a Couple of Dexter questions

[raymilosh]

I have been milking my dexter. She's my first cow and she had her first calf in November as the result of an accidental pregnancy. We didn't know whe was "in a family way" until she had the calf. (How's that for being a novice?) Despite being given no special feed or additives or grain during the pregnancy, she had a healthy calf on her own.

Since about February, I have been keeping her away from her calf for about 8-10 hours a day and get about a half a gallon of milk for the effort. Is that a typical amount? (By the way, we feed her very little grain... in an attempt to be working toward animals that survive off what's here...you know, self sustaining, low input stuff.)

Also, I built her a mobile stanchion with a wood plank floor. She is really wary of it. It has taken me 2 weeks so far to get her to put even her front legs on it for any amount of time. She's just too big for me to force her to do anything. I'm imagining it'll take a while, but eventually she'll get comfortable with it. Is that all about typical?

Last, I'm wanting to breed her again. Knowing that we don't feed our animals much other than hay, when would you suggest we have her give birth to a calf. Spring so the calf has lots to eat and can stay warm?

We have the idea of having her raise a calf every year or two and either eat the bull calf in the early winter when food becomes scarce or keep or sell the heifer calf. We only have about 4 acres of fenced pasture split into 4 paddocks, so we're not wanting to have too many animals out there year round (maybe 2 cows, a couple of dairy goats, some chickens and a few turkeys). We have not seeded or fertilized the pasture, but rather are letting the animals slowly improve it themselves. I'm totally making this idea up and am wondering if this is commonly done or if there are some way more efficient ways to have self sustaining cow milk and beef.
k, sorry for the many questioned email...i thought it'd be best to get most of the information out there.

[genebo]

You're doing good! Keep it up.

Three things are working against you getting more milk right now. One, she's feeding a calf. Two, she's a first timer. Three you're a beginner.

All of them will get better. Her calf will begin to take less from her after a couple of months. Her udder will respond to the demand you're putting on her. You'll get better at it.

On her second lactation, if she's normal, you can easily take a gallon from her and still feed the calf quite well.

Since I see you're in NC, you can't be too far different from me, in central Virginia. Our grass begins to grow in mid-March. That's a good time to have a calf. Mama didn't need to be overfed during her last time of pregnancy, but as soon as she calves, she'll need lots of good nourishment.

Flies don't get to be a problem until mid-May, so that gives you a couple of months of calm and peace.

Check with your extension agent about the exact timing of grass in your area. It can vary across the big old state of North Carolina, from coast to mountains.

Your best beef is going to come at around 24 months old, so there will be times when you'll have Mom, this year's calf and last year's calf all in the pasture at the same time.

Allowing one goat for each head of cattle is a good ratio for worm control and draws very little from the pasture. Throw in some Muscovy ducks with your chickens to help control flies.

Your animals will normally degrade your pastures, rather than improve them. Unless properly managed, they'll eat all of their favorites into extinction, leaving you with a weed lot. Get your extension agent to give you some reading material about rotational grazing and how to care for your pastures.

I'm a grass farmer. I raise grass. The cattle live here and eat the grass I raise. I used to think I was a cattle farmer until my grass wore out.

Genebo
Paradise Farm

[kmorisett]

I'm new too, my 14 year old Dexter is not. I am letting the calf nurse 2x a day while I milk (so far anyway). I get 2 to 2 1/2 quarts each milking, so about a gallon a day for myself. I know there is more milk in there than I and the calf are taking, but I'm not pushing for it - yet. I do milk 2 quarters out enough to get some cream. I think there is more cream that she's not giving me, but I am getting enough for my purposes. I have great tasting milk and cheese and yogurt for my efforts. I should mention that my girl has more of a dairy udder (in my opinion). My other Dexter has more of a beef udder, I think, and she is due to freshen any day. It will be interesting to comparison milk the two.