THE TRYING & BUYING OF YOUR FIRST COW

(Page 2 of 9)

February/March 1992
By Lisa Faulkner 
Article Tools
Print
Comments
RSS
Bookmark and Share

RELATED CONTENT

If we had decided on one of the larger breeds, it would probably have been a Holstein. Make no mistake about it, these animals are not small: Their weight ranges from 1,200 to 1,600 pounds. The upside is that they produce a comparably larger amount of milk—at least six gallons a day as opposed to a Jersey or Guernsey's four gallons. Their butterfat content is lower but you'll still have plenty of cream for butter, ice cream, and coffee. If you can use 24 quarts of milk daily, then a Holstein might be for you. In addition, their calves make fine eating, too.

Okay, so you've got a pretty good picture in your mind as to what kind of cow you
want. Where do you find one and what do you look for?

If you want a true dual-purpose breed you might consider the Milking Shorthorn, which has been bred for beef-producing qualities as well as for milking. Get well-acquainted with your potential cow first, however, as this breed has a reputation for kicking and being generally unpleasant to be around. We wondered early on why this breed was not more popular and perhaps that is the reason, but if you can find one with a good disposition you will have a good thing going, with fine beef calves or milking heifers coming along regularly.

We were unable to locate any Brown Swiss in our area, but we understand that they will also produce a nice calf and plenty of milk. Perhaps you who are homesteading in Canada will want to consider the Ayrshire as that breed has a unique capacity for withstanding the cold.

What to Look for and Where to Find It

Okay, so you've got a pretty good picture in your mind as to what kind of cow you want. Where do you go to find one and what do you look for? Let's take the where first. There are generally three main sources and we considered all three when we started looking for "our" cow.

AS IN MOST RURAL AREAS, THERE is a weekly livestock auction near us where you can find pigs, horses, sheep, goats, and all kinds and ages of cattle, including milk cows. Then there are dairies that may be selling milk cows for any number of reasons (if you do buy there, be sure you know why your cow is being sold). Lastly you may find a family selling their milk cow. Check the livestock column in your local paper or an ad at your feed or grocery store. But before you settle on any cow, you need to know the following:

Page: << Previous 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Next >>
Bookmark and Share
RSS | Comments | E-mail | Print
FEATURED ARTICLES
MOST POPULAR


Subscribe Today - Pay Now & Save 66% Off the Cover Price

First Name: *
 Last Name: *
Address: *
 City: *
State/Province: *
 Zip/Postal Code:*
Country:
 Email:*
(* indicates a required item)
Canadian subs: 1 year, (includes postage & GST). Foreign subs: 1 year, . U.S. funds.
Canadian Subscribers - Click Here
Non US and Canadian Subscribers - Click Here

Lighten the Strain on the Earth and Your Budget

Mother Earth News is the guide to living — as one reader stated — “with little money and abundant happiness.” Every issue is an invaluable guide to leading a more sustainable life, covering ideas from fighting rising energy costs and protecting the environment to avoiding unnecessary spending on processed food. You’ll find tips for slashing heating bills; growing fresh, natural produce at home; and more. Mother Earth News helps you cut costs without sacrificing modern luxuries.

At Mother Earth News, we are dedicated to conserving our planet’s natural resources while helping you conserve your financial resources. That’s why we want you to save money and trees by subscribing through our Earth-Friendly automatic renewal savings plan. By paying with a credit card, you save an additional $4.95 and get 6 issues of Mother Earth News for only $10.00 (USA only).

You may also use the Bill Me option and pay $14.95 for 6 issues.