2 acres + large barn What can we do?

WildlingFarm · #1 07/01/14, 07:37 PM

I am new to the world of farm animals!

We have had a large raised garden for a few years. We cultivate wild food naturally growing here (raspberries, mulberries, morales). We have begun to plant a small fruit orchard. This year we built a 12x11 chicken coop in the lean to of the pole barn.

We are considering fencing our back yard for a cow or goats. Both of us grew up in the city and are a bit unsure where to start.

Any good links. Resources, books, tips, advice are appreciated.

Electric fence is going up this week for property line on one side and back of property due to neighbor dog issues. So why not do the other two sides and get some livestock!

I have tried reading thru a few forums but have issues with the site freezing, so haven't been able to search as much as I would like. Any links would be greatly appreciated!

FarmboyBill · #2 07/01/14, 08:19 PM

Where are you located.

WildlingFarm · #3 07/01/14, 10:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FarmboyBill

Where are you located.

Michigan.

oneraddad · #4 07/01/14, 10:24 PM

Get a couple goats, they're very easy to take care of and you'll get hours of entertainment.

potatoguru · #5 07/01/14, 10:29 PM

Goats and chickens would fit better with the size of your acreage. There is a guy up the road from me that keeps 60+ goats in a 1 acre pasture.

FarmboyBill · #6 07/01/14, 10:48 PM

And all the exercise you need chasing them out of where there not supposed to be

FarmboyBill · #7 07/01/14, 10:50 PM

IF you end up with a cow, plant the acreage in Haygrazer. Keep the cow in a pen around 50ftSq by the barn. Cut the grass when it is around 18in tall and put it in the barn for hay for winter.
Course, in doing this, youll have to buy hay for the cow to eat, along with corn, as they need grain to suppliment the calcium lost in their body by giving milk.

WildlingFarm · #8 07/02/14, 06:18 AM

Oh I wasn't clear if we did a cow it would be for meat only. At least the first one. Our plan was to divide the acre into two sections an active and rest section and rotate them. As well as purchase hay bales and some grain. Not certain I like the idea of goats but will have to try some goat meat and milk before I can commit to that.

We have 7 chickens and 2 turkeys and 2 ducks right now. Maybe once we get the fence up I can post photos so you can see what we are working with.

Thanks for the help!

geo in mi · #9 07/02/14, 08:07 AM

Welcome to the forum. First, check your Township ordinances to see if you are zoned for the keeping of livestock and how many animal units your two acres will permit.....In Michigan, the Township rules....

geo

Grandmotherbear · #10 07/02/14, 08:31 AM

The local Walmarts carry goat milk from Meyenberg dairies, we drink it. Tastes like half n half. Vastly prefer it to cows milk and never tried it till I was in my 50s.
If you have local Hispanic supermercadios or bodegas see if they carry chevon. Sometimes its labeled as mutton even tho its not. good cooked by recipes for lean beef Its very. In other words- stewed type, crockpots etc.
The following is from my reading only and not from experience.
Goats are browsers not grazers. If you have weeds or shrub that's their preference, they will not do well on straight grass. Sheep are grazers not browsers and there are milk sheep breeds `such as Icelandic. You also get the wool to market to fiber artists. Sheeps milkis very profitable if you are near enough to a sheep milk cheesery to market tothem. Have never tasted sheep milk. BTW I am not fond of any milk at all, used to throw up when I was a kid if my parents forced me to drink it. I was surprised how much I liked goats milk when I tried it.
Both sheep and goats are herd animals and would do better with a minimum of 2 in your herd. Again from reading, sheep are not the escape artists goats are. However both will need predator protection- coyoyes and loose running dogs are everywhere.
You might consider rabbits. They are delicious and the droppings don't need composting before enriching the garden. Also you can market the BARF dog owners- Trying to remember the acronym- Bones and raw fur?? They feed the entire animal to their dogs.
Duck eggs are another possibility - the Ancona lays large eggs, Runners and Khaki Campbells lay chicken jumbo sized eggs and can actually lay more in a year than modern egg laying chicken breeds. There is a modern hybrid- I believe its the "300"- that even beats the Indian Runners egg laying records.
Geeze are other grazers, and there can be a market for goose eggs and geese for holiday meals.
Enjoy your acreage.

rambler · #11 07/02/14, 09:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WildlingFarm

Oh I wasn't clear if we did a cow it would be for meat only. At least the first one. Our plan was to divide the acre into two sections an active and rest section and rotate them. As well as purchase hay bales and some grain. Not certain I like the idea of goats but will have to try some goat meat and milk before I can commit to that.

We have 7 chickens and 2 turkeys and 2 ducks right now. Maybe once we get the fence up I can post photos so you can see what we are working with.

