Temptation in the form of a cow?

[jaye]

I have often wondered about having a family cow. We have four sons and assorted livestock but have never had a milking critter. The idea been on the back burner until 6AM this morning, when my phone rang. It was a family friend, a semi-retired dairy farmer from central Maine, calling to see if I'd be interested in a Jersey cow due to calve in three weeks. I do have an empty horse stall (12x12 with a 4' wide door) and a reliable source of hay.

Are there any family cow people here?
Advice? Words of wisdom? Escape plan?

 

[ksacres]

No advice on cows (I do have a dairy goat-or 20), but I wanted to tell you you're not alone. I, too, have long wanted a dairy cow. Especially a Jersey!

 

[cozycritters]

I would jump at it-- you have the space and the inclination

Of course, I'm the world's greatest enabler

 

[Katy]

We have a beef cow herd, but no family milk cows. I did however grow up with a milk cow and dairy goats, and my husband's parents had a dairy. Just be prepared to be tied down....they need to be milked twice a day on a fairly regular time schedule. I think that's the only disadvantage to having a milk cow.

 

[monarc23]

and the fact that they need rebred every now and then to keep the milk going, so you'll need to find a bull owner, and be prepaired for birthing. I want to do it someday too (i agree with a jersey)!

 

[Wifezilla]

I want these....

http://www.dexterminicattle.com/

Of course, we will have to move...or talk the neighbors in to letting us use their back yard for pasture...LOL

 

[joebryant]

Quote:

Me too, but Anne's too lazy to milk it.
Edit: My grandmother had one, and I was always amazed at all that she did with the milk.

 

[Up-the-Creek]

I agree with Wifezilla there,..Dexter cattle would be the way to go. I have been wanting to get some of them for some while. When you got the money, you have no time and vice versa. A milk cow on the other hand, my husband has been talking smack about getting a milk cow. Too much work for me. When I was a kid we had milk cows and that is all we got done was milking cows. I like to go places too much to have to milk twice a day everyday at the same time everyday. But some people like it,...

 

[greyfields]

A single milk goat is the only way to go if you're just feeding yourself and your family. It's far far easier.

Then one day when your goats are in production and you have extra milk, then get thet jersey bull calf and raise it for veal.

 

[joebryant]

Quote:
I'm almost sure that it's the Dexter cow that I recently read an artcle about. It said that the breed has now become VERY dangerous to own. IF I'm correct, they have been crossbred without care to improve meat production; this in turn has produced a modern-day Dexter that's dangerous for other animals in the same field and the people who own/work with it. It's very hard to find one that's actually all "Dexter".
Somebody please correct me if I'm talking about another breed.