Cow or Goat?

We have a Jersey milk cow, Jersey beef steer and a couple of Boer does. I've never been a big goat fan. They stink! Now our cows have a warm and delicious smell to me!

Much easier to clean up the small pellets from the goats but I treasure the manure from my cow - it's as good as gold in the mulch pile and spread on the hay field.

You haven't seen our cow then! When we call Dolly in for milking, she stops long enough to relieve herself before coming into the barn. She is very gentle, is broke to tie out and halter & lead. We only use the halter/lead when we take her to the place we will tie her out. When it's time to go back to the pasture, we unsnap the tie out rope and let her go.

Cows are easier to contain in a pasture. With goats you need a fence that will hold water!!! Even though we do have another bovine and a couple horses, our milk cow does very well by herself out on pasture or tie out when she is alone.

Before we got our Jersey, we were going to go with the Dexter breed. Like Ozark mentioned, a full sized Jersey is easier to find, less expensive, easier to sell, easier to AI. We have never regretted going with the Jersey over a Dexter. With a Jersey, you know you are getting a milker. With a Dexter, you need to know which genetic lines are beef and which are milk.

Dolly is at the end of her lactation before we dry her up in preparation for freshening. We have been milking her once a day since the start of the cold weather last winter. She gives 3 gallons a day. When she first freshens, she usually gives about 6 gallons, then settles down to around 4 gallons a day (grass fed).

We have no problems with the milk we do not drink. There is cheese and yogurt to make & fresh butter. I use the whole milk for my soaps. We have milk customers that drive 2-3 hours for milk. If there is any left over, our Berkshire hogs love it!

In Kansas it is legal to sell raw milk on the farm.

__________________

----------------------
http://homesteadingfamilies.proboards.com/

You should definitely get a cow. It's what you want. I have two dairy goats and I love them, but I never wanted a cow. Cows are big and poo a lot. They don't appeal to me, so I got goats. Goats don't appeal to you, so you should get a cow.

If you get goats and don't like them, you are really going to feel resentful of the morning and evening milking times. Heck, sometimes I'm really resentful of the milking times. Sometimes I think I'd give anything to NOT milk in the evenings after a long day. You can't not milk, though.

Get a cow you'll love

RedTartan

__________________


www.redtartanwoolies.blogspot.com

Etsy Shop:
https://www.etsy.com/shop/RedTartanWoolies?ref=si_shop
Currently have Icelandic roving & (for a limited time) 100% Suri Alpaca roving.

If you have, or hope to have, an orchard, berries, or shrubs, don't get goats, as sometime they will get out of their fencing, and destroy your fruit trees.

Also, I have never had goats milk or cheese that didn't smell "goaty", although other people tell me it smelled okay, I must be more sensitive to the odor. I have also noticed that goat owners must become adjusted to the odor of goats, as they don't notice the strong odor of most goats, and the terrible stench of an adult mature male goat.

I vote for a Jersey cow, lots of milk much of the year, lots of cream for whipping and butter, and a vacation from milking chores when the cow is dried up for awhile.

in a futile effort to dispel some pervasive myths about goats i will say this yet again. does (females) don't stink. bucks (males) do, especially during rut (breeding season-normally from aug-dec). goats can easily be kept in a field wire fence with a strand of hot wire about 6-8 inches from the ground. once they learn the fence "bites" they don't go near it again, unless it gets turned off and they figure that out. the electric is vital to keeping good fences. i'd use it for horses and cows, too. the milk of a properly cared for goat does not usually taste bad, if that milk is treated properly. sanitation is vital to good milk. it is in cows, too. some lines of goats have "goaty" milk. don't buy one of those. to get the cream you need a cream separator. a 5yo kid can handle most goats. they are easier to get rid of if they become a problem goat or you need to cull back the herd. they usually have 2 or more babies. goat meat from a year old goat is yummy yummy. like tame venison. the wethers (castrated males) make great meat. we grind several a year. you do need a guard animal of some sort for goats, unless you keep them penned in a small pen. they are pickier than you think about what they eat, but they eat what they need out of the hay. you don't have to buy expensive hay for goats, just good clean hay.