Thanks for the help!

Cattle are herd animals, you do better with 2 or more.

Two acres is fairly small for a couple head of cattle, you might do better with a smaller animal on that size area.

I'm not sure if the entire 2 acres can be pasture, or if you have a total of 2 acres for all your activities. Be really crowded to fit a couple beef along with your house, garden, and fruit trees all on the same 2 acres.

You will do well with splitting your pasture as you plan to allow some rotation, a very good plan whatever critters you get. Good thinking.

Paul

ronbre · #12 07/02/14, 10:30 AM

The Encyclopedia of Country Living Carla Emery

WildlingFarm · #13 07/02/14, 10:32 AM

Thank you for the replies!

Approximately 1 acre would be fenced for pasture connected to our barn. Our neighbors behind us have horses and several acres. They may be getting a steer as well so there could be some companionship there. As well as fencing is present between our areas so they could intermingle.

The reason we would consider a steer is I have the opportunity to get a weaned steer at a very good price. (Holstein), next to free. We have friends who have done cattle and say it is possible but I'm hesitant. Hesitant because I've never had an animal besides dogs!

We will definately seek out some goat meat and milk to try this weekend!

Now I purchased a book for homesteading farm animals we will spend some time before we decide what to do. I think goats or pigs will be a better fit.

And township has no restrictions for animals we called already as well as gained permission for electric fence.

WildlingFarm · #14 07/02/14, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ronbre

The Encyclopedia of Country Living Carla Emery

Thanks! I put this one back at the store earlier. Will go back and get it next trip there. I purchased "backyard homestead guide to farm animals" by Gail damerow.

WildlingFarm · #15 07/02/14, 10:39 AM

Mini cow?

coolrunnin · #16 07/02/14, 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FarmboyBill

IF you end up with a cow, plant the acreage in Haygrazer. Keep the cow in a pen around 50ftSq by the barn. Cut the grass when it is around 18in tall and put it in the barn for hay for winter.
Course, in doing this, youll have to buy hay for the cow to eat, along with corn, as they need grain to suppliment the calcium lost in their body by giving milk.

You have mentioned feeding corn for replacement of calcium several times I have always wondered about this as I had learned grains are a poor source of calcium.

Like all cereal grains, corn is
low in calcium and relatively high
in phosphorus (Table 2). Diets
containing high levels of corn
should include a supplemental
calcium source, such as limestone,
to prevent urinary calculi. The
recommended calcium-to-
phosphorus ratio in backgrounding
and feedlot diets is a minimum of
2-to-1 (two parts calcium to one
part phosphorus

http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/pubs/ansci/beef/as1238.pdf

FarmboyBill · #17 07/02/14, 12:25 PM

I wont argue with ya cr. That's what everybody fed their milk cows far as I know, and I would say for a number that would be a doz thereabouts.
If there was something better they didn't know about it then.

WildlingFarm · #18 07/02/14, 01:57 PM

Ok step 1). We are going to try some goat milk and meat. Then decide.
If we go the cow route I think we will see about dexter or mini breed due to space.

Lol this book says on half acre you can have 2 cows. 2 goats, 2 pigs, 6 chickens 3 turkeys 6 ducks and garden and house. I'm thinking 1 cow should be ok tight but do able. Lol I guess if cow gets too big we can always send him to a friends home or send him to butcher sooner?

I appreciate all of the comments I am learning so much here!

coolrunnin · #19 07/02/14, 02:02 PM

I just hate to see bad information passed.

Callieslamb · #20 07/02/14, 02:20 PM

Much depends, not on acreage, but on what's growing on that acreage. Do you have a nice meadow of grass or patches? Animals have to be fed year round and hay has been very expensive here the last couple of years with the drought. This year, with the continous rain, it's hard to find a window for hay baling. A cow can eat a bale of hay a day in the winter. At $6 a bale....you never break even. I've raised steers anyway, since it isn't always about breaking even. But you should have an idea of what a cow can cost you.

If your neighbor has cows and you have one- you will have a hole in the fence between you. Cows like company. It's best to have 2 of your own. 2 acres isn't generally enough unless you put them in a dry lot part of the time and fed hay- part time on the grass. Mini cattle are an option. I find them too expensive to buy though.

Sheep might be good - but they don't do well with electric fence unless you have a really, really strong charger. Hair sheep would do better than wool sheep. I'm grazing 7 sheep on less than 2 acres right now. With all the rain this year, there's too much grass even with just that space. We'll see what happens in July. A year ago today, I started feeding hay. Some sheep can gain weight well on just pasture, but generally a little grain helps them gain faster. You can raise a sheep ( or goat or pig) over the spring, summer and fall, then butcher and not have to carry them over the winter.