I have the itch but not the knowledge....

[rwinsouthla]

I have the itch, AND the need, to get a dairy cow. We drink about 6-8 gallons of milk a week and it's KILLING ME to spend that much on milk. Sooooo, I'm thinking about getting a dairy cow. I know nothing about cattle. I've done a bit of research on the web and keep coming back to a Jersey. The only thing is I'm not sure how much it'll cost for feed. I only have two acres and not sure all of that is usable. A couple of questions...

1. What would your first choice be if you started all over again and needed a small, inexpensive dairy cow? Jersey, miniature Hereford, miniature Holstein, or other?
2. Could she live on hay and corn and if so, how much?
3. How much milk would one reasonable get and for how long? Would a mate be necessary sometime to continue the milk production?
4. What suggestions would you have to a newbie willing to learn?

Thanks all!!! Ray

[DownHome]

I'm with you on this one. I am looking forward to the answers, we are in the exact same position.

[Kathie]

To answer your Questions
#1 Jersey
#2 Yes 10-16 lbs/day Grain Hay free choice round bale
#3 6-8 gal/day for 9 months
#4 Spend some time at a local dairy farm and watch ask Questions and be all the help you can. You can learn first hand they get a little free labor Great deal for all.

[farminghandyman]

I would do goats,
the milk quantity is much easier to handle, I am milking basically three goats and (once and awhile a 4th) there not necessarily good goats and one has a kid on her, and getting about 12 to 14 gallons a week, and they are 5 or 6 months in to there lactation,

the only reason I have not let one or two of them go dry is Daughter is making cheese, I save her up 10 to 12 gallons a week for her.
one goat with one kid on her was enough milk for me,

[65284]

QUOTE=rwinsouthla]I have the itch, AND the need, to get a dairy cow. We drink about 6-8 gallons of milk a week and it's KILLING ME to spend that much on milk. Sooooo, I'm thinking about getting a dairy cow. I know nothing about cattle. I've done a bit of research on the web and keep coming back to a Jersey. The only thing is I'm not sure how much it'll cost for feed. I only have two acres and not sure all of that is usable. A couple of questions...

1. What would your first choice be if you started all over again and needed a small, inexpensive dairy cow? Jersey, miniature Hereford, miniature Holstein, or other?

My personal choice would be a Jersey or possibly a good milking Dexter. You said inexpensive dairy cow? Ain't no such animal, dairy cow and inexpensive don't belong in the same sentence. Do avoid the overpriced miniature"designer cows" like the plague. In spite of the fancy names breeders give them and the so called "registries" most are simply crossbred mutts accompanied by a registration paper that means nothing. Stick with a known, well established breed. A cow does not need be registered to be a good family cow, lots of them are not.

2. Could she live on hay and corn and if so, how much?

Yes, she could, with the addition of salt and minerals. The amount of hay/corn depends on a lot of things, the size of the cow, how much pasture do you have, how good that pasture is, the quality of the hay, lots of variables.

3. How much milk would one reasonable get and for how long? Would a mate be necessary sometime to continue the milk production?

The amount of milk depends upon several factors, the breed, the individual animal, her condition and health, the quality/quantity of feed, and the care she receives, among other things.

Milk production could run from a few dribbles to 8 gallons per day. The usual lactation is about 305 days. Some cows will produce longer, but the amount will gradually diminish.

She, at some point, will have to "dried up" that is you will have to stop milking her. She will then have to be bred and calve again before lactation resumes.

4. What suggestions would you have to a newbie willing to learn?

Think a long time about what you are contemplating doing. My dad used to say " milking a cow is kinda like having your foot nailed to the floor...you can't go very far". She will have to be cared for TWICE A DAY EVERY DAY, approximately every 12 hours. Rain or shine, Sundays, holidays, and every other day. If you want to go somewhere for a weekend or on vacation it's probably easier to find some that "does windows" than to find a reliable person to milk a cow for you.

Cows aren't cheap or easy to find, a sale barn is about the last place I would buy a cow. Once you have acquired a decent cow, and that can be very risky for someone that's not "cow wise" Then there's fencing, shelter, access to clean water, and some place to milk her to consider. In addition to these things and feed here's always the unexpected: trouble calving, cut teats, milk fever, mastitis, or something else that costs. Vets don't, and shouldn't, work cheap.

