[killJOY]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'I') would really like to hear about your luck with Devon cattle KJ.

[SpringCreekFarm]

It doesn't look like there are many of these Devons in Canada if any. Too bad. If there is a way to get these cattle into Canada I'd be interested in hearing about it. Of course there are always Jersey cattle. I like the idea of preserving rare breeds and might be interested in trying these cattle out.

My dad used to keep a single dairy cow along with his beef cattle. He'd use the milk to feed a few calves or the pigs. I wish now I'd payed more attention. I don't remember him using the milk at the house though.

I'm looking forward to reading more from those with dairy experiences including those of you who are milking goats.

[Tanada]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('SpringCreekFarm', 'I')t doesn't look like there are many of these Devons in Canada if any. Too bad. If there is a way to get these cattle into Canada I'd be interested in hearing about it. Of course there are always Jersey cattle. I like the idea of preserving rare breeds and might be interested in trying these cattle out.

My dad used to keep a single dairy cow along with his beef cattle. He'd use the milk to feed a few calves or the pigs. I wish now I'd payed more attention. I don't remember him using the milk at the house though.

I'm looking forward to reading more from those with dairy experiences including those of you who are milking goats.

[Hagakure_Leofman]

This is a great thread. Love to hear about peoples experience down the track, which cheese making etc.

This is our young jersey cow, recently introduced to our angus bull. They make quite a pair. He is Zeus, she is Ivy. He has been hugely productive having sired over 100 angus cows, but this is his first time entertaining a jersey!



With any luck, we'll have a newborn angus/jersey cross in about seven months, and we'll begin milking her - our first time and hers.

[CarlinsDarlin]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'I')'m looking forward to reading more from those with dairy experiences including those of you who are milking goats.

[Hagakure_Leofman]

Thanks Kathy! Very informative.

I don't want to divert the topic from milking cows too much, but a question about goats for you.... I've heard they of all farm animals, goats are the hardest to fence! Even more challenging than pigs (which are said to be as smart as dogs).

Have you had any difficulties with yours? I understand they like going under and over fences; crawling on their knees, and jumping up onto fence posts. I've also heard you can put a collar on them with a rope attached to a tire, and so even if they make it over the fence they can't get away.

I'd be interested in your thoughts
Benjamin

[CarlinsDarlin]

Hi Benjamin,
I haven't had any problems with my goats being escape artists. That being said, all of them were raised on small land holdings before we got them, and they're used to not having 100 acres to run on. Bucks are usually more trouble to keep in than does, but if you give them "toys" - stuff to climb on - they're happy. Our fencing is primarily 6x6 welded wire panels. Any opening larger than that will allow goats to get through (and my babies CAN get through - but they usually stay with their mama, so that's not an issue). The panels work better than wire fencing because goats like to climb on the fence, and the wire breaks. Barbed wire, strung close enough together (less than 8 inches between strands) might keep them in, but it won't keep predators out, so we use the panels. I think goats have a bad rep about getting out because they're curious, intelligent animals, and just like to climb and "see" what's out there.

As for collars. All my goats, including the babies, do wear collars. It's just because it's easier to catch them that way. I know people do stake out goats, or tie them to things, but I would never do it. It makes them too easy a target for predators, and IMO is inhumane. Goats are browsers, not grazers. Keeping them tied to one spot, even if it were safe for them, would limit their browsing. Besides, tying them to anything could get them wrapped up in the cord or other items, and you'll end up with injured goats.

Hope this helps,
Kathy

[Hagakure_Leofman]

Thanks again Kathy,

Again, good advice. Though we've already got a dairy cow we are going to pick up a couple of goats. Either british alpines or toggenburgs. Your suggestion of giving them a toy is brilliant. I've got the perfect enormous tree stump I could tow into the yard. It would be a treat to see goats standing 10 feet in the air on top of it.

It will be 6months until we get ours.

We're considering an alpaca companion as well. Apparently, they make excellent guard animals for sleep and goats against foxes (our only potential predator). As I've been told, they will chase foxes, and if they corner them, will even trample them to death...

Plus, they're adorable!
Plus you can shear and spin their wool!

[SpringCreekFarm]

Great information. Thanks.

I'm looking forward to hearing from Hagakure_Leofman on how easily that Jersey calves when it comes due. Being bred to a larger animal like the Angus may cause problems because of calf size especially if the bull produces large calves to begin with. Good luck and I hope you'll share with us what happens when it does happen.

The goat fencing is another concern of mine as well. I want to get some fence up for goats this year so that I can keep the coyotes out and the goats in.