__________________
Let a smile be your umbrella against the thunderstorms of life.
have a great day.
when i call on Jesus, all things are possible.

Well, we have dairy goats (LaManchas) and I have to say they are pretty easy keepers. They are extremely friendly, even-tempered and easy to work with. Hoof trimming, worming, milking - all very easy to do on the milkstand. You don't need water-tight fencing, just goats that are trained to electric and food available to keep them from really wanting to bust out. We have several pastures that are just 3 wire electric. The goats know not to touch it.

More important - you never clarified the environment the animals will be in. How much space? Is it pasture, woods, brush? Do you just want milk or do you intend to also make yogurt, cheese, butter, etc. How often do you want to milk? Do you want milk year-round? Do you have experience with either dairy animal? How well can you handle a large cow? Can you provide proper fencing and shelter for goats?

Rather than going just with your favorite, you should get the dairy animal best suited for the land and situation it will be put in.

__________________
Ultra Lord is not afraid of chickens!

Hey.

You need to give more background info, but....

If you don't raise your own feed, buying it is expensive. A cow eats more than a goat, factor that in.

Do your children like goat's milk? If not, it's a M-O-O-t point.

Do you have the money for fencing,shelter,equipment,etc.? Don't forget vet bills.

Do you have enough pasture?

Don't forget goats at a zoo are tortured by little kids poking at them. Visit a farm with goats instead.

RF

PS: Cows are better;-)

__________________
It's not good enough that we do our best; sometimes we have to do what's required. - Winston Churchill

most people cannot tell the difference between goat and cow milk when not told they are drinking goat milk, when the milk is handled properly.

__________________
Let a smile be your umbrella against the thunderstorms of life.
have a great day.
when i call on Jesus, all things are possible.

We have goats, and we only milk in the morning.

We like goats milk, and most people who have tried our goats milk could not tell the difference from cows milk, except a few that thought it was much better.

We can most certainly tell the difference between cow's milk and goat's milk!
I am talking about good sweet properly chilled goat's milk. It does taste different. Not bad just different.

But we can taste a difference between each of our cows milk also. Maybe my family is just more sensitive.

As Muller's Lane said, a cow does *not* have to have grain. They *can* do fine on just good pasture and good alfalfa.

I suggest a cow. Of course I'm biased, I detest goats. In my opinion they are the most annoying animal on the farm.

No matter which side of a fence they are on they want to be on the other, almost impossible to go through a gate on any type of vehicle whthout them stampeding through, unless there is a crowd of helpers to head them off.

They are hardest critters to confine, they seem to consider every fence or gate a personal challenge. They are unbelieveably persistent, they never give up trying to escape. And a goat in the wrong place can wreak almost unimaginable havoc on shrubs, flowers, and especially fruit trees, as well as climbing on everything in sight.

Nothing quite like looking out and seeing a goat standing on your car or truck. And the stench of a billy is overpowering. If you dislike goats now, buy a couple, and I assure you will almost certainly learn to hate them rather quickly. Oh did I mention, I detest goats.

I have a jersey cow and I love her. She smells wonderful. I was afraid I'd get raw chapped hands from milking in cold weather. My hands never get cold when milking. The heat from the cow's body keeps all of me fairly warm since I sit so close to her.

I don't like the taste of goat cheese. The varieties I've tasted all had a strong flavor.

I guess it's all really a matter of taste.

