Doesn’t a cow have to be pregnant to also be milking? What is the real scoop here? A dairy cow will start milking after the birth of her calf. At this time she is no longer pregnant, but is milking, which will last for three months. Then she will breed back and for the remainder…
If you have the chance to raise some Jersey calves for butchering steers, should you do it? What about the cows, are cull Jersey cows good for beef? Jersey and Jersey cross cattle are great for beef. Jersey steers are friendly, cost less to purchase (as a calf or a finished steer) than a beef…
The basics for a happy and healthy family milk cow are easy and simple, there are only 5 that you need to get right! Don’t let the simple part fool you, each is important to keep your cow happy and productive. Ready to have the best tasting milk, ever? The 5 essentials to milk cow…
One thing is for sure, your cow will be producing manure! Manure is chock full of nutrients and biology, it’s black gold, really. Your cow’s manure is good stuff! How much manure will you get per day and what are your options for using it? Your family cow will produce between 82-115 pounds of manure…
You are living it up with drinking real milk, from your cow! By now you’ll have milking and daily routine completely figured out and adapted to your family’s needs. Now you’ve got another task on your mind, or at least you should: getting her bred back. How do you do it and when is the…
Wondering when will your family cow produce the most milk? Will her production stay the same all of the time or does the amount go up and down? Understanding your cow’s natural milk production cycle will help you keep her healthy and keep you drinking plenty of real milk! The natural milk production cycle of…
What should you feed your family cow and how much does she need? Do her needs change though out the year? Sounds like you need a plan for feeding your cow! Your cow needs all of the roughage (grass, hay, etc.) that she wants to eat per day and may need some supplemental grain, depending…
Congratulations! Getting a family cow is a huge step towards raising your own food, and you won’t believe how wonderful the fresh milk tastes! I’m sure you’ve asked yourself, are you getting a cow or heifer? It’s a big question: should you get an established, knows what she’s doing cow or go with a heifer,…
While looking around online for farming and grazing information, ideas and sometimes a little inspiration and found an intriguing term: Zero Grazing. What on earth is zero grazing, who is using it and why? Zero grazing is the practice of using machinery to take freshly cut forage to ruminants housed in a barn. Zero grazing…
The debate is on: cow or goat, which one is best? I’m sure you’ve read the articles glorifying one or the other, everyone has a favorite! Will a milk cow or a milk goat be better for you and your family? A milk goat is ideal for smaller acreages and families that need a smaller…