Feeding the Family Cow

[BarredBuff]

In the Spring we will be adding a Jersey milk cow to the ole homeplace. We have pasture but its not as big as I'd like. But its a fairly large area, I dont have dimensions, yet. But it is probably close to half an acre. It is one of our orchards, its rich with grass and clover in one section, but the other part isnt as good as Id like it to be, so what are some cover crops I could sow this spring that would help feed the cow and enrich the soil at the same time? Legumes, preferably. Also in addition to pasture is free choice hay good to have available? How much grain/ration per 100 pounds?

Thanks for the help, we are really looking forward to having a family cow.

[topside1]

If I were you I'd expand to one acre or more if possible. One half acre will be ate down to nothing and will be spotted with cow pies. Plus just hoof traffic will destroy more than you can imagine....Sowing $$ maybe a waste of time. 1/2 acre is great, just feed grain and hay as you planned...My 5am advice....Topside

[Callieslamb]

My experience says that if there's any grass to eat, they will prefer it to hay. So unless you lock her up away from the grass, she will probably not choose the hay. How much grain will probably be a bit determined by the cow. I fed 3 lbs per milking. But you can get by for less. Some cows need more. I feed grain to help the maintain their weight while milking. More grain didn't mean more milk so I kept it to a minimum.

[lakeportfarms]

You may want to weigh your available pasture against the amount of milk you are looking for. Jerseys produce considerable milk, sometimes more than you require. If your needs for milk are not that great you might consider something smaller that will be easier on your pasture, such as a Dexter out of milking lines.

Also, if you have the ability to manage your available pasture by rotating it, that will be less stressful on it. With a half acre it wont be long before it is mostly dirt and dust in the summer and mud in the spring, especially with a larger heavier cow. See if you can get creative with some other areas that the cow may be able to use for forage during the summer that you wouldn't ordinarily think of. We have the entire perimeter of our property fenced and gated. If necessary we can let the cows graze areas that I would (ordinarily) mow, by using temporary step in hot wire to make small pastures or strips along the edge of the driveway, etc...

[mozarkian]

Like lakeportfarms we get a little creative with rotation around here. The whole parcel is fenced / crossfenced in various sizes and allows us to let some of the pasture rest and recover while others are grazed. I sometimes mow (and ferilize) the back yard with four footed mowers. If you can come up with a little more pasture you will be better situated, IMO. On feed, talk to the seller when you buy your cow about what she is getting fed and how much she milks. Changing her food will result in changes in her milk so start by keeping it as close to the same as you can, then you can finetune it as you get used to her and she to you.

[sammyd]

1/2 acre for 1 cow in production with some of it it not too decent shape won't get you too far.
I wouldn't plant a pasture of just one type of forage, a mix of grasses that do well in your area along with some sort of legume. Alfalfas are good but a lot of them do not stand up well to pasturing.
Also whatever you plant in the spring it would be best to leave the cow out of it till early fall maybe late summer and only lightly at that.
I would see if the cow would be gentle enough to tether graze and use that method to rotate her through the available pasture. You can also use a lot of other areas easily if she tethers well.
Make sure you have hay available, hot dry summer months can be hard on pasture growth.
As for grain, I would feed some cracked corn and soybean meal or a protein pellet and have free choice loose mineral and salt available at all times

[BarredBuff]

Okay I was wondering, thanks for the advice. I do have other spots available to use, I hope to use temporary electric fence on ALL grazing spots. We have two large plots then a few medium sized areas.....