Dairy Cows

[Frozen Feathers]

Yes, I've gotten calves at auction for very cheap(my last one was $11), Usually little bulls I raise for a year and then, well you know, have diner or trade for firewood or various things. BUT...If buying a young heifer, you have to think that she can't be bred(cows won't produce milk until they've produced a calf) until she is 15 months, and then you have to wait an additional 9 months for her to calve. So you spend 2 years feeding a heifer that is not producing. You also have to consider the cost of milk replacer, right now the price is about $80 a bag and rising, a young calf will need milk replacer for the first few months, and will probably go through 3 or4 bags. And then there's the cost of AI, which is much better then trying to keep an ill tempered bull around or renting someone else's.....
Just some things to think about.

 

[Patchofheaven]

I'm a "milk maid wannabe" and a member on another great forum www.familycow.proboards32.com - Keeping a Family Cow. They have so much knowledge about dairy cows and I can almost guarantee that you might even find a neighbor to you or at least close by on that site. There is even a Auction Barn section on this site. Hope to see you there also.

Good Luck to you!
Dana

 

[Picco]

Buying heifer (female) calves at an auction can be risky. If a female calf is born a twin to a bull calf the female calf will be sterile and therefore give no milk. Although twining is not that common in cattle it is something to consider. I recommend buying directly from a farmer - that way you know what you're getting. These "free martins" as my family calls them would be a giant disapointment to a person expecting to get a supply of milk from the cow they have raised (and poured time and money into).

 

[Patchofheaven]

I don't know if you interested, but I saw a post this morning for a Dexter Cow in IN for sale on the Keeping the Family Cow Auction Barn.
Good Luck,
Dana

 

[SamG347]

Dexter Cattle are more of a meat type. They are a smaller size which makes them a good option for people with not a lot of land. I would recomend as far as dairy either Jersey or Holstein. Or even better a Jersey x Holstein. Jerseys are a great all around cow. They have personality and sweeeet milk. Holstein have more of a hey who are you personality unless you handle them a lot and they produce lots of milk. I would personally go with Jersey if I had to pick between the 2.
Good Luck with your cattle

 

[Frozen Feathers]

I wouldn't want to milk out a Jersey or Holstein by hand... especially twice a day

I had a hard enough time with the Shorthorns...

 

[BarbK]

I just saw this post. I have been doing a lot of research on the dexter cow. If you are willing to spend the money on one they would be great for your needs. They give about 2 gallons of milk a day (from milking lines) and because they are considered a dual pupose cow they are also good for meat. They are very hardy and only get about 900 lbs. They are perfect for a family. If you would like any info on them I have talked to about 8 breeders across the U.S. and can put you in touch with some very helpfull people. I know the dexter is what I have narrowed it down to for me.

There are also other "miniature" cattle out there.

 

[Parson's Wife]

Jersey's and Guernsey's are the most gentle...brown swiss run next(brown swiss have a little unusual shaped head..hard to explain), and most of our holsteins were sweet too, heavy milkers.
Jersey's and Guernseys are in general small, compared to other milk cows...
Milking by hand is a chore, but can be done; but a machine and the equipment are pricey...
Don't forget to buy a kicker, whether you milk by hand or machine...they are stainless steel, curved on the ends with rubber ends and slips over their backbone and underneath their back leg you slip them on and off when milking...they are painless, humane, and a blessing for humans.
My parents had a dairy farm...NorthWest Arkansas for 22 years.
I will say this...in our area, may not be so in others....
Dad sold cows that didn't give good milk supply (he was in business) the cow would keep a family in milk. We also sold calves for quick cash sometimes as needed...nothing wrong with them...just needed some cash. This was the same reasons for the dairy farms in our area...6 within 15 miles of each other. He would take them to the cow sales/auctions.
My dad chose to keep a mixed herd because the Holsteins gave the large quantity...but the Jerseys and Guernseys gave the butterfat...for a great mixture...(they paid him extra)
Can't remember if it's been mentioned but you must feed them grain...and keep salt/mineral blocks...
I would keep cows if I had the space...as it is, Friendly animals, good weather veins..great listeners!

I'm looking toward goats. I only have small acreage available.
If you have any questions...I may or may not be able to help but feel free to email me.

It is important to stay on a SET schedule...same time...to the dot...don't let that scare you...it just becomes routine. 7 days a week, rain or shine...

 

[MBLayfield]

I had a Jersey and she was the best most sweet gently good milking cow. But.....

You have to milk a cow whether its raining, snowing, hot, or you want to go on vacation. I've heard you can milk once a day but it never worked with our Jersey she had way to much milk and if we even went 13 hours between milkings her udder was HUGE and dripping and she was in pain. I couldn't find help when we wanted to go somewhere for the day. I always got at least four gallons a day but mostly more. If you are willing to do all the work, its very rewarding and I think worth it.

We used a portable milker that held 10 gallons and it worked beautifully.

Here's a link where I got my milker - www.hambydairysupply.com

 

[MBLayfield]

I forgot to mention that in order to be able to continue milking all the time you have to breed your cow and let her calve. Then most people pull the calf off of mama and milk and bottle feed. We tried it both ways and both ways was terrible. Baby wouldn't eat and bawled all the time and mama bawled back all day and all night. We left the calf on and mama wouldn't go in to milk and then kicked when we milked her.