A century of Turkey talk 2000-2100.

[Bantambird]

My dad had the Jersey cow broke to ride, in as much as when he went out to get her for milking, he would hop on her back and ride her to the milking shed.

 

[Flashpoint]

My dad had the Jersey cow broke to ride, in as much as when he went out to get her for milking, he would hop on her back and ride her to the milking shed.[/QUOTE

Which I think is a very kewl thing! I don't know of many animals that are kept for just one purpose, except for those used as pets. Even then, many pets have a dual job be it herding, guarding people or property, as a service animal, or used in shows.

In the "old days", many people had at least a cow for milk. For many, that cow may have been their only form of transportation - usually to pull a cart, their sole source of milk, as a draft animal, and eventually dinner. A lot of people don't know that an "oxen" was nothing more than a bull that had been castrated and then trained as a draft animal. That is, a steer is the same animal as the oxen. Oxen were raised and trained to pull wagons and often used as the preferred animal for wagon trains because they were sturdier and more sure-footed than the horses.

I can remember my father milking our cow, using her to plow or till the garden, then be turned loose on pasture until milking time in the evening.

 

[Flashpoint]

LOL, I think I messed something up here!!

 

[Flashpoint]

Which I think is a very kewl thing! I don't know of many animals that are kept for just one purpose, except for those used as pets. Even then, many pets have a dual job be it herding, guarding people or property, as a service animal, or used in shows.

In the "old days", many people had at least a cow for milk. For many, that cow may have been their only form of transportation - usually to pull a cart, their sole source of milk, as a draft animal, and eventually dinner. A lot of people don't know that an "oxen" was nothing more than a bull that had been castrated and then trained as a draft animal. That is, a steer is the same animal as the oxen. Oxen were raised and trained to pull wagons and often used as the preferred animal for wagon trains because they were sturdier and more sure-footed than the horses.

I can remember my father milking our cow, using her to plow or till the garden, then be turned loose on pasture until milking time in the evening.

 

[rjohns39]

Its the little victories that count.. I was soooo bummed that none of my zucchini had produced fruit, and today as I was checking out the plants I found a monster hidden in the middle of the bed. So I'll have a good supply of zucchini and summer squash going forward and I got my first two cucumbers today. My tomatoes are starting to turn (i've already stolen a hand full of cherry tomatoes) and my peppers are getting bigger. All exciting news, except my melons haven't produced any female flowers yet.

And my bees are starting to make me honey!!!

 

[rjohns39]

Which I think is a very kewl thing! I don't know of many animals that are kept for just one purpose, except for those used as pets. Even then, many pets have a dual job be it herding, guarding people or property, as a service animal, or used in shows.

In the "old days", many people had at least a cow for milk. For many, that cow may have been their only form of transportation - usually to pull a cart, their sole source of milk, as a draft animal, and eventually dinner. A lot of people don't know that an "oxen" was nothing more than a bull that had been castrated and then trained as a draft animal. That is, a steer is the same animal as the oxen. Oxen were raised and trained to pull wagons and often used as the preferred animal for wagon trains because they were sturdier and more sure-footed than the horses.

I can remember my father milking our cow, using her to plow or till the garden, then be turned loose on pasture until milking time in the evening.

I"m trying to get there. Still have to clear another 40 or so acres of pasture but then want to bring on hogs and cattle, DW wants goats which will be good for cheese.

 

[Flashpoint]

Its the little victories that count.. I was soooo bummed that none of my zucchini had produced fruit, and today as I was checking out the plants I found a monster hidden in the middle of the bed. So I'll have a good supply of zucchini and summer squash going forward and I got my first two cucumbers today. My tomatoes are starting to turn (i've already stolen a hand full of cherry tomatoes) and my peppers are getting bigger. All exciting news, except my melons haven't produced any female flowers yet.

And my bees are starting to make me honey!!!

Yes! I want a hive or two myself! I make a lot of soap and I use a lot of honey depending on the recipe. Plus, honey for pancakes, for tea, for hot toddies..... yeah, the list goes on.

 

[Flashpoint]

I"m trying to get there. Still have to clear another 40 or so acres of pasture but then want to bring on hogs and cattle, DW wants goats which will be good for cheese.

I no longer have the room for hogs and cattle - but then again, a lady was telling me about her dwarf Dexter milk cow! Something to think about. I used to milk 3 goats every day up on the big farm. My kids were always so picky - saying they would NEVER drink goats milk. Just proves that although they could see me milking - they obviously never thought it through - or didn't think about where that milk was going! After straining, it just went into a regular milk jug and into the fridge. Poor kids were always happy with their "cow milk" lolol.

 

[rjohns39]

I no longer have the room for hogs and cattle - but then again, a lady was telling me about her dwarf Dexter milk cow! Something to think about. I used to milk 3 goats every day up on the big farm. My kids were always so picky - saying they would NEVER drink goats milk. Just proves that although they could see me milking - they obviously never thought it through - or didn't think about where that milk was going! After straining, it just went into a regular milk jug and into the fridge. Poor kids were always happy with their "cow milk" lolol.

That's sooooo funny. I brought my daughter a gallon of fresh raw milk from my local heard share. She was frustrated because her one year old would only drink breast milk... She put the raw milk in his cup and he downed it... And her other kids went crazy over the raw milk. Now she's part of a heard share in her neck of the woods.

 

[rjohns39]

I'm still trying to figure out how to manage bulls as I believe natural mating is the best way to go. But more pasture is required. ARG!