Toying with dairy

[sassy_mare]

Can someone direct me to a site or books for the most basic of dairy info? I mean very basic - hows, whys, time commitment, etc... I would be keeping 1 or 2 for pets and milk.

I know absolutley nothing about cows and am not sure I have the time to commit to one or two anyways. However, I am curious of the process...

Thanks all!
Sheri

[spring77]

This is a good site. http://www.real-food.com/
The person who started the site wrote a book called Keeping the Family Cow and you can buy it online there. There is also a very family cow discussion forum there.

[Christina R.]

That book is the best, but I would add visiting this site often and reviewing the posts on it that interest you. Inevitably every question under the sun tuens up on this board and the best of the best share real life answers.

[willow_girl]

And don't hesitate to ask questions!

[El]

Here is a helpful NZ website ..
for animals (and cattle) fed on pasture:


http://www.2farm.co.nz

[jerzeygurl]

yes get the family cow book, a good vet book as well, i also use old ag text book. lots of great websites www.cheesemaking.com, www.fiasco.com (more goat orriented but some cow)and by all means try to locate The complete dairy foods cook book. i borrowed the librarys am looking to get my own.

[farmerdan]

The best book I've seen is "The Family Cow" by Dirk van Loon. It covers the different dairy breeds, fencing, housing, medical, etc.

Dan

[JeffNY]

After you get a book, if your thinking about dairy. I would find some dairy farmer that will help you out, perhaps you could help there. The best exposure is to be around it a little, to see what goes on. A book is good, but right there, hands on might be helpfull. I was around it all my life (so far), so it helps.



Jeff

[65284]

Before you consider dairying you need to give some serious thought to how tightly you will be tied to your farm, I can't think of anything else as restricting. As my dad used to say milking cows is like having your foot nailed to the floor....you can't go very far. You, or someone else, MUST be there at the same time twice a day EVERY day, regardless of weather, illness or any thing else, those cows HAVE to be milked. Been there done that, don't want to do it again.

[JeffNY]

One thing I forgot to add, you must enjoy it, if you don't.. You will give up the first major problem that comes down the road. #65284 (You must be from a large family, you go by numbers vs names, sorry bad joke ) said it best, be ready to spend a lot of time on the farm, don't be someone who likes to take trips, you better like home! Sure you can go off to do things, but remember feeding time and milking time.


Also if I were you, I would seriously consider organic dairy, only because the market is consistent, and for the work you put into a farm, it will atleast pay off better than a $15.00/cwt milk check that is not $15.00 all the time, it fluctuates... Organic stays at one price, and is not hard to do (over traditional, animal gets sick can't give it a shot unless its severe, then you have to sell it off! You can't milk it on the farm ever again).


Jeff