I'm not trying to discourage you, just trying to make you aware of what you may be letting yourself in for. A nice family milk cow can be a good investment and a great joy. Since you are inexperienced I would advise a cow that is gentle and already broken to hand milk.

I would try to find a farmer or someone that milks (preferably not a seller) and see if they would be willing to answer questions, allow you to observe, and possibly participate in milking and cow care. You could get a reasonable idea of what a cow is all about. Also, the folks here are great about trying to help a newbie. Good luck

Thanks all!!! Ray[/QUOTE]

[dezeeuwgoats]

I second the suggestion towards goats - simply because with a cow - you'll be getting at least six to eight gallons A DAY. Far, far more milk than you recquire by your own posting. The expense of owning a cow may not add up for you.

Even a good goat will give you a gallon a day (averaged throughout the lactation), which would be about what you are looking for.....get two (cows and goats are herd animals and unhappy by themselves anyway), alternate breedings, and you will have year 'round milk supply, without the feast/famine of not milking a couple months before calving/kidding, and of course, the feeding of the kid/calf.

Now, if you WANT that much milk a day (think six gallons times seven days= 42 gallons a week!) that's a whole 'nother thing. BUT if it is taste you are afraid of - I've never found a single person who could tell the difference between my goat's milk and cow's milk. So if it is taste you are afraid of, get thee to a goat and try the fresh milk for yourself - don't judge it by store-bought goat's milk - it is gross.

Pregnancy is required for lactation, so yes, you will need to breed your cow/goat. A cow and a goat can be milked ten months or so. Sometimes depends on the animal - there is a lactation curve - which means you'll be drowning in milk the first few months, and then by that ninth or tenth month, it could be getting pretty skimpy. Some genetics are bred for longer lactations than others.

A goat is pregnant for five months, a cow is pregnant, I believe, for ten. General herd management dictates not milking the last eight weeks of pregnancy.

A dairy goat is a 'dairy' animal - you will want to provide good feed to get the milk output.

niki

[JulieLou42]

Goats are good at weed management, some herds even hired for that. But, they also need higher, more secure fencing. Or you could tether them along a steel cable anchored between two crowbars driven into the ground with a swivel clip on a chain to their halter...either goat or cow. My cow's on a 50' cable tether with a 25' chain which is attached to the cable with a bull swivel clip...she weights 1400#. Without that swivel clip on the cable, they'll tangle the chain!

If you want cream for butter or ice cream, or other uses, you wouldn't want a goat.

You can probably do just one cow on the two acres if you have good pasture grass and divide it into 1/4 acre paddocks and rotate her on them, or, in the alternative, move her tether [as above] around on the grass...you'll be able to see where she's eaten it down, which tells you where you can move it to. Be sure you have guard dogs if you have dangerous four-legged predators that can take down cows, as we do here, because she'll be vulnerable on a tether.

See if you can find a Guernsey, as they are about the gentlest ones out there, and easily trained to milking. I have no problem with kicking with mine, and she doesn't soil her stanchion any more because every time she did, I would immediately clean it out with the power nozzle hose, and she hates that, so quit doing it. I do use that hose on her feet and legs before putting her into her stanchion, so I don't have to clean her rubber mats so often. [I milk her in the far corner of the garage on a concrete floor.]

[tyusclan]

Mostly good advice here so far, but I will say this; a cow won't necessarily give 6-8 gallons a day. I've owned several Jerseys in the past that were culls from a dairy. There was nothing wrong with the cows; they just didn't give as much as the dairy wanted. They averaged about 2 gallons a day.

Even if they give that much you don't have to take that much. For one, you can leave the calf on the cow during the day, pen it up at night and milk in the morning. That way you're only milking once a day. Once the calf is weaned continue to milk once a day and the cow will adjust her production down to what is being taken.

If you don't want to leave the calf on the cow you slowly reduce what you take from the cow once the first rush of milk has subsided. You can even milk once a day if you wish. Any cow will have a maximum that she will produce if pushed to produce that, but she will also always adjust her production to what is being taken. If you only need a gallon a day take that much, and pretty soon that's all she'll produce.

[rwinsouthla]

Thanks all for the replies. I respect all of your opinions and experiences. Looks like I need to get to a farm, watch, look and listen before I jump in. I have a lot to learn!!!