Goats are wonderful and so are cows. If I had to give up one, it would be my cows. Cows are more expensive to feed and harder on pasture in a small area. Goats are harder to fence and must have a barn.
If you decide to go with goats, Oberhaslis are probably not your best choice if you just want good milk. They are harder to find(and harder to find quality ones), and a little more expensive *on average*. If you want sweet creamy milk go with a Nubian or Lamancha(both relatively easy to locate). They are also sweet and loving. Buy the goat on its personality, health and milking ability. And taste the milk from that individual goat, as it does vary beteen the individual. Remember, you are going to have to milk this animal at least once or twice a day, you need to *like* it or you will grow to resent the time it takes. Buy a tame, sweet goat. They make wonderful, practical editions to the homestead and also wonderful pets.
If you have good fence your goats will not get out unless you leave a gate open(like any animal). Woven wire with one strand of electric at nose height is good. I use all electric. It must be *very* hot electric with very good grounding and you must make sure the goats know its hot *before* they discover it as they shimmy through it. My goats never get out, its as simple as that. And if they have plenty of browse, they will have very little desire to escape. If they are on a dry-lot or grass, and right across the fence is a patch of blackberries....can you blame them if they want out?? They are natural browsers and brush is the perfect food for them.
The 100% guarenteed way to hate goats is to put them in improper fencing and having them continually escaping.
I love both cows and goats....but I'd hate to see goats get a bum rap because of an experience you had with goats in the past. They were probably pygmy goats who had been abused and hated children or else spoiled and allowed to chase people for food. I dislike petting zoos as I don't think the majority of them are very humane to their animals.
Please visit my website and see us with some of our goats and cows. I have lots of pictures there. They are both wonderful animals.

http://www.freewebs.com/ozarkjewels/

__________________
Emily Dixon
Ozark Jewels
Nubians & Lamanchas
www.ozarkjewels.net

"Remember, no man is a failure, who has friends" -Clarence

They don't stink like the bucks, but they do have a goaty smell, which I don't enjoy. I realize that not every one enjoys the smell of a cow, but I do!

We use our cow

__________________

----------------------
http://homesteadingfamilies.proboards.com/

Our does smell just like our cow....flowery. Both smell good to me.
And if you have coyotes, cats, dog packs, etc....you'll need a guard animal with TEETH! I LOVE my pyrenees!!

__________________
Emily Dixon
Ozark Jewels
Nubians & Lamanchas
www.ozarkjewels.net

"Remember, no man is a failure, who has friends" -Clarence

We have 'yotes, fox & a couple stray wolves (reports of a cougar about 5 miles from us & bobcat about 20 miles from us.)

We also have 3 farm collies

__________________

----------------------
http://homesteadingfamilies.proboards.com/

I have goats & do not have a guard animal. I have a llama in with them, but she doesn't guard them much. I have a predator proof fence & we don't have a problem with coyotes or dogs. They are around, but we don't have a problem with them.

__________________
I can't believe I deleted it!

LOVE collies. We have had Collies since I was 12. They make very good pest deterants.
You do not *have* to have a working pair of LGD's if you have goats. Of course not. But I reccomend anyone who has goats on large acreages to do so. When they are out on the back of 50-100 acres...a lot of things can happen that would never happen on 15-20 acres where they are in much closer contact to people.

__________________
Emily Dixon
Ozark Jewels
Nubians & Lamanchas
www.ozarkjewels.net

"Remember, no man is a failure, who has friends" -Clarence

So here is where I am

COW POSITIVES:

I want one because I like the way they look. They appeal to me.

Taste should be more similar to what we are used to.

A cow could continue to produce enough milk for a single family without rebreeding for years.

I could sell any extra milk more easily.

Offspring would sell for much more than your typical goat and probably more of a market for it. The sale of a heifer calf could feed her mother for nearly the whole winter. A bull calf would look great in the freezer.

GOAT POSITIVES:

We have more than enough room for the two we would need.

They eat less.

Their size is more managable.

They are monitarily more feasible.


Goodness I still don't know what to do. Space might be an issue with a cow/calf pair. For two goats I've seen that appeal to me the cost is nearly as much as a Jersey milk cow. However I could compromise for the right disposition and milk taste.

Someone on HT said they bought a Jersey milk cow from somewhere by Hutch. I wonder if it was a handmilker or commercial milker and how their experience turned out. Anyone remember?

Can you get a sample of milk to taste from the goats you are considering?

Very few cows or goats will produce milk longer than two years without rebreeding and freshening again. At least not enough milk to make it worthwhile. You will have 2 dry months for every freshening she has.

Goat or cow, extra milk is easy to sell if its legal in your state. Goat milk sells for more than cow as a general rule. You won't get as much excess milk from a couple goats.

__________________
Emily Dixon
Ozark Jewels
Nubians & Lamanchas
www.ozarkjewels.net

"Remember, no man is a failure, who has friends" -Clarence