Goat or a cow?

[Wolf-Kim]

The pasture is about 5-6 acres. When we are home and supervising we let the grazers into the yard, which is another acre or two. But, that's only under supervision, last year while not being watched one of those naughty geldings "trimmed" the blackberry bushes for us and we got very little fruit this year.

My mother has another 6-8 acres that she allows me to use. She has trouble keeping the grass and bamboo down, so she instructed me to fence it in and put something in there to eat it all. She lives 10 minutes down the road.

 

[Katy]

Well, whichever you decide, enjoy your fresh milk.

 

[Wolf-Kim]

I appreciate all the help.

Now, just curious, anyone know a good place to pick up a Jersey cow that is comfortable with handmilking?

I have a grandfather in MI that owns a dairy farm, but he runs Holsteins. Although they produce a TON of milk, I think I'd be happier with the higher fat content of the Jersey. ((Also think Jerseys are cuter, no offense to those Holstien lovers out there, some people like spots, some people don't

)

 

[greenpatch]

Goats are browsers not grazers you feed them grass you won`t get much milk. You need alfalfa hay and a good feed. I know I have 60 head of dairy goats. Toggenburgs and LaManchas.

 

[Wolf-Kim]

Quote:

I figured if I had a goat it would stick to the back acre of the horse pasture, which is woods. Problem with that being it is the "back" acre, so it's far and over the hill from the house.

My main concern with goats is predators. We recently had a bobcat take a goose and I've read that bobcats will sometimes take deer. I'd hate to put money into a good milk goat, only to have it eaten. Don't really want a livestock guardian dog and a mule or donkey would stick with the horses. And my mother's neighbor who has goats, has actually spotted coyotes pacing their back fence and running through my mother's property.

My mother isn't a very attentive person, being busy with work and home repair, so any animals in the field would be pretty much unattended with the exception of feeding and milking.

I tried Nigerian Dwarf milk; and chilled it, tasted very much like cow's milk, just had an aftertaste that just kind of stuck with you. Not unpleasant, but it would take some getting used to.

 

[bargain]

We love our goats....Actually have learned that with the large sized pickled jars, sitting in refrigerator for about 6 days, cream rises to the top and it's great.....for butter making, cream, etc.


I like the goats because they are lower to feed for the milk they produce.... We don't have enough land for both and simply just love them...The milk goats in particular seem to really bond with humans more than cows I've seen. With my body size I'm better able tgo manage a goat, but cannot manage a cow - say in assisting in delivery.

Miss_Prissy has some awesome goat milk recipes, btw.

Also, I've never had trouble placing baby goats if we decided not to keep and sell them as pets or milkers, as we bottle feed them.

Hope this helps and have a blessed day.

 

[blueoval1]

Yay for a cow, I have a jersey just got her last year, she was pregnant when we bought her but we were unaware of that but the calf seems to be a beef mix and hes is very beefy we are going to butcher him. So I think jerseys produce a hefty calf when bred to a beef cow, we have not milked her yet so I cant help you there. And contact your grandfather he probably knows where you can get a jersey, hope this helped.

 

[bumpershoot]

Since this opinion in free, you're gettin' what you pay for...

I happen to like Jersey's. I milked them as a kid and I have a friend here in NM that has a small herd. I find them easy to manage and they put out lovely milk. I also happen to like goat milk, but given the resources, I'd have a Jersey any day.

 

[jenjscott]

I love goats, they are very entertaining. They are also escape artists. They really don't like pasture that much, they like brush, rosebushes, fruit trees, etc. So If I had the pasture, I would go with a cow. Goats take special fencing.