will be in a completely separate pasture for a good long while.

mrs whodunit · #17 03/01/14, 11:53 AM

I have had a milk cow by herself she was was wonderful.

Done the same with one of our goats, she was better behaved by herself than with other goats.

Some animals do just fine living by themselves while other don't. It just depends on personality.

Maybe you could get another animal for her just not one as big as a cow? I am a mixer and matcher. LOL I have goats, pony and a pig living all together. They get along fine. People told me the pig had to live with another pig in order for her to gain well. No. She doing just fine growing.

montysky · #18 03/01/14, 03:38 PM

The two year old should go to freezer camp ASAP, to me the only question is the 6 month old he is about the age for "rose" veal don't know what you goals are for him?

Yes Cattle are herd animals and would be better off with other critters, if you're planning to keep her alone check your fence line. I think she would bond with the dogs and or goats.

Shygal · #19 03/01/14, 06:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MichaelZ

And FarmboyBill wins the prize

for the first joke on this thread that was sure to come! Would you like it green, deer hunter blaze orange, pastel pink, or wood grain?

Um....that wasnt a joke

It was a sensible thought.

MichaelZ · #20 03/01/14, 09:54 PM

OK, I see. In that case, "Yup unless the udder is still attacking the udder."