[oneplain1]

My little jersey is the spittin image of yours H.L.
I picked mine up for $650 as a bred heifer; she was bred to an angus as well. I helped her at calving (pulled a bit by hand). I also have a half holstein half angus cow that I milk. The rest of the herd are beef cows. I milk twice a day; tried leaving the calf with the cow method in order to only milk when I wanted, didn't work so well for me, could've just been the particular cow I was working with. Cows are creatures of habit, they don't necessarily understand the grand-plan of only taking a little milk now and then (but some will adapt to that just fine).
I use a delaval bucket milker; got it off ebay-cheap. Went to amish country to pick up a little portable vacuum pump. Stainless steel strainer and some gallon jars and your in business. My jersey gave about 41/2 gallon a day at max. The holstein gave about a gallon more. A batch of pigs handle the overflow very nicely; and the skies the limit to the recipes made from milk.

[Pops]

Just thought I would throw out my only other bit of dairy cow wisdom:

Why do milk cows have a long faces?

If you had your teats pulled twice a day but were only bred once a year you'd have a long face too.



Feel free to me at will...

[oneplain1]

Baaaahhhhhh hhaaa haaa

Warning: hangin out with milk cows twice a day can hasten craziness!

[Hagakure_Leofman]

Yes, I'll visit again to post an update when ivy's had her calf. In the meantime, here is another photo of her for the jersey fans.... Apparently, this breed used to be keep on aristocratic english properties just as 'props' to make the countryside look pretty.

You can see why.

[oneplain1]

Very nice indeed!
My jersey is due to calve the last week in march, and my holstein has been fresh now for two months. I'll need to round up a batch of piggies in a couple weeks, hate to see what pig feed is up to these days; $250 a ton last year!

[Pops]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Hagakure_Leofman', 'Y')ou can see why..

[oneplain1]

H_L ; My Jersey was a heifer when I got her-she had never been milked. She was as friendly as could be, and would even lead by a halter, but man she didn't like anyone messing with her package.
For 3 months before she calved, I would bring her in the barn, give her some feed, snap her fast, and kinda simulate the milking process so that she knew the routine when the time came for the real deal. For three months when i would touch her udder she would give a kick, sometimes trying to get me and sometimes just a shot across the bow, telling me to watch it buster. After she calved, she was a bit sore and her kick wasn't what it used to be (for a day or two), lucky for me, and after a swat or two with her foot she would let me get the milker on. This went on for about 3 weeks (to the point I was ready to make burger outta her), then one day no kick. Now I wouldn't trade her for the world, but it wasn't always that way.
Now to the moral of my story, just some friendly advice, watch that back foot for one (those little jersey's move like lightning) and two, get your girl used to a routine before her calf comes, it'll make life alot easier.

[Hagakure_Leofman]

Oh, that sounds like fun oneplain! Our girl is quite frisky and playful. Though she lovers food and becomes completely placid while eating.

I've heard some people tie the back leg out of the way while milking. I may consider this if she is a problem.

Fingers crossed she won't be.

We're also getting some pigs so excess milk won't go to waste. How could be resist after soon the brilliant documentary "Pig in a Day" by Hugh from River Cottage.

[pip]

Wow, my old thread from 2005 has been resurrected!

Here's my experience thus far. Back in '05, I bought a 4 year old Holstein that had some experience as a nurse cow. The owner assured us she was a gentle as could be. As it turns out, she has a pretty bad attitude. Would not get in the stanchion for anything. My corrals are not set up well enough for me to get western with her so we eventually gave up after about a gallon and a half of milk. She was also only producing out of one quarter. I've still got her and she's raised 2 calves and had another two weeks ago.

Last fall my wife bought a Dutch Belted cow that had been used as a milk cow. She is very gentle and should be calving any time now. I have also kept a beef heifer last year that was bottle fed and is also very gentle. We'll see how much milk she gives. Even a gallon a day is plenty for the family. You need two cows to have milk year round.

My recommendation for first time dairymen is to get a cow that's been hand milked before from someone local that will help you out. A gentle cow is worth a lot.

[Hagakure_Leofman]

Hi Pip,

Actually, my reasons for posting had to do with SpringCreekFarm resurrecting the topic and the novelty of it all. That, and it's good to keep topical information all together like this as a resource.

Thanks for sharing your experiences since. My grandparents keep a house milking cow, and I imagine they'd have arrived at the same conclusion as you as to the value of a reliable cow.

Trouble is, all cows are sold as 'reliable', as I doubt you'd see an ad for 'grumpy old ex-house cow' for sale. We made the mistake of referring our friend to the seller of our cow, and she ended up buy 'sight unseen', a half blind, six-teated old thing, that was said to be 5 months in-calf 6 months ago, and she is at least the same again away from calving.

Like anything, get good advice you can trust.
Then you can learn the hard way and not feel stupid

[killJOY]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Pops', 'I') would really like to hear about your luck with Devon cattle KJ.