Thanks again,

Ray

[April]

If you haven't already, definitely get your hands on a copy of the book, "Keeping a Family Cow" by Joann Grohman. She took all the fear out of it for me, and has wonderful, sound, common-sense advice.

You can visit Joann's website Here:
Keeping a Family Cow website


There's also the Keeping a Family Cow forums here:
Keeping a Family Cow Forums


Jerseys are a lot of milk (usually), but think of the butter.. and the cheese.. and the yogurt! Chickens and pigs will also thrive on the leftover milk.

[IMContrary]

Here is a board totally devoted to the family cow. They are great folks and very knowledgeable: http://familycow.proboards32.com/index.cgi

[farminghandyman]

one more thing is economics, if your under producing excessively on your cow, the feed bill will nearly be the same, as for one that is a good producer,

with goats the same issue, the cost of a goat is less, the goat feed cost will be less as it is a smaller animal,

in my situation my most expensive goat was $150, and was papered goat and good milker. I have never bought a milk cow, but a good beef cow will cost one in $1000 to $1200 range if she is a good registered animal, so my guess is a milk cow of quality would be similar,

one other thing no one ever talks about but is death loss, when I was young and in 4H I bought a yearling for my project, for what I remember at $180 or so dollars (note; over 40 years ago), for a kid was nearly my life's savings, and guess what It up and died on me, I don't remember why, lighting strike or illness, but do remember it died and I was out the $180. which seemed like a small fortune for me then,
when you have one or two a death is devastating, if you have 30 or 40 it hurts some but your not out of business, it part of the business. what I am trying to say not that one can afford to lose a cow or a goat, but if it does happen, what can you afford to lose easier.

regardless of which way you go milk is not free,
you have the animal cost,
feed costs
fencing
miscellaneous other needs,

[sammyd]

My goats laughed at me when I wanted them to do weed control. They would stand and beller until I brought them some nice hay.
My kids wouldn't drink the milk no matter how I tried to convince them it was as good as or better than cow milk.
They broke windows in the garage.
I didn't care for goats much.
I would take the cow. A little Jersey or maybe even a Holstein/Jersey cross.
Just because they are more plentiful and usually cheaper than the off breeds.
A Guensey is nice but hard to find, a Milking Shorthorn would be really nice but just as rare. I have no clue on dexters, never seen one.
An average Holstein will put out around 60 lbs a day or around 7 gallon. Or around 18000 pounds a lactation.
The smaller breeds much less.
And if you don't feed them like a dairy farmer you will get less as well.
Any excess and any skim milk can go towards feeding out some pigs.
Cows make more manure for the garden than a goat. (and more work too)
Cows can be trained to tether if started on it as calves so you can take her to the food instead of bringing the food to her.
A good local feed mill can test your feed and recommend the proper grain ration for whatever forage you are feeding. Minerals can be added to the grain to make sure she stays healthy so feeding one doesn't have to be a mystery or scary.
There is the twice a day milking that needs to be done but once you get used to that it's a nice relaxing way to spend time.

[Teacupliz]

Cows cost a lot more to care for then buying milk- if you want fresh milk look for a local farm. If a cow gets sick you have to call the vet most times- With goats you can do most of your own care. I do love all my critters and enjoy my time with them- True you can not go away much unless you pay someone to watch the critters. I have about 4 hours free mid-day that is about it.
Liz in NY

[Tom McLaughlin]

OK Liz with the 4 hours of free time get makin' yogurt, soft cheeses, ice cream,or flovored drinkable yogurt.... Just kiddin' Liz. Came here first this morning... Tom

[tyusclan]

Originally Posted by farminghandyman

one more thing is economics, if your under producing excessively on your cow, the feed bill will nearly be the same, as for one that is a good producer,

If you have a cow that is capable of producing 6 gallons a day a lot of the feed that she is fed goes to producing that 6 gallons of milk. If you only take 2 gallons a day from her she will adjust her production down to what you take, and it will not take nearly as much feed to maintain condition and produce that 2 gallons of milk.

[cybercat]

Heck if you are going thru 6-8 gallons a week use all the rest to make cheese hard and soft, ice cream,whipped chream,yogurt ect. You might even compost it or if you have chickens feed them some. Sure friends and neibors would